Mike Florio on Saints Free Agency Approach

LSSpam said
Everyone has problems finding good players in FA. That's why staying out is a good move. Given the success rate in FA is pretty bad, and given that even when you do finding a contributor you likely overpaid for them, standing pat and overspending less for marginal players is a good move.

The best teams in free agency are teams like the Packers and Ravens who never spend a dime, just collect compensatory picks, or teams like New England and San Francisco who pick off under appreciated older players late, late in the process on cheap short term deals.

Arguably we should be doing less. Certainly not more.

But, since you asked, Saints FA successes
Ben Grubbs
Curtis Lofton
Jabari Greer
Darren Sharper
Darren Sproles
Drew Brees

We've had some success. Franklin wasn't that bad for us either, our decision to not retain him had more to do with Spags replacing Williams than his performance I think (less 3-man fronts).

If we look at these DEFENSIVE players (and btw, who would say anything bad about offensive players anyway?)...but all were paid more like first tier players than 2nd & 3 tier players which we love to sign, only to be disappointed. Sharper was the exception, (who got paid as a 2nd tier talent, being so close to retirement) but the rest of our defensive 2nd, & 3rd tier pickups wasn't much to brag about. The Greer pickup was a great pickup, but he was very close of being a 1st tier talent. Same with Lofton, and Bunkley....they got pretty good contracts, which puts them above those 2nd & 3rd tier players who we pick up every year, only to be disappointed shortly after.

Now on offense is quite different....we do go after 1st tier talent....Ben Grubbs is the prime example, and I would love to add to that list Sproles as well.

Which is my lame attempt to say that I would love to see a bit of change in the approach by the Saints FO....maybe they should try to bring in player on the defensive side of the same, or very close to 1st tier players they go after on the offensive side....maybe that would yield a better result...??