Since it seems this version of free agency began, I've seen teams like the Pats, Eagles, Ravens, Cowboys and Steelers always have extra draft picks each year. It's no surprise that most of those teams are usually competing each year. The cycle goes that they get more shots in the draft and be net losers each year in free agency but get more picks and restock their team.
Even in our most recent best years, we weren't consistently building through the draft that way. From 2008-2012 (after we build the 1st Super Bowl team), we were signing some big name free agents like Rolle, Canty and Baas.
We now have a chance to flip the script...
WARNING - IT'S STILL EARLY TO JUDGE THE PAST COUPLE OF DRAFTS BUT IF WE CONTINUE SUCKING AT DRAFTING, THIS WON'T MATTER.
We not have 3 extra picks in 2021. I would think that 95% of the people on this site are aware of this. We are set up for next year.
What a lot of people don't know is the new minority rule in hiring that was recently put in place. Comp picks are awarded for assistant coaches of color who are hired away from the team as a head coach. I think it is reasonable to think that Patrick Graham gets a shot at a head coaching gig within the next year or 2. Thomas McGahey could also get a shot. If that happens, we could have significant picks coming to us. Think of this scenario...
2022 - As discussed, we have a 1, 3 and 4. Think of a reasonable trade involving 1 of the first rounders for 2 second rounders one in 2021 and the other in 2022. So we end up with additional picks in the second, third and fourth rounds.
We've spent a lot of money in free agency next year and coupled with the extra picks, we become net losers in free agency with the key name being Engram.
We also lose Graham to the head coaching ranks.
2023 - We picked up a second in the draft day trade in 2022. We've picked up 2 thirds (1 each in 2023 and 2024) for Graham. We've picked up 4th as a comp for Engram.
2024 - I don't want to get too far ahead, but we would have the second second round for Graham.
I think this isn't too far fetched... in the next 3 years having 2 additional seconds, 3 additional 3rds and 2 additional 4ths and with all of those extra picks, we start becoming net losers. Another key thing that the better teams seem to do is retain their talent early. It has been hard for us to do with the coaching and general manager changes.
Sounds pretty exciting.
Me too.Keep Graham as long as possible.
Do gingers count as minority hirings? 😏
The good news is that if Judge is what we're all hoping he'll be, talent evaluation and development will improve. For now the script won't fully flip until we start hitting on day 3 guys.
I do think the extra picks can help with cap management. Instead of signing pretty good players to second contracts you hopefully are able to replace them with better ones or at least not have a drop off. Or being able to get rid of the "scholarship mentality" the Giants have had. I think this is the strategy that leads to long term positive results and one the Giants have not been good at in recent years.
Much like the Browns what happened previously is meaningless to the now. Our new clean slate starts with Judge and I think we are in good hands. There's clearly a shift in philosophy, so I'm not too worried about drafting an entire draft's worth of busts.
I think the OP's premise is more around comp picks (although then the accompanying suggestion isn't).
The teams that tend to be perennially good, and also tend to have extra picks each year are doing so by drafting well so that they can allow some of their FAs to walk each year because they have a pipeline in place. This gives them cheap talent at some spots which lets them sign their own stars to 2nd contracts without having to create a new roster flaw in the process. And by doing this, they pick up additional comp picks by losing more FAs than they sign, which gives them more opportunities to reload the pipeline, which allows them to let some of their expiring rookie contracts walk, which gives them cap room to re-sign their own stars while picking up comp picks... and the cycle repeats.
When you draft poorly, you end up signing more high-priced free agents from other teams, you miss out on comp picks, you have fewer chances to load your own pipeline with cheap young talent, so your pipeline is less robust, forcing you to supplement more with free agents from other teams, which reduces your opportunity for comp picks... and the cycle repeats.