Strange goings on in the NFL right now, and could have major impacts on the upcoming draft. Since both free agency and trading seasons are not currently happening, teams cannot plug holes or bring in big name solutions and must deal solely with through the draft to improve their team. It is completely backward to the traditional team building methodology.
Take the Bengals. They are impacting upto 4 other teams right now (Panthers, Bills, Cardinals and 49ers). With Carson Palmer demanding a trade and the likely destinations to be either San Fran or Arizona, how does this impact the draft? What picks would likely be exchanged for the veteran pivot. Will the 49ers or Cardinals draft a player for the Bengals and consummate the trade at a later date? Will the Bengals accept all time delayed picks in 2012 and 2013?
This being a deep draft and with the other team getting a Pro-Bowl potential quarterback, I would suggest get what you can this season. Adding Palmer to the Cardinals would likely mean a division title in the NFC West. It would definitely vault the 49ers into a likely conversation as division favourites.
What about teams that are hoping to get in Matt Light or Cullen Jenkins or As… ? If your offseason plan is to shore up the middle of your defense and Cullen Jenkins is available, do you go ahead and draft a Paea or Taylor? Without having the advantage of knowing which free agents you can access, do you know what draft strategy to run?
The confusion builds with different groups of free agents. Will the current tender system exist? If not, what will replace it? If you have 3 of 4 players at one position that are tender possible, could you possibly lose one of your starting ends and both primary back ups (like Dallas)?
What does Green Bay do with Nick Barnett? He is a veteran, who lost his job and now has a contract and a back up role. Is he a player you can release, or possibly trade for a late round pick?
Strange times are here in the NFL. With the draft looming, we could see some weird, off the wall picks that are pre-ambles for trades that are coming. Imagine the Cardinals taking a wide out in the second round. Everyone will think they are off their collective rockers, but then when the new CBA is in effect, magically this wide out is in Cincinnati and Carson Palmer is a Cardinal, chucking the ball to Fitzgerald.
No comments:
Post a Comment