With the first wave of free agency complete in the NFL, this is roughly the point in time where fans start having mental breakdowns regarding why their favorite team hasn’t made many moves.
It’s because they’re smart, Junior.
The draft is just over a month away and it appears that more and more teams have realized that you don’t build a core in free agency – you build it in April.
Two offseasons ago, the 49ers signed Nate Clements, Michael Lewis and Tully Banta-Cain in free agency and all the experts bought into the idea that San Fran had dramatically upgraded its defense in one offseason. But then the games started and it was same old, same old for the Niners as they finished 5-11 and third in the NFC West. As it turns out, the players that San Fran had drafted high in previous years (Rashaun Woods, Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, etc.) didn’t produce.
Last year, the Raiders made the biggest splash in free agency, signing Javon Walker and Gibril Wilson, while trading for young cornerback DeAngelo Hall, leading many to believe that they were heading in the right direction. After going 5-11 and finishing third in the AFC West, only Walker remains on the roster as both Hall and Wilson were released either during (Hall) or after (Wilson) the season. Not unlike the Niners, previous drafts had been the true demise of the Raiders.
It was the Redskins turn to make the biggest splash in free agency this year (actually, this was the second time in three years that they made the biggest splash, because they did so in 2006 as well), signing Albert Haynesworth to a massive $100 million contract, agreeing to terms with guard Derrick Dockery and re-signing the aforementioned Hall. To make room for the three new comers, however, the team had to release starters Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor. How do you think the Skins will fare next season?
If the Patriots, Colts and Steelers have taught the rest of the NFL anything over the years, it’s that having successful drafts are the key to building successful rosters – not adding a bunch of high-priced signings in free agency. Outside of the occasional big signing, none of those three teams make big splashes in free agency and they continue to be competitive year in and year out. That’s because the core of those three teams came from successful drafts and the ability to find prospects that fit their schemes and philosophies.
This isn’t to say that free agency isn’t important, because it is. The Giants have made three excellent moves so far in free agency, adding Chris Canty, Michael Boley and Rocky Bernard. But they didn’t overpay for any of those players and none of the three were signed to be part of the main core. The three are just three pieces of the bigger puzzle – role players if you will. (Albeit starting-quality role players, but role players nonetheless.)
The bottom line is that even though the bulk of free agency is already over, it doesn’t mean that your team won’t compete next year if it didn’t land Haynesworth, center Jason Brown or wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It just means that your team is gearing up for a successful draft, one in which will hopefully make it competitive over the long haul.
Granted, if your team fails to put together a good draft, then it’ll be time to worry.
