How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

[Mike]

You have heard it before that spending in FA is a poor choice or that it rarely works out. Also, that all the best teams draft their top talent, also not true. However, like in everything, there are winners and losers in FA.

If you look at FA since it's inception you can begin to see a pattern. There are certain positions you should get in FA and certain positions to avoid. Impact position in the trenches will usually yield a higher result than flashy WR additions (need more pieces to fit in). In the end, its all about evaluating talent & character and getting the right players in.

Here are examples of great QB FA pick up.
1) Steve Younge: SF got him from Tampa Bay: led then to SB
2) Joe Montana: left for KC & made them a contender
3) Bret Farve: made GB a SB champ, almost took Vikings to SB
4) Kurt Warner: won SB with rams, took lonely cards to SB
5) Matt Schuab: Pro Bowl QB on contending team
6) M. Vick: almost won league MVP in his first full season.
7) Payton Manning: ?
Conclusion: It's obviously worked out in the past!

Defensive Lineman
1) J. Abraham: went to Atlanta and continued to dominate
2) J. Peppers: doing well in Chicago. I've heard Chicago want Mario so they can have a top DLine like the Giants.
3) J. Allen: Went to Minnesota and nearly broke yearly sack record.
4) Reggie White: went to Philadelphia & dominated, went to GB & won SB
4) Mario Williams: ?

Conclusion: it's an impact position. If you can sign an impact player, do it! They are rare.

I don't have time to go position by position however FA has been a good place to get talent. Many teams have won SB because of trades & FA moves. Certain positions will pay much higher dividends than other position. These positions of impact (QB, DE, OT) will have a higher cost and a much higher benefit when done right.

[Mike]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Positions of Impact: QB, OT, DE
Secondary: C, DT
Third Tier: Secondary, WR/TE
Fourth: LBers, RB, G

This also depends on the schemes your using on offense and defense. To some teams a LB may be more valuable than a CB. In any case, getting a position of impact will have a trickle down effect. A great QB will improve the team, a top DE will improve the secondary, and so on. A top guard would do neither.

The Bills need to do what they have avoided for 12+ years: Build the Lines! Get a top DE and watch our Defense improve.

[THRILLHO]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Schaub and Favre (to GB) were trades. Not free agents. (Ironically both from Atlanta.)

[Mr. Pink]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Steve Young was traded from the Bucs to 49ers for 2nd and 4th round picks.

Schaub was traded to the Texans for a swap of 1st and 2nd round picks.

KC was already a contender without Montana, they went 10-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs before Montana signed there. Montana was their attempt to get to a SB, they got beat by Buffalo in the conference championship game his first year there and then finished 9-7 and out in the first round of the playoffs his second. So honestly, he was a failure in KC. They went 13-3 the next year without him and lost in the first round.

Favre was a failure in NY before going to Minnesota, and then a failure his last season in Minnesota.

Out of your list, the only guy I'll give you is Warner...jury is still out on Vick. Was phenomenal in his first year back and oft injured last year and the Eagles were a huge disappointment.

[YardRat]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Steve Young was traded from the Bucs to 49ers for 2nd and 4th round picks.

Schaub was traded to the Texans for a swap of 1st and 2nd round picks.

KC was already a contender without Montana, they went 10-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs before Montana signed there. Montana was their attempt to get to a SB, they got beat by Buffalo in the conference championship game his first year there and then finished 9-7 and out in the first round of the playoffs his second. So honestly, he was a failure in KC. They went 13-3 the next year without him and lost in the first round.

Favre was a failure in NY before going to Minnesota, and then a failure his last season in Minnesota.

Out of your list, the only guy I'll give you is Warner...jury is still out on Vick. Was phenomenal in his first year back and oft injured last year and the Eagles were a huge disappointment.

Warner didn't have success in NY and signed on really cheap in Arizona. His big Cardinal contract came in year 2, not off the street.

That's an o-fer on QB's, are the DE's up next??

[YardRat]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

I'll start....Jared Allen was a trade, not a FA pick-up, and Minnesota is picking #3, seven spots ahead of us.

[Mahdi]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

I'll start....Jared Allen was a trade, not a FA pick-up, and Minnesota is picking #3, seven spots ahead of us.

you seem to forget Minnesota was a dominant team a couple years back. Also, just because Minnesota was weak this year doesn't mean getting Allen was not the right call. He is the best DE in the league arguably and if Minnesota gets good QB play from Ponder this year they will contend again for a playoff spot. QB plus pass rush gets you places.

And BTW you can't just keep discounting the impacts for FAs based on some vague rules you seem to be applying, like, "it was in the second year of his deal" blah blah....

Who cares when it was, Warner ended up being a damn good FA pick up. As was Favre, and Allen was a good trade, Abraham upgraded the Falcons D for a few years and helped them make playoff appearances, Kyle VDB and Corey Williams helped make that Lions DL one of the best. Deion Sanders was a SB ticket for 2 teams. Bart Scott, Antonio Cromartie, Santonio, Plax, LT were all big pieces to AFC finalists, Brian Waters, Wes Welker, Randy Moss, Adelius Thomas, Mark Anderson, Andre Carter were huge for New England. Peppers, Cutler, Roy Williams, that's basically their 2 best players and a role player. Brees, Vilma, Greer, Sharper, Sproles.

Ravens added Birk, Boldin, Mason, Ricky, Redding, Pryce, Woodson etc. Texans adding Jonathan Joseph last year as well as Jason Allen. Philly got Cullen Jenkins last year who was their best DL. Asomugha didnt have a great year but I bet he rebounds for them and pays off. Barrett Rudd was great for the Titans while he was healthy as was Will Witherspoon and Babineaux. Poz was good for the Jags....

Point.... you can improve your team significantly in FA.

[ddaryl]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Mario Williams would be a good prize, however does anyone view him as a Bruce Smith or a Reggie White type of dominating player ?

I don't. He is real good and real solid, but a step under these all time greats thus far in his career

So how much do you pay for such a player ? To me he is worth pursuing but not breaking the bank for. Is he that big of an impact player compared to some of the HOF's he would need ot be compared to for the type of contract people think he will get

[better days]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Warner didn't have success in NY and signed on really cheap in Arizona. His big Cardinal contract came in year 2, not off the street.

That's an o-fer on QB's, are the DE's up next??

Favre didn't have success in NY either with the Jets.

[stuckincincy]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Texans adding Jonathan Joseph last year...

...Point...you can improve your team significantly in FA.

Yep.

Not retaining J. Joseph certainly hurt CIN. Leon Hall struggled before his season-ending injury week 10. Pac Man Adams didn't play until week 7 - had some moments his 1st game back, but tweaked a hammie or groin, I forget, and was so-so at best after that. And also crawled back into his unique personality.

CIN's safeties were poor except for new (FA) acquisition Reggie Nelson. He's on the market again.

With a dubious backfield, CIN relied on a lot of DL pressure - gambling, and sometimes losing that gamble.

If Joseph remained in the fold, perhaps another regular season victory or two, perhaps a better playoff outcome.

[Philagape]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Aside from ignorance on the part of the poster, what difference does it make if it's a trade or FA? FA is like trading without giving up an asset (unless it's an RFA). Either way it's paying someone who was an outsider.

[Mike]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Out of your list, the only guy I'll give you is Warner...jury is still out on Vick. Was phenomenal in his first year back and oft injured last year and the Eagles were a huge disappointment.

Really? My argument is that trades and FA can dramatically help your team if done right and gave a handful of examples out of hundreds and you'll give me one? You are missing the point, completely.

[Mike]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

Trades vs FA

They are very very close. Remember how the Bills signed and then traded Peerless Price to Falcons for a 1st rounder? That's what good GMs try to do in order to get compensation for the talent that they would loose regardlessly. Conversely, remember when Nate Clements became an FA? Bills could have tried same trick with a sign and trade or Franchise tag and trade but instead let him walk without compensation. In the end, both trades and FA your getting a player you did not draft -thus your not building via the draft.

[YardRat]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

And BTW you can't just keep discounting the impacts for FAs based on some vague rules you seem to be applying, like, "it was in the second year of his deal" blah blah....

It absolutely matters...it's the difference between getting somebody cheap and having them out-perform their contract (Warner, etc) and blowing your wad on somebody that doesn't live up to expectations (too numerous to start).

Nobody is saying a team can't get better via FA...of course they can...but most moves that help those teams actually get better aren't bank-busters on big names.

[Mike]

Re: How to Best Spend a lot of $$$$ in FA

It absolutely matters...it's the difference between getting somebody cheap and having them out-perform their contract (Warner, etc) and blowing your wad on somebody that doesn't live up to expectations (too numerous to start).

Nobody is saying a team can't get better via FA...of course they can...but most moves that help those teams actually get better aren't bank-busters on big names.

Dude it's this simple: Do you think FA can make a difference?