Trading, specifically for QB's

[SloppyJoMo]

I'm new to FOF, and still feeling my way for it. That being said, I believe I've created a decent foundation for a team, and have finished 9-7 for the past three seasons. While that record doesn't look great, my QB is the main reason I haven't finished stronger. He's absolutely terrible! A true turnover machine, which kills my offense and drains my defense, having to play on a short field all the time.

I've tried drafting QB's and always get burned, even after trying to stick with them to see if they break out. The couple of rookies that I KNEW I had to draft there was no way I could possibly trade up. I was even willing to give up 2 first round picks and an 73/79 LB at one point, but they weren't having it.

So I keep trying for a quick fix, but nobody wants to trade QB's either. Either they're too popular, or will cost too much dead cap money. Any ideas on ways to work around this? Because with this QB at the helm, there's no way my team is making it deep in the playoffs.

I guess I could also use this thread to ask for advice on drafting QB's...since I've had no luck.

[johnnyshaka]

You don't work for the Dolphins' head office, do you?

In all seriousness...there are a couple of ways to go about this issue and which ever path you chose has pros and cons...obviously.

If your team is built to win now then I'd suggest the free agent market and pay whatever you to pay to land a decent guy. There is usually at least a few good to decent vets to be had but realize that you will have to pay big money for an aging guy but that shouldn't matter if you want to win now.

If you are a young team and can afford to groom somebody, then trade the farm to move up for that stud QB in the draft. Trade as many picks as it takes if you think the guy is going to be a stud.

The obvious downside to the previous paths is potential for trouble in the future. You could end up in cap hell in a couple of years if you paid through the nose for an old QB or you could have a great, young QB with holes around him because you didn't have any picks to replenish your stock of talent as years went on.

Another solution, one I'd probably go with, is to try and find a QB that does at least one thing well and then gameplan your offense around that. For example, if you've got a great RB who can catch the ball and a couple of decent receivers who can make things happen after making a catch then I'd look for a QB who's good at short passing and tailor the gameplan to suit your team's strengths. Personally, I'd go this route and then when the opportunity arises to upgrade your QB, jump at it.

[Noop]

So I keep trying for a quick fix, but nobody wants to trade QB's either. Either they're too popular, or will cost too much dead cap money. Any ideas on ways to work around this? Because with this QB at the helm, there's no way my team is making it deep in the playoffs.

I have the same problem with teams refusing to trade very good backups who are behind a stud who is young. Jim has not even commented on this problem which concerns me alittle because I think its a bug.

[Pacersfan46]

Yeah, I had to bite the bullet and trade 3 1sts, a 2nd, and a young decent CB to get the QB I wanted with the 1st pick.

So far, he backed up Peyton Manning for 2 years, then in his first year threw for 3,100 yards, 22 TD's and 15 INT's. I'm not entirely sure it was worth it, but it very well could be. Especially in that year I let Peyton go as a Free agent, and he threw more INT's than TD's. I was shocked, he was the League MVP the year before.

EDIT - Wow, nevermind. It should be worth it. Hah. In his 4th year (2nd as a starter) he improved his completion percentage by 10%, and threw for 3,700 yards, 34 TD's, and 8 INT's. Leading my team to the Super Bowl, which I unfortunately lost.

-- Steve --

[dj_morton]

You don't work for the Dolphins' head office, do you?



ouch

[dj_morton]

Getting a top 5 pick is too damm hard in SP. You have to deal all your picks for the next 3 years. When it comes to getting a QB, I just bid a ton on FA QB's. I rarely draft 1st rnd QB's unless I have a top 5 picks. I've hit a lot of times on combine QB's in the 2nd and 3rd rnds, usually these guys max out in the high 60's.

[Ben E Lou]

Getting a top 5 pick is too damm hard in SP. You have to deal all your picks for the next 3 years.

I don't have NFL data in front of me, but how does this compare to real life? I'm thinking you have to give up a lot to get a top five pick irl. Plus, top five picks in FOF are more sure-fire than real life top five picks, so it should probably be more difficult.

[RedKingGold]

Not to toot my own horn a little bit, but in terms of QB drafting, this might be a decent read: http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=61098

I'm still working on finishing the thread, but trying to finish testing all of the other positions before I post again (instead of doing it piecemeal).

Plus, I have to re-examine Sole-test for quarterbacks as it appears I've marginalized the importantce of the intelligence personality trait when calculating the Soletest score.

[wishbone]

Trading for a good QB just doesn't happen in 2007 as far as I have seen. My own thread on the subject is here http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=59200

To sum it up, The Titans had Vince Young and Brady Quinn. I was unable to trade for either one, the Titans rejected an offer of 3 #1s, #2 and 1st team RB or league MVP.

Eventually I gave up, for 3 #1s and an MVP candidate I can easily get the #1 pick, sometimes it is worth it.

[SloppyJoMo]

I think I may have, hopefully, found my QB, but it's a stretch. I haven't seen enough to know what is normal and all...but this seems very strange to me. I found this guy on the free agency.

Marty Sanford QB, is a 14/80 with 8 years experience. He's bounced around 4 different teams before I grabbed him, and has never started a game.

Is a QB that unproven and that old being that good, potentially, strange?Or is that kind of usual and I just haven't seen it before.

[MartinD]

I think I may have, hopefully, found my QB, but it's a stretch. I haven't seen enough to know what is normal and all...but this seems very strange to me. I found this guy on the free agency.

Marty Sanford QB, is a 14/80 with 8 years experience. He's bounced around 4 different teams before I grabbed him, and has never started a game.

Is a QB that unproven and that old being that good, potentially, strange?Or is that kind of usual and I just haven't seen it before.

I had a similar QB in my SP career - not quite as old, though. Cleveland had drafted Keith Hutchins 1st overall, then simply didn't give him a chance to play for the entire duration of his rookie contract... I signed Hutchins through free agency (in his 6th year) - can't remember exact ratings, but he was somewhere in the 25/80 range. He developed fairly quickly, and maxed out in the low 80s.

This guy might not get all the way to the top of that potential, but the fact that the potential is still there in his 8th year definitely suggests that he'll develop if given the chance to play.

In terms of how realistic this is, I'm not sure - this is like the Chargers drafting Phillip Rivers, then continuing to play Drew Brees (or possibly the Falcons drafting Brian Brohm and keeping Harrington or Leftwich as their starter for the next several years...)

Martin