Worst NFL free-agent pool ever won't stop desperate teams from diving in wallets first

[Stash]

NFL free agency is fool's gold. Always has been. Always will be.

Now more than ever. Forever and forever.

Amen.

I've been singing this chorus and preaching this sermon for roughly a decade now, and nothing has changed. Except, well, the free-agency classes grow shallower and shallower. The number of true impact players available plummets and plummets. The number of ill-advised contracts grows steeper and steeper. The chasm between the supply of truly significant players on the open market vs. the demand for such players grows deeper and deeper.

When it comes to team building, you can say your prayers and swallow your vitamins and eat your Wheaties and hold your nose and write those massive checks, but in the NFL, less than nothing is guaranteed (not even the contracts). And the plight of the would-be big spender is getting only more bleak.


http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/w...desperate-teams-from-diving-in-wallets-first/

 

[skinsscalper]

I hate that this was written by La Canfora because I'm not a fan of his work but I have to agree with him 100% on this one.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

While I agree there's not much out there, we have too many holes and not enough talent on D to just totally skip free agency.

Even if it is just one guy, there are guys out there in free agency for now unless they get resigned/tagged, that can help us at every level of our D.

 

[Kaiser]

As a general rule FAs are definitely overpaid and underperform for what they are paid. But this year we have a ton of cap space available and could plug in a guy like Trumaine Johnson and get a clear upgrade at a critical position.

We aren't a team that has to make every penny count. This is now a team that has built one of the best young core groups in the NFL by drafting well in the last four years. We don't need to firehose money at a gamble like Osweiller, we can pick a key person and afford the gamble of overpaying a WR or CB.

 

[Gameover]

8. Cardinals DE Calais Campbell

My target. He has a good relationship with Irvin. Use it

37. 37. Dolphins WR Kenny Stills

Won't happen. Cowboys are not out the box thinkers, but he brings a different dynamic than what we've had.

 

[Future]

This free agent pool, as of now, has an elite pass rusher (Jones) and an elite safety (Berry), both of which are needs for the Cowboys. So even if it's not deep, there still a major impact to be made and Dallas should absolutely spend.

Otherwise, free agents are overpaid every single year, this year will be no different in that regard.

 

[LittleD]

While I agree there's not much out there, we have too many holes and not enough talent on D to just totally skip free agency.

Even if it is just one guy, there are guys out there in free agency for now unless they get resigned/tagged, that can help us at every level of our D.

If there are any KMart "Blue Light" specials, McClay will find one or two. Stephen just won't let him spend much unless the price is right.
Bargain Bin only & forever, folks.

 

[RandyOh]

As a general rule FAs are definitely overpaid and underperform for what they are paid. But this year we have a ton of cap space available and could plug in a guy like Trumaine Johnson and get a clear upgrade at a critical position.

We aren't a team that has to make every penny count. This is now a team that has built one of the best young core groups in the NFL by drafting well in the last four years. We don't need to firehose money at a gamble like Osweiller, we can pick a key person and afford the gamble of overpaying a WR or CB.

We are currently 10+ mil over the cap. Now if u wanna talk freeing capspace with some cuts and restructures then i can see that but their are teams with 60+ mil in cap without having to do anything. Those are the teams we are going to get into bidding wars with for the few impact free agents that will even hit the open market. Chandler Jones, Stephen Gilmore, Kawann Short, Dre Kirkpatrick are all Franchise tag candidates and rumors are they all might get tagged this offseason if extensions don't happen right away. Many of these teams have GMs and coaches trying to keep their jobs so they will go out and try to buy a better season to keep the owner off their backs.

 

[RandyOh]

This free agent pool, as of now, has an elite pass rusher (Jones) and an elite safety (Berry), both of which are needs for the Cowboys. So even if it's not deep, there still a major impact to be made and Dallas should absolutely spend.

Otherwise, free agents are overpaid every single year, this year will be no different in that regard.

Cardinals have already pretty much confirmed franchise tagging Jones if he wont resign right away and Their is a ton of doubt that Berry even wants to leave KC.

 

[Future]

Cardinals have already pretty much confirmed franchise tagging Jones if he wont resign right away and Their is a ton of doubt that Berry even wants to leave KC.

I know - but as of now, they're FAs.

 

[FaSho]

This is why I expect guys like Williams and Leary to be priced out of reach.

Don't expect a big DE or DT signing like JPP or Poe either. Those guys are getting PAID.

 

[RandyOh]

I know - but as of now, they're FAs.

I would like to say the only real game changer truly available is Trumaine Johnson but im not sure if he was even as good as he was last year. Didnt watch any Rams games because i can't stand Jeff Fisher.

 

[Alexander]

The Browns have over a 100M in spendable cap space. They could buy a team if anyone was willing to play there.

 

[Alexander]

I would like to say the only real game changer truly available is Trumaine Johnson but im not sure if he was even as good as he was last year. Didnt watch any Rams games because i can't stand Jeff Fisher.

They let the better of their two corners go last year with Jenkins.

 

[gimmesix]

Giants are a poor example to use. Their big spending on the defense made them competitive this year. It was the offense that let them down. To say it didn't bring them playoff success is cherry-picking something to fit the author's agenda.

I'd be very happy if Dallas did to its defense what the Giants accomplished last offseason.

 

[RandyOh]

They let the better of their two corners go last year with Jenkins.

damn. Wish they would have tagged Jenkins and let Johnson go to the Giants. would have another Brandon Carr level of disappointing signing.

 

[Bizwah]

We are currently 10+ mil over the cap. Now if u wanna talk freeing capspace with some cuts and restructures then i can see that but their are teams with 60+ mil in cap without having to do anything. Those are the teams we are going to get into bidding wars with for the few impact free agents that will even hit the open market. Chandler Jones, Stephen Gilmore, Kawann Short, Dre Kirkpatrick are all Franchise tag candidates and rumors are they all might get tagged this offseason if extensions don't happen right away. Many of these teams have GMs and coaches trying to keep their jobs so they will go out and try to buy a better season to keep the owner off their backs.

I don't ever think the team should go on a FA spending spree....but we have plenty of money. Stephen Jones pretty much laughs when people say there isn't enough cap room to sign people. The way we design contracts makes it possible to free up enough $$$ to do what we want.

I do like our recent approach. Be patient....draft well...

 

[Nightman]

This free agent pool, as of now, has an elite pass rusher (Jones) and an elite safety (Berry), both of which are needs for the Cowboys. So even if it's not deep, there still a major impact to be made and Dallas should absolutely spend.

Otherwise, free agents are overpaid every single year, this year will be no different in that regard.

Exactly on both counts........who cares how deep it is if a guy fits us perfectly

But FAs are by the non-literal definition overpaid......their cost is not their production but what it takes to acquire them over other teams......the draft is the other end of the spectrum with nearly "free" players but their acquisition costs are the divied out draft picks

DAL has learned that the best approach is signing drafted players that they know and know will work in this system......I would mix in more expensive FAs but the miss rate is a lot higher....... the costs of those misses are completely overblown around here imo....the Eagles got out of DMurray and BMaxwell with draft picks after one year...... as bad as Carr was rated he played for the entire 5 years which is almost unheard of

 

[RandyOh]

Giants are a poor example to use. Their big spending on the defense made them competitive this year. It was the offense that let them down. To say it didn't bring them playoff success is cherry-picking something to fit the author's agenda.

I'd be very happy if Dallas did to its defense what the Giants accomplished last offseason.

I think at some point you need to dip into free agency and sign a big name, but it has to be at the right time. We have our offensive core and now we need to build a defensive core that will stay together more then 2 or 3 years. we build that then we dip into free agency and sign that big name defensive lineman that will put us over the top. We sign that savy vet corner who can shadow the other teams best wideout all game. sign that safety that will make QBs think twice about throwing the ball. I dont think the Giants will be able to do anything significant before they are forced to decide who to keep. I mean its already happening. Do they keep JPP or Hankins? can they afford to keep both long term?

 

[RandyOh]

I don't ever think the team should go on a FA spending spree....but we have plenty of money. Stephen Jones pretty much laughs when people say there isn't enough cap room to sign people. The way we design contracts makes it possible to free up enough $$$ to do what we want.

I do like our recent approach. Be patient....draft well...

Yea i know it can be done. I just want our big free agent signing or signings to come at the right time. like you said. Be patient and draft right. when the time comes and we have our cores built. go get ur big name free agent or 2 to make a 3 or 4 year run at a super bowl or superbowls.