The Draft Versus Free Agency - Lions and Packers (and Bears?)
Here's a quote from a Detroit News article on Martin Mayhew, the Lions' GM. Basically, the organization has made it clear that the team must win now, or Mayhew is gone. So he's responded by signing two key free agents that he expects to start (Idhegibo and Tate), and seems openly prepared to trade up to get instant starter(s) in this draft.
But the article is focused more on how Mayhew got into this position - and the answer is that, outside of an early draft plus last year's promising draft (thanks apparently to Brian Xander), Mayhew has not drafted very well. As a result, he's had to "fill in" his draft holes with free agents, which puts the team in a salary cap bind.
"In Mayhew’s five drafts, the Lions have had 12 total picks in the first and second rounds, and 38 overall. And, since he took over during the 2008 season, he’s made 27 trades that have produced a net loss of one pick. Mayhew also acquired multiple productive players including guard Rob Sims, defensive tackle Corey Williams (now retired) and quarterback Shaun Hill (now with the Rams).
Among the 38 picks Mayhew made, 12 are out of the NFL, which has led to depth issues and free-agency binges.
By comparison, Packers general manager Ted Thompson, the NFC North’s longest-tenured general manager, has had 44 picks since 2009 and just three players are not on NFL rosters. Green Bay won the division the past three seasons.
As for Mayhew’s recent key free-agent signings, they've been impressive but pricey.
■ He signed running back Reggie Bush to a four-year, $16 million contract in 2013. It came after the swing-and-misses on 2010 pick Jahvid Best and 2011 pick Mikel Leshoure.
■ He signed safety Glover Quin to a five-year deal worth $23.5 million in 2013 to replace Amari Spievey, a third-round selection in 2010 whose injuries and inconsistent play led to his release before the 2013 season.
■ He signed wide receiver Golden Tate to a five-year, $31 million contract this offseason, above market value compared to receivers with similar career statistics like Emmanuel Sanders ($15 million over three years with Denver) and Andre Roberts ($16 million over four years with Washington).
That signing is to offset the loss of Titus Young (released, February 2013) and the leg injuries to Ryan Broyles (played in 16 games in two seasons)."
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz30kblJjsT
So does this mean that the Julius Peppers signing is to offset lousy drafting at the DE/OLB spot? Hmm.
And I wonder, how do the Bears and Vikings stack up with drafting? The results would seem to indicate that they, too, do not draft well enough to keep up. The Vikings seem more obviously to try to fill in with free agents (usually ex-Packers).
So is drafting three starters per year the key? And does this mean if TT's famous/infamous 2012 draft doesn't produce now, that the team will be damaged long term?
