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There is no question that on average, teams that build primarily through the NFL Draft are more successful than those who rely heavily on free agency. This is a useful topic to bring up again and again with free agency looming.
As we've discussed multiple times in recent weeks, this is likely to be the team's most extensive foray into free agency in many years. That may still only mean two or three major additions, but we need to be cognizant that it wouldn't be the end of the world if the team doesn't make major splashes.
This article from NFL.com is a couple of years old at this point, but it draws a bit of a line between teams relying on free agency and less-than-stellar results.
The reason for this is simple. Hitting on draft picks gives you less costly players that your coaching staff can mold, and team control that doesn't become cost-prohibitive in two or three seasons. Trying to address several major holes in free agency can leave you cap-strapped, particularly if it doesn't work out. Ray Edwards had a not-insignificant impact on the cap and an even bigger impact on fan psyches, if you need an example.
What's your preferred team-building approach?
