Free Agency Vs. The Draft
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All I feel like anyone in Browns nation talks about is the draft.
"We will have to stick with W/M at QB because there is nothing in the draft this year"
"It looks like we have another 3 years to rebuild."
Have we all lost sight of the fact that free agency exists in this league and the fact that we have an owner that actually has a interest in creating a winning team? Serious contenders in this league use free agency to fill in gaps. This year we overhauled the team with good, young talent. Now is the time to begin filling in the holes via free agency and our top draft pick. First priorities are LB, G, and QB. Where should our first look be in order to fill in these gaps? I argue free agency.
All I feel like anyone in Browns nation talks about is the draft.
"We will have to stick with W/M at QB because there is nothing in the draft this year"
"It looks like we have another 3 years to rebuild."
Have we all lost sight of the fact that free agency exists in this league and the fact that we have an owner that actually has a interest in creating a winning team? Serious contenders in this league use free agency to fill in gaps. This year we overhauled the team with good, young talent. Now is the time to begin filling in the holes via free agency and our top draft pick. First priorities are LB, G, and QB. Where should our first look be in order to fill in these gaps? I argue free agency.
Adding a QB via free agency is dangerous. It's worked out, but often times that's for teams that have talent abundant in other positions but just can't quite turn the corner, a la Denver. It's possible to find that diamond in the rough, but very, very unlikely.
Take a look at the starting FA Qb's this year so far. I divided them up into categories:
You have your big name FA's who sat behind and learned from a great QB and would no doubt change the face of whichever franchise they went to.
Matt Cassel, KC- 1,796 yards 58.1% completion 6 TD's 12 INT's. Lost starting job to Brady Quinn
Matt Flynn, SEA- 68 yards 58.6% 0 TD 0 INT. Lost starting job to Russell Wilson.
Kevin Kolb, ARI- 1169 yard 59.6% completion 8 TD 3 INT. Can't stay on the field.
You have your middle of the road QB's, nothing special but are capable of putting together solid games from time to time.
Brady Quinn, KC- 794 yard 60.6% completion 2 TD 5 INT.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF- 2,718 yards 62.3% completion 21 TD 13 INT.
Chad Henne, JAX- 1,217 yards 51.6 completion 8 TD 5 INT
And you have your big name guys who had success with other franchises and would be a blessing to whatever crappy team they signed with.
Jay Cutler, CHI- 2,495 yards 59.8% completion 16 TD 13 INT
Michael Vick, PHI- 2,165 yards 58.5 completion 11 TD 9 INT. Can't stay on the field.
And then you have your Drew Brees's and your Peyton Mannings. One was a lock for the HOF before going to one team, and the other was a relative no-namer who wasn't anything exceptional.
I'm not entirely sure who's in the FA market this year for QB, but I'm sure someone will post that and then you tell me what categories you think each of those QB's fits in.
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F/A is not the way to build this team and Jimmy Haslam knows that coming from Pittsburgh....He has said on many occasions that the reason Pittsburgh has been so good and continued there success throughout such a great length of time is the fact that they draft so well and dont spend crazy money on F/As....If we can pick up a couple key pieces here and there for the right price than by all means but if not then no you stick to the draft....
Look at Buffalo and Mario Williams damn did i want him last offseason but the price he got and what hes done its not worth it...
Any smart GM will tell you that F/A is where you find you bargain players and the guys you need to fill out your roster, to be elite you need to hit on your high draft picks....Every now and then you may have to sign a big time F/A but thats when your near the Top of the League and feel your ready to get to the Super Bowl thats the only time you go that route...
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There are no good QB's available via Free Agency in 2013. Flacco will probably get franchised so that leaves Jason Cambell, Tavarius Jackson, Matt Moore and Drew Stanton. And of course everyone's favorite Tim Tebow should be cut by the Jets.
Unless we trade for someones backup, we will still jave Weeden next year. No one in the draft is worth a crap or atleast no one is going to be better then what we have now.
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Yeah. I guess I am adamant for free agency because the Browns organization has been trying to "rebuild" through the draft for the last 13 years and has yet to show anything for it. As the weeks go on, I feel like Weeden is just going to be another Tim Couch/Colt McCoy/Charlie Frye. The guy checks down so damn much.
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I don't like free agent QB's but I like it for every other position.
Browns should seriously consider to fill some of the holes they have in FA.
WR
G
CB
FS
LB
DE
FB
aren't all gonna be filled in the draft. We don't have to rush it and try to contend next season but I'm not waiting 2-3 years to see a team that I can bare watching.
It's got to be a mix of drafting and FA
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I don't like free agent QB's but I like it for every other position.
Browns should seriously consider to fill some of the holes they have in FA.
WR
G
CB
FS
LB
DE
FB
aren't all gonna be filled in the draft. We don't have to rush it and try to contend next season but I'm not waiting 2-3 years to see a team that I can bare watching.
It's got to be a mix of drafting and FA
I don't like free agent QB's but I like it for every other position.
Browns should seriously consider to fill some of the holes they have in FA.
WR
G
CB
FS
LB
DE
FB
aren't all gonna be filled in the draft. We don't have to rush it and try to contend next season but I'm not waiting 2-3 years to see a team that I can bare watching.
It's got to be a mix of drafting and FA
We quietly sign a FA or two every year, they just arent the big name players who get overpaid and a lot of the time end up disappointing (example Ray Edwards the former Falcon). Frostee Rucker and J. Parker have been solid for us this year, not long term solutions but are doing a decent job for their price. Usama Young was another FA starter (although I realize he probably shouldnt be a starter). John Greco has been helpful with the depth at the Oline. Ben Watson is another guy who has been a significant FA signing by Heckert to fill a starting role. One of the problems with free agency is that after a player's rookie contract many of them are 26 years old, and the majority of prolific players in their rookie contracts are extended by their teams and dont really hit free agency until they are in their late 20's. And lets face it, in the NFL if you are in your late 20s you may very well have past your peak.
I like what Heckert has been doing, use free agency to fill positions of need without taking a huge financial risk and maintaining cap flexibility to extend young players that have proven (or at least hinted) that they can be successful in our system. I agree that we should try to go out and sign 3 FA starters this offseason and upgrade a few postitions, but anyone who thinks being a consistent big spender in free agency in the NFL is just ignorant of how the league works.
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Adding a FA agent or two to fill a need or upgrade a position, no problem. Look at Philly prior to the 2011 season when they went on their FA binge...the so called "Deam Team" debacle.
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I'd feel a little shaky about trading for Belichiks backup quarterback as Tom Brady isn't getting any younger.
I want to puke thinking about another 5 years of rebuilding after the new regime comes in and cans everybody.
Hopefully somebody will think a touch of consistency might be a good thing, ya think?
But we already have two competent backup quarterbacks. Why trade for another?
WSS
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Its not bad to dip into FA time to time to fill holes with capable starters. You simply cannot count on the draft alone to build your team. If we fill a couple holes with a player of Frostee Ruckers caliber (G, FB, FS come to mind) it wont be expensive and anytime you upgrade the worst positions on your team with capable players you get better. The key is getting your stars through the draft.
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FA can be a good way to fill positions as a stop gap. But most of the good players are getting overpaid. We need a corner, this FA has plenty of good ones. A sleeper guy like Derrick Cox would be awesome. If we could steal Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh who likely won't give him the money he wants, that would be swell too.
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Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...
Luke McCown – ATL
Joe Flacco – BAL
Tarvaris Jackson – BUF
Tyler Thigpen – BUF
Derek Anderson – CAR
Jason Campbell – CHI
Josh McCown – CHI
Bruce Gradkowski – CIN
Drew Stanton – IND
Brady Quinn – KC
Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)
Matt Moore – MIA
Chase Daniel – NO
David Carr – NYG
Matt Leinart – OAK
Charlie Batch – PIT
Byron Leftwich – PIT
Kellen Clemens – STL
Rex Grossman – WAS
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Here is the Top 50 FA coming your way....
Player
Team
Pos
Age
1. Ryan Clady
Broncos
OT
26
2. Jairus Byrd
Bills
S
26
3. Victor Cruz (Restricted)
Giants
WR
26
4. Andre Smith
Bengals
OT
26
5. Dwayne Bowe
Chiefs
WR
28
6. Henry Melton
Bears
DT
26
7. Greg Jennings
Packers
WR
29
8. Wes Welker
Patriots
WR
32
9. Andy Levitre
Bills
G
27
10. Joe Flacco
Ravens
QB
28
11. Sebastian Vollmer
Patriots
OT
28
12. Michael Bennett
Buccaneers
DE
27
13. Anthony Spencer
Cowboys
OLB
29
14. Steven Jackson
Rams
RB
30
15. Branden Albert
Chiefs
OT
28
16. Jake Long
Dolphins
OT
28
17. Brent Grimes
Falcons
CB
30
18. Mike Wallace
Steelers
WR
26
19. Dashon Goldson
49ers
S
28
20. Randy Starks
Dolphins
DT
29
21. Martellus Bennett
Giants
TE
26
22. Will Beatty
Giants
OT
28
23. Richard Seymour
Raiders
DT
33
24. Phil Loadholt
Vikings
OT
27
25. Aqib Talib
Patriots
CB
27
26. Jermon Bushrod
Saints
OT
29
27. Danny Amendola
Rams
WR
27
28. William Moore
Falcons
S
28
29. Kenny Phillips
Giants
S
26
30. Heath Miller
Steelers
TE
30
31. Tony Gonzalez
Falcons
TE
37
32. Philip Wheeler
Raiders
OLB
28
33. Ed Reed
Ravens
S
34
34. Chris Houston
Lions
CB
28
35. Gosder Cherilus
Lions
OT
29
36. Cliff Avril
Lions
DE
26
37. Alan Branch
Seahawks
DT
28
38. Ryan Lilja
Chiefs
G
31
39. Michael Johnson
Bengals
DE
26
40. Jason Jones
Seahawks
DT
27
41. Daryl Smith
Jaguars
OLB
31
42. Desmond Bryant
Raiders
DT
27
43. Brian Hartline
Dolphins
WR
26
44. Leodis McKelvin
Bills
CB
27
45. Danario Alexander (Restricted)
Chargers
WR
25
46. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Eagles
CB
27
47. Reggie Bush
Dolphins
RB
28
48. Osi Umenyiora
Giants
DE
31
49. Dwight Freeney
Colts
DE
33
50. Brian De La Puente (Restricted)
Saints
C
28
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Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...
Luke McCown – ATL
Joe Flacco – BAL
Tarvaris Jackson – BUF
Tyler Thigpen – BUF
Derek Anderson – CAR
Jason Campbell – CHI
Josh McCown – CHI
Bruce Gradkowski – CIN
Drew Stanton – IND
Brady Quinn – KC
Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)
Matt Moore – MIA
Chase Daniel – NO
David Carr – NYG
Matt Leinart – OAK
Charlie Batch – PIT
Byron Leftwich – PIT
Kellen Clemens – STL
Rex Grossman – WAS
Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...
Luke McCown – ATL
Joe Flacco – BAL
Tarvaris Jackson – BUF
Tyler Thigpen – BUF
Derek Anderson – CAR
Jason Campbell – CHI
Josh McCown – CHI
Bruce Gradkowski – CIN
Drew Stanton – IND
Brady Quinn – KC
Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)
Matt Moore – MIA
Chase Daniel – NO
David Carr – NYG
Matt Leinart – OAK
Charlie Batch – PIT
Byron Leftwich – PIT
Kellen Clemens – STL
Rex Grossman – WAS
Ugly...obviously the best on there is Flacco, and he probably won't be leaving Baltimore. Given this list, I will stick with Weeden and McCoy. (and somebody that knows how to coach them)
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Did you see there are 5 former Browns on that list
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Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...
Luke McCown – ATL
Joe Flacco – BAL
Tarvaris Jackson – BUF
Tyler Thigpen – BUF
Derek Anderson – CAR
Jason Campbell – CHI
Josh McCown – CHI
Bruce Gradkowski – CIN
Drew Stanton – IND
Brady Quinn – KC
Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)
Matt Moore – MIA
Chase Daniel – NO
David Carr – NYG
Matt Leinart – OAK
Charlie Batch – PIT
Byron Leftwich – PIT
Kellen Clemens – STL
Rex Grossman – WAS
Ugly...obviously the best on there is Flacco, and he probably won't be leaving Baltimore. Given this list, I will stick with Weeden and McCoy. (and somebody that knows how to coach them)
Ugly...obviously the best on there is Flacco, and he probably won't be leaving Baltimore. Given this list, I will stick with Weeden and McCoy. (and somebody that knows how to coach them)
for sure. Lots of crap out there.
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To me free agency isn't the place to find your skill players....who let's those go all that often??
It's a good place to find decent plug in linemen and sometimes workman like backers and kickers.
By all means we should explore FA, but as a rule you win through the draft.
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Here is the Top 50 FA coming your way....
Player
Team
Pos
Age
1. Ryan Clady
Broncos
OT
26
2. Jairus Byrd
Bills
S
26
3. Victor Cruz (Restricted)
Giants
WR
26
4. Andre Smith
Bengals
OT
26
5. Dwayne Bowe
Chiefs
WR
28
6. Henry Melton
Bears
DT
26
7. Greg Jennings
Packers
WR
29
8. Wes Welker
Patriots
WR
32
9. Andy Levitre
Bills
G
27
10. Joe Flacco
Ravens
QB
28
11. Sebastian Vollmer
Patriots
OT
28
12. Michael Bennett
Buccaneers
DE
27
13. Anthony Spencer
Cowboys
OLB
29
14. Steven Jackson
Rams
RB
30
15. Branden Albert
Chiefs
OT
28
16. Jake Long
Dolphins
OT
28
17. Brent Grimes
Falcons
CB
30
18. Mike Wallace
Steelers
WR
26
19. Dashon Goldson
49ers
S
28
20. Randy Starks
Dolphins
DT
29
21. Martellus Bennett
Giants
TE
26
22. Will Beatty
Giants
OT
28
23. Richard Seymour
Raiders
DT
33
24. Phil Loadholt
Vikings
OT
27
25. Aqib Talib
Patriots
CB
27
26. Jermon Bushrod
Saints
OT
29
27. Danny Amendola
Rams
WR
27
28. William Moore
Falcons
S
28
29. Kenny Phillips
Giants
S
26
30. Heath Miller
Steelers
TE
30
31. Tony Gonzalez
Falcons
TE
37
32. Philip Wheeler
Raiders
OLB
28
33. Ed Reed
Ravens
S
34
34. Chris Houston
Lions
CB
28
35. Gosder Cherilus
Lions
OT
29
36. Cliff Avril
Lions
DE
26
37. Alan Branch
Seahawks
DT
28
38. Ryan Lilja
Chiefs
G
31
39. Michael Johnson
Bengals
DE
26
40. Jason Jones
Seahawks
DT
27
41. Daryl Smith
Jaguars
OLB
31
42. Desmond Bryant
Raiders
DT
27
43. Brian Hartline
Dolphins
WR
26
44. Leodis McKelvin
Bills
CB
27
45. Danario Alexander (Restricted)
Chargers
WR
25
46. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Eagles
CB
27
47. Reggie Bush
Dolphins
RB
28
48. Osi Umenyiora
Giants
DE
31
49. Dwight Freeney
Colts
DE
33
50. Brian De La Puente (Restricted)
Saints
C
28
Here is the Top 50 FA coming your way....
uh, can you not post a 12 page scroll down list?
fuck Free agency. heckert has done good by us and the holy dollar bill bottom line.
linebacker, linebacker, linebacker. draft.
then corner and safety.
our D is 2 steps away from being the best in the league.
no receivers. gordon and little will be lighting it up next year once our old rookie QB settles down a piece and plays like the coaches think he can play.
guarantee= next year without any major changes we go 'at least' 9-7.
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I think you can include Alex Smith on that list, he will be cut because they won't be paying his signing bonus. That is of course if Kaepernick doesn't bomb the rest of the way.
That list we could fill some needs from *if some become FAs*. Sean Smith, Derrick Cox, DRC, Michael Johnson (Bengals almost never pay their FA), Daryl Smith. The list of FAs is solid this year, you can't fix everything in the draft.
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