contracts are cheaper which allows you to get the free agents. Although it is ok to trade later round picks 3rd and lower for veterans especially if they have bonus money that the existing team needs to eat and we have for a lower cap figure
Impossible to generalize. It depends on the specifics. We did very
FA biggest risk is probably injury....or will big dollars change a person....as player is a know commodity. Committing cap and spending big on FA....has its own risks.
Trades is not a common practice in NFL and unfortunately driven by....either a poor season, an internal dilemma or removing a problem.....now, trading for draft picks is different (see draft).
Draft....is the cheapest way to improve talent....as salary are defined. Further down the draft....the chances of landing a player falls. It is the life blood...bad drafts will doom teams....good drafts will support teams....great draft will carry teams to success. Without it....the other 2.... can not sustain success
There is a difference between "trust" and "prefer"
If you mean which is the best avenue to acquire a known quantity, it is absolutely trade/FA. You have already seen what someone is at the NFL level.
It is optimal if you can draft the premium positions (QB, LT, WR, EGDE, CB) and fill gaps with FA for the rest, but the biggest risk is the draft as the washout percentages show.
So I "trust" FA the most, but "prefer" to build through the draft.
You have video/film of someone who has actually played in the NFL. That is invaluable vs. trying to project what a college kid is going to do when the lights go on...
how is this even up for debate? All things equal? Of course give me the 25 or 26 year old FA as I know this guy has played at a high level in the pros. The best collegiate players of all time have washed out once drafted to the big leagues.
I want to trade for a disgruntled star and pay him. I think that's the safest way to get that star player.
If you are talking about “trust”, I like trades better. Usually fills
Trades is not a common practice in NFL and unfortunately driven by....either a poor season, an internal dilemma or removing a problem.....now, trading for draft picks is different (see draft).
Draft....is the cheapest way to improve talent....as salary are defined. Further down the draft....the chances of landing a player falls. It is the life blood...bad drafts will doom teams....good drafts will support teams....great draft will carry teams to success. Without it....the other 2.... can not sustain success
It is optimal if you can draft the premium positions (QB, LT, WR, EGDE, CB) and fill gaps with FA for the rest, but the biggest risk is the draft as the washout percentages show.
So I "trust" FA the most, but "prefer" to build through the draft.
Best use of resources - Draft, FA, Trade
I guess I just don't typically like NFL trades. Seems it usually involves one team dumping a player.
I want to trade for a disgruntled star and pay him. I think that's the safest way to get that star player.