Restating the obvious, Dorsey learned from Ted Thompson

[ct]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/03/packers-prefer-compensatory-picks-over-unrestricted-free-agents/


Packers General Manager Ted Thompson has a formula for building his team, and he’s sticking with it.

Thompson believes in building through the draft, not free agency, and that includes acquiring more draft picks by declining to sign unrestricted free agents. In the NFL, teams that lose more in free agency than they acquire get compensatory picks, and the Packers’ moves in free agency this year indicate that they’re already thinking about acquiring compensatory picks for next year. The NFL doesn’t public the precise formula used to determine compensatory picks, but the simple version is that if the unrestricted free agents you lose are better, higher-paid players than the unrestricted free agents you sign, then the NFL will compensate you the following year with compensatory picks.

As the Green Bay Press-Gazette points out, even the one big name the Packers have signed this offseason, Julius Peppers, was a free agent because he was released by the Bears, not because his previous contract expired. That means he won’t count as an unrestricted free agent addition for the Packers for the purpose of determining their compensatory picks next year.

Last year the Packers lost two key players, receiver Greg Jennings and linebacker Erik Walden, as unrestricted free agents. And the Packers didn’t sign any unrestricted free agents last year. As a result, this year they’re getting an extra third-round pick and an extra fifth-round pick as compensatory selections.

This year the Packers have again not signed away any players whose previous contract expired, but they have lost four players, center Evan Dietrich-Smith, receiver James Jones, defensive lineman C.J. Wilson and offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse. That means the Packers will almost certainly do well when the compensatory picks are passed out a year from now.

Building through the draft and declining to overspend in free agency would be a smart strategy even if the NFL didn’t have a compensatory pick system to reward frugal teams. But when compensatory picks are added to the equation, it’s easy to see why Thompson declines to go after free agents. The Packers have been successful this way. It’s surprising more teams haven’t copied them.


May not be popular here but Dorsey is doing exactly the same thing Thompson and Ozzie Newsome are doing, stockpile draft picks and let UFAs get overpaid elsewhere.

[BossChief]

Here's a list of the players GB has gotten from their comp picks over the years...

Josh Boyd
Mike Daniels
Herron McMillan
Andrew Datko
BJ Coleman
Davon House
Marshall Newhouse
Josh Sitton

A whole lot of meh.

If it wasnt so much work, I'd do the research to show the list of free agents they lost to get those comp picks and I'd bet anything that list of players would be a lot more impressive.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

only if we followed it up with an aggressive offseason of FA's and drafting to push for a deep playoff run

Otherwise it's just a bandaid and not worth two 2nd rounders

Regardless of further moves, Smith was worth every bit of those two seconds IMO... there was absolutely no one better available for less.

More than anyone else... GM, HC, hidden gems with real potential, average schmaverage fill ins... Smitty was the one MOST responsible for that 9 game swing, PERIOD.

Without him we're flopping around once again like a fish out of water with Barkley, Geno, Jason Campbell etc... no hope for NOW, no hope for the FUTURE, just flopping the hell around.

God bless Alex Smith.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Iconic

Remember when everyone thought Matt Barkley was our QBOTF. Lol good times...

As a chiefs fan i dont even know what its like to have a QBOTF. I'd like to see one day. lol

ONe thing i do know as a Chiefs fan is they dont make going into a season very exciting.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Here's a list of the players GB has gotten from their comp picks over the years...

Josh Boyd
Mike Daniels
Herron McMillan
Andrew Datko
BJ Coleman
Davon House
Marshall Newhouse
Josh Sitton

A whole lot of meh.

If it wasnt so much work, I'd do the research to show the list of free agents they lost to get those comp picks and I'd bet anything that list of players would be a lot more impressive.

Sitton is the only starter.

House is pretty valuable depth. He was a great pick to make with a comp selection.

Newhouse has been up and down, and is nothing more than OL depth.

I thought that Jerron McMillian was going to be a stud. I'm delighted we're at least going to give him a chance, but odds are if the Packers don't like anything about him, he's not going to stick with us either.

[BossChief]

If you want to truly look at what the Packers did EVERY YEAR that is probably something we will implement, going forward....it's the volume of draft day trades.

2013 - 4 trades
2012 - 3 trades
2011 - 4 trades
2010 - 1 trade
2009 - 3 trades
2008 - 5 trades
2007 - 5 trades

[BossChief]

Players taken with those traded for selections...

2007

Brandon Jackson
Aaron Rouse
Desmond Bishop
Allen Barbre
Korey Hall

2008

Jordy Nelson
Brian Brohm
Brent Giocomini
Matt Flynn
Brett Swain

2009

Clay Matthews
Jamon Meridith
Brandon Underwood

2010

Morgan Burnett

2011

DJ Williams
Caleb Shnaudenhoff
DJ Smith
Ryan Taylor

2012

Jerrell Worthy
Casey Hayward
Terrell Manning

2013

Kevin Dorsey
Charles Johnson
Eddie Lacy
David Bakhtiari
Jonathan Franklin

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Here's a list of the players GB has gotten from their comp picks over the years...

Josh Boyd
Mike Daniels
Herron McMillan
Andrew Datko
BJ Coleman
Davon House
Marshall Newhouse
Josh Sitton

A whole lot of meh.

If it wasnt so much work, I'd do the research to show the list of free agents they lost to get those comp picks and I'd bet anything that list of players would be a lot more impressive.

Looks like a metric ton of free yet wasted picks... do better with that and it all of a sudden it looks like a free lottery.

If the "comp pick" angle is what Dorsey is going for as a franchise model then he DAMN well do better than this.

[DTLB58]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I had a thought just occur to me, one that I'm a little surprised I've never had before.

(And let me first reiterate that I hate that we gave up two picks for Smith. That's always been my biggest issue with it...)

In all of the various and sundry discussions about drafting a QB on this board over the years, I can't count the number of times I've seen people say they would do "whatever it takes" to acquire a franchise quarterback. Just as an example, I've seen the Redskins lauded by certain proponents of a first round QB (myself included) for the RGIII move, because they, basically, had the balls to attempt something that this franchise is clearly not interested in (if not outright terrified of...) doing.

So let's say, as a theoretical exercise, that we're in the draft in may, round about pick 14, and the Chiefs see a quarterback that they really like on the board. Somebody they like so much that they're willing to offer the Bears a couple of picks to take their spot. Carr, Manziel, whoever. Doesn't really matter what the name is. They identify their guy, the guy they think can take over in, let's say 2018, Aaron Rodgers 4 years on the bench style, but they're sure he won't slip past the 14th pick.

Should they make that move? Because, you know, they'd be giving up more than one pick, and potentially crippling the franchise since they wouldn't have as many picks to use to put around him...

Basically, is the problem with the Alex Smith trade that we lost a 2nd round pick this year (let's consider him the 2013 second rounder - we couldn't have picked up both him and another player with that pick last year, so that pick doesn't change anything around him....), or is the problem that the trade was for Alex Smith himself?

If that makes any sense....

Bascially, if a quarterback is a position worth risking multiple picks for, as I think almost all of us in favor of a 1st round QB have said at times over the years, then why is the loss of a 2014 2nd round pick for Smith such an issue? Are we in 'trying to have our cake and eat it, too" territory here?

No, the problem is, is that you can't please everyone. Whether it's the player Alex Smith, RGIII,or Johnny Manziel for example or said compensation. Two 2's or a whole bunch like the Rams did.
Now, if he wins 2-3 SB's maybe, but that will take a while and there will be a whole lot of let's call it discussing along the way.

[PornChief]

If Smith gets us 2-3 superbowls he's worth 4 or 5 1st's at least lol.

[DTLB58]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

a team should do both - FA and Draft for building a roster, plain and simple - this shouldn't be such a mental hurdle for these execs - it's simple mathematics.

I was thinking the same thing when I was reading the top article. Why do we have let go every single UFA? How many times have I read from GM's the most important part about FA is signing and taking care of your own. And isn't a productive veteran player better than an unproven comp pick in next years draft?

[BossChief]

If the Packers didnt make the move to draft Aaron Rodgers, that's a 5-6 win team AT BEST.

Hopefully, John Dorsey recognizes that and tries to duplicate at least that part of the model.

[Iconic]

If Dorsey let's Houston walk I'll take back everything I've said about him. IMO that's grounds for firing.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Iconic

If Dorsey let's Houston walk I'll take back everything I've said about him. IMO that's grounds for firing.

Well, the Packers paid Clay Matthews and Aaron Rodgers big money.

That doesn't mean Alex Smith and Justin Houston are both gonna sign deals to stay in KC past next year, but I think they will be realistic with their offers for both players...in fact, if I was forced to place a bet I'd wager that both get crazy deals to stay.

I think Alex Smith gets a carbon copy of Jay Cutlers deal and Justin Houston gets a carbon copy of Clay Matthews deal.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by scott free

Regardless of further moves, Smith was worth every bit of those two seconds IMO... there was absolutely no one better available for less.

More than anyone else... GM, HC, hidden gems with real potential, average schmaverage fill ins... Smitty was the one MOST responsible for that 9 game swing, PERIOD.

Without him we're flopping around once again like a fish out of water with Barkley, Geno, Jason Campbell etc... no hope for NOW, no hope for the FUTURE, just flopping the hell around.

God bless Alex Smith.

but it's not really about Alex Smith

It's about the philosophy of trading two 2nd round draft picks for a QB when your team is not ready to make a push.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

but it's not really about Alex Smith

It's about the philosophy of trading two 2nd round draft picks for a QB when your team is not ready to make a push.

Seattle went from 7-9 to SB champions in 2 years.