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Big free-agent spending rarely yields more wins
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...g-free-agent-spending-rarely-yields-more-wins
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- In the three years since coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead took charge of the St. Louis Rams, their approach to free agency has changed each year.
In 2012, they spent big money on cornerback Cortland Finnegan, center Scott Wells and defensive tackle Kendall Langford in an effort to bolster a roster in desperate need of a makeover. In 2013, they were active again, landing offensive tackle Jake Long and tight end Jared Cook on big-money deals.
But last year, the Rams were notably quiet in free agency, the result of two years of drafting with an eye toward re-signing their own rather than swinging for the fences on big additions. They re-signed offensive lineman Rodger Saffold to a big contract after his deal with the Oakland Raiders fell through and then took a flier on a handful of one-year "prove it" contracts with guys like receiver Kenny Britt and defensive lineman Alex Carrington.
Heading into 2015, the Rams again don't figure to be among the bigger spenders on the free-agent market, though adding a key piece or two could help propel them toward contention so long as they land the right players. That hasn't been their forte, as evidenced by some of the names above from the previous three years.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, six of the 12 teams that have ranked in the top three in free-agent spending since 2011 did not improve their win total, including all three of last year’s top-three spending teams.
Finding the balance of adding a key piece and a few other ancillary pieces that can help has proved to be more of a winning formula. The New England Patriots offered a prime example of that in 2014 when they signed star cornerback Darrelle Revis and key role players like receiver Brandon LaFell and cornerback Brandon Browner at bargain prices. They ranked 16th in spending last year.
The Patriots also prioritized keeping their own, re-signing receiver Julian Edelman, among others. It's a similar tactic to the approach the Seattle Seahawks took. Clearly, the Rams aren't as strongly positioned as winning teams that can more easily attract free agents.
This time around, the Rams should be in better position to add a key piece or two that might be costly while re-signing some of their own and taking a shot on some cheaper options who can help. As always, it's not about how much a team spends as much as how wisely it spends that actually yields results.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...g-free-agent-spending-rarely-yields-more-wins
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- In the three years since coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead took charge of the St. Louis Rams, their approach to free agency has changed each year.
In 2012, they spent big money on cornerback Cortland Finnegan, center Scott Wells and defensive tackle Kendall Langford in an effort to bolster a roster in desperate need of a makeover. In 2013, they were active again, landing offensive tackle Jake Long and tight end Jared Cook on big-money deals.
But last year, the Rams were notably quiet in free agency, the result of two years of drafting with an eye toward re-signing their own rather than swinging for the fences on big additions. They re-signed offensive lineman Rodger Saffold to a big contract after his deal with the Oakland Raiders fell through and then took a flier on a handful of one-year "prove it" contracts with guys like receiver Kenny Britt and defensive lineman Alex Carrington.
Heading into 2015, the Rams again don't figure to be among the bigger spenders on the free-agent market, though adding a key piece or two could help propel them toward contention so long as they land the right players. That hasn't been their forte, as evidenced by some of the names above from the previous three years.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, six of the 12 teams that have ranked in the top three in free-agent spending since 2011 did not improve their win total, including all three of last year’s top-three spending teams.
Finding the balance of adding a key piece and a few other ancillary pieces that can help has proved to be more of a winning formula. The New England Patriots offered a prime example of that in 2014 when they signed star cornerback Darrelle Revis and key role players like receiver Brandon LaFell and cornerback Brandon Browner at bargain prices. They ranked 16th in spending last year.
The Patriots also prioritized keeping their own, re-signing receiver Julian Edelman, among others. It's a similar tactic to the approach the Seattle Seahawks took. Clearly, the Rams aren't as strongly positioned as winning teams that can more easily attract free agents.
This time around, the Rams should be in better position to add a key piece or two that might be costly while re-signing some of their own and taking a shot on some cheaper options who can help. As always, it's not about how much a team spends as much as how wisely it spends that actually yields results.