Quote:I feel like Career Length is a much larger factor in the minds of Front Office folk when it comes to Free Agency. After all, you are getting a player who has already been through four seasons of NFL play and like the old saying goes; "nobody gets out of here alive."

 

It seems to me that teams will not allow themselves to view a Free Agent prospect solely in terms of "best talent out there" because they know that talent is going to have a significant price tag with long term ramifications. Would you like to have a top flight Defensive Back? Indeed I would, but would I like to have a player that I signed to a six year deal and I got him at year five of his career? That adds some complication to the choice now, doesn't it?

 

It adds some, but it doesn't fully address the issue of building the best possible team with the best possible players.

 

Taking your hypothetical at face value, a guy at year five of his career may still have another 5 years as a viable player at his position.  Charles Woodson had several good years with Green Bay after an outstanding career in Oakland, and it's quite possible he would have outperformed any CB the Packers would have been able to draft during that time.  Denver traded for Champ Bailey after he spent a few years in Washington, and he wound up being a great player for them.  Gary Walker was outstanding for the Jaguars after spending his first four or five years with the Oilers.

 

Is age/years in the league another factor to consider?  Sure.  But ultimately, the question boils down to whether the player in question improves your team.  If talent acquisition with the eye towards improving the team is the main consideration, to me, the philosophy of BAP vs. Need is also a consideration.

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