Quote:But wouldn't all of the draft rationales for BAP apply to free agency? Why would you allow a superior player to go to a competitor? Wouldn't taking the best players irrespective of need or position lead to a better roster over time?

 

I think the reason for building through the draft is that you want your best players to be young (have a long career in front of them).   Free agents have four years of wear and tear and come at a high cost.  So if you want to build your team primarily through the draft, then you want to get the very best players you can in the draft, and that means drafting best available player.   In order to do that, you can't have significant holes on your roster, so you use free agency to fill holes and the draft to acquire maximum talent.   

 

You just cannot use free agency like you use the draft, because of salary cap considerations.  Do I want the best player to go to a competitor?   No, but on the other hand I am not willing to give Mario Williams a 100 million dollar contract, either.  

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