NFL roster building: GMs on QB deals, cap, team culture

excellent article from graziano on espn. nothing specifically giants related, but my favorite section was about the Rams and how their draft philosophy shifted as they traded so many picks for veterans.

Quote:

Identifying value and knowing when to spend A mythology labeled "F--- them picks" sprung up around those Super Bowl champion Rams. Snead and the organization leaned into it and had a whole bunch of fun with the perception that they were the ultimate forget-the-future, win-now team. But as is often the case, it was an oversimplification. Yes, the Rams had built the top end of the roster by trading away first- and second-round picks for the likes of Stafford, Jalen Ramsey and Von Miller. But in the five years leading up to their title, the Rams actually made 45 draft picks -- more than every other team except the Minnesota Vikings. They collected midround and late-round picks by strategically working the compensatory pick formula and used them in very directed ways. "I think the volume helps," Snead said, "but also when you have a roster like we had and you can say, 'If these players stay healthy, we know we're going to be in it,' it's a lot easier to step back and see, 'OK, we have a void at specific positions. Now, what skill do these players need to be able to come in and contribute?' We ended up probably tilting toward older players, players who'd played four years, guys with a high floor instead of maybe more upside guys." Snead cited two examples: Defensive tackle Greg Gaines, a 2019 fourth-rounder: "We felt like he was a guy who was going to be sound in his gap, which was what we needed because Aaron Donald was going to be a little more free, play a little less structured. And that's great; that's who he is and he's one of the greatest to ever do it. But if you have two players who freelance, then that's a problem." Safety Jordan Fuller, a 2020 sixth-rounder: "We had some really talented guys who were going to do their own thing in the secondary, so we were looking for someone who had the leadership skills but also the football acumen to be able to call a defense, get everybody in the right spot." Snead suggested the key was front-office discipline on a number of levels. The discipline to pass on exciting players with upside in favor of ones who bring the specific traits. The discipline to let a player you like leave in free agency, knowing a compensatory pick would be coming. The discipline to actually play young midround draft picks alongside veterans.

the discipline comment really struck a cord with me. one of the words that best defined Jerry Reese's first offseason was discipline. he moved on from some overpaid vets, signed only kawika mitchell to a minimum deal in FA, then similarly drafted an older player in the first round and solid but not too explosive receiver in round 2. a bunch of complimentary role players after that. i think that type of discipline is a big part of what crept away from the organization over time because even as they did successfully add some more explosive players, their risk taking failed more than it worked out.

the steelers and ravens are teams whose drafts always feel the same bc they have their core things they believe in and they stick to them.

whether they get enough decisions right or not remains to be seen but with only a few deviations (waller) i think the current nyg regime has been pretty disciplined in how they've operated, and certainly a lot more than what we saw in the prior decade. they believe in premium position value and they havent been afraid to let players they liked and tried to retain walk. i really hope we arent back to the coaching career fair next year.
NFL roster building: GMs on QB deals, salary cap, team culture - ( New Window )