kernowboy
02-26-2008, 03:35 AM
An example: The San Diego Chargers.
I was amazed to discover that the Chargers made No Free agent signings last year. They picked up some undrafted Free Agents like Tra Battle but the big Free Agent names on their current roster are Marlon McCree, Mike Goff and Lorenzo Neal.
Since picking one pick behind us in 2002 - they have gone from strength to strength. Despite a few misses (Toniu Fonoti, Sammy Davis etc), they have assembled a real core of players.
In 2003, they traded down and got an extra R2 from the Eagles.
In 2004, they traded down swaping selections with the Giants, taking advantage of the hard on they had for Manning, still got the QB they wanted in Rivers and got an extra R1 pick the following year which turned into Shawn Merriman
In 2005 came Merriman & Castillo, and despite their need at WR kept their powder dry drafting Vincent Jackson to much criticism at the time as I recall
In 2006 Cromartie and McNeill were the risky choices that paid off
Clearly AJ Smith waits and takes the players he wants not blinded by the assessment of others.
In 2007 came Davis and the Weddle trade up
Only once has AJ Smith traded up in the first two rounds and that was for Weddle. Twice in 5 years he has actually traded down in R1 and never traded up. He only has ever traded up, when the roster was all but complete.
He has only once traded a high pick for a veteran and that was for Chambers but ONLY after Parker was injured in pre-season and after that years draft, where there was a whole season before he could draft another WR.
Personally I think AJ Smith is a great GM, and I think the lessons the likes of Modrak and Brandon have hopefully learnt are.
1) There is seldom a need to trade up in R1 and no guarantees in doing so, no matter how good the 'potential' of a player people talk about coming out of college.
2) Trading down in R1 often provides additional picks for players who become quality starters.
3) Frequently teams will develop such a love of a player that they can be manipulated into overpaying for them - especially for people in the QB and LT positions.
4) Only trade draft picks for players after the draft has occured when you might be desperate because of injury.
5) In an era of Free Agency, it is not always necessary to use Free Agency to quickly assemble a very good side.
At the end of 2003, finishing with a 4-12 record, they have since gone 12-4, 9-7 (missed playoffs), 14-2 and 11-5.
Not bad for a team that relies on its draft picks and minimal free agency activity.
With clever manipulation of the draft, I think we are the 2008 and the 2009 drafts away from the Championship game with minimal Free Agency acqusitions.
I was amazed to discover that the Chargers made No Free agent signings last year. They picked up some undrafted Free Agents like Tra Battle but the big Free Agent names on their current roster are Marlon McCree, Mike Goff and Lorenzo Neal.
Since picking one pick behind us in 2002 - they have gone from strength to strength. Despite a few misses (Toniu Fonoti, Sammy Davis etc), they have assembled a real core of players.
In 2003, they traded down and got an extra R2 from the Eagles.
In 2004, they traded down swaping selections with the Giants, taking advantage of the hard on they had for Manning, still got the QB they wanted in Rivers and got an extra R1 pick the following year which turned into Shawn Merriman
In 2005 came Merriman & Castillo, and despite their need at WR kept their powder dry drafting Vincent Jackson to much criticism at the time as I recall
In 2006 Cromartie and McNeill were the risky choices that paid off
Clearly AJ Smith waits and takes the players he wants not blinded by the assessment of others.
In 2007 came Davis and the Weddle trade up
Only once has AJ Smith traded up in the first two rounds and that was for Weddle. Twice in 5 years he has actually traded down in R1 and never traded up. He only has ever traded up, when the roster was all but complete.
He has only once traded a high pick for a veteran and that was for Chambers but ONLY after Parker was injured in pre-season and after that years draft, where there was a whole season before he could draft another WR.
Personally I think AJ Smith is a great GM, and I think the lessons the likes of Modrak and Brandon have hopefully learnt are.
1) There is seldom a need to trade up in R1 and no guarantees in doing so, no matter how good the 'potential' of a player people talk about coming out of college.
2) Trading down in R1 often provides additional picks for players who become quality starters.
3) Frequently teams will develop such a love of a player that they can be manipulated into overpaying for them - especially for people in the QB and LT positions.
4) Only trade draft picks for players after the draft has occured when you might be desperate because of injury.
5) In an era of Free Agency, it is not always necessary to use Free Agency to quickly assemble a very good side.
At the end of 2003, finishing with a 4-12 record, they have since gone 12-4, 9-7 (missed playoffs), 14-2 and 11-5.
Not bad for a team that relies on its draft picks and minimal free agency activity.
With clever manipulation of the draft, I think we are the 2008 and the 2009 drafts away from the Championship game with minimal Free Agency acqusitions.