NFL free agency is a grift. Well, that’s not actually true. The real grift is the NFL locking rookies in to set contract structures, which has tanked the value of veteran players. Because rookies can give you 90% of what a veteran can for half the price, it’s almost impossible to find good value in the free-agent market if you’re looking to buy from the top shelf.
But there is value to be found. While building a foundation through free agency isn’t the smartest business model, teams have to participate in the market to supplement a homegrown foundation. Recent history has shown that the best way to approach the silly season is to actively participate in free agency while avoiding the inflated cost of the more high-profile options. Teams get into trouble when they pay players to fill roles they aren’t equipped to fill. Like paying a WR2 or CB2 to be the top dog of their respective unit. Landing players at or below market price is really the only way to “win” free agency.
With that in mind, For the Win’s Charles McDonald and Steven Ruiz have each picked out three free agents who will have no problem playing up to the deals they land on the open market.