Free Agency

[rowech]

Is it too easy to build winning teams through free agency?

[PSUColonel]

no

[mac]

I find there are fewer good quality FAs available then in FOF2004. The only thing easier is that after the draft there are a lot of rookies available who are considerably better then players drafted in the last rounds with potentials of 50-55 (at least according to my scout) I therefore usually end up with several undrafted rookies with mroe potential then some drafted players yet surely there should be no extra information on these players until at least after training camp?

[rowech]

I'm putting a playoff team on the field every year with little to no work just by signing free agents. It's worrisome a bit.

[henry296]

I tend to build through free agency. I find I can get many solid players at just above minimum salary. There are very few super stars (60+), but all of my depth comes from free agency. The players I acquire tend be extra secondary players and wide receivers. It is also fruitful for tight ends and linebackers. However, with this strategy my picks sometimes don't develop because of lack of playing time.

[rowech]

I've found that I can do just about everything through free agency except:

1. QB
2. LT

DL and other positions are a little thinner but I can usually get 50+ rated guys fairly easily.

[henry296]

I also have a hard time finding RBs since they tend to be over 7 years in experience and on the downward side of their career.

[rowech]

RB's depend on the season. There are some seasons where you can land a good 5 year one and then you're right, there are others with a bunch of washed up RBs.

[Bode]

I think it's pretty easy at the moment rowech as long as you have a decent QB. In my latest simulation I picked the Oakland raiders with real players.

They were terrible the first season. During the draft the QB's were awful, so I picked up a 35/35 in the FA. The next year they were decent. At this point they were too good to get a good QB from the draft anymore so we remained about 8-8 by having an awesome defense from the free agents available.

Fortunately, in the 4th season a 35/55 QB became a FA. After picking him up the raiders have made the playoffs every year for 6 years. Been to the bowl twice. Won once. Lost in the conference final twice. I'm confident they will go to the playoffs every single year this QB is on the roster. Once he's gone that will be the only time we might miss, but I dont think it's possible to have a bad record ever again. My defense is always in the top 5 every single year from picking up players in the FA period.

[rowech]

I've played 30 seasons or thereabouts. At first I was the Bengals. Went to 6 5 bowls, winning 4 in 20 seasons. Switched the worst team in the league. No playoffs my first year but playoffs 9 times since, 2 bowls, but no titles.