Quote:
Originally Posted by los panda
i didn't get that from the article. i don't understand why they would settle before the draft
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Leverage. That's why. Once free agency hits, teams are going to come down from that NFL combine high and start thinking clearly. They'll go out and get somebody free agency and most likely resort to plan B provided that the Rams have turned down their initial offer. So what started out as a potential bidding war, ends up a one man party.
Dolphins offer X package. If they are turned down, they go onto plan B of Tannehill/FA veteran.
Browns offer Y package. If Rams turn them down, they go onto plan B of Flynn and keep picks.
Redskins offer Z package. If Rams turn them down, they go onto plan B of Manning/Cousins.
(I'm using the players above as examples, you can fill in your choice of person for each of the team provided)
So you can see how quickly your investment(draft pick) is devalued come free agency time. Teams aren't going to sit around and wait till the draft, and by then they'll have already moved on. Smoots already said he heard the Dolphins were out of the running.
The team that stands the most to gain in all this is the Vikings.