Dallas routinely spends a lot on free agency too, and look what that's got them- 1 playoff win in 13 seasons.
The fact is you don't need to do a ton of free agency acquisitions to field a good, competitive team. We proved that in 2007 when we went to the NFC CG, and we proved it again last season when we made the playoffs with a QB starting only his second season.
The only flaw in that logic is the same as those who say we need to sign bunches of FAs: we cannot say that building through the draft alone will get us there. Why? Because each year is different, with different players, GMs, coaches, continuity, chemistry, etc.
The overall reflection being that it takes all aspects of the game (hence the use of all as a standard) to give each team the BEST opportunity to negate the unexpected and make a push for a trophy. Even if we sign a bunch of FAs, we are not guaranteed a SB. Even if we build through the draft only, we are not a lock. It takes a precise mix and a LOT of luck to get there.
Teams DO win with a bunch of FA signings; just look at US in 1997.
Pos
Age Yrs GS Summary of Player Stats Drafted (tm/rnd/yr)
Offensive Starters
Complete Team Stats QB
Brett Favre*+ 27 5 16 325 for 543, 3,899 yards, 39 td, 13 int, & 49 rushes for 136 yards and 2 td Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 33rd pick /
1991
RB
Edgar Bennett 27 4 15 222 rushes for 899 yards, 2 td, & 31 catches for 176 yards and 1 td Green Bay Packers / 4th / 103rd pick /
1992
FB
William Henderson 25 1 11 39 rushes for 130 yards, 0 td, & 27 catches for 203 yards and 1 td Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 66th pick /
1995
WR
Robert Brooks 26 4 7 23 catches for 344 yards, 4 td, & 4 rushes for 2 yards and 0 td Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 62nd pick /
1992
WR
Antonio Freeman 24 1 12 56 catches for 933 yards, 9 td Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 90th pick /
1995
WR
Don Beebe 32 7 6 39 catches for 699 yards, 4 td Buffalo Bills / 3rd / 82nd pick /
1989
WR
Terry Mickens 25 2 5 18 catches for 161 yards, 2 td Green Bay Packers / 5th / 146th pick /
1994
TE
Mark Chmura 27 3 13 28 catches for 370 yards, 0 td Green Bay Packers / 6th / 157th pick /
1992
TE
Keith Jackson* 31 8 5 40 catches for 505 yards, 10 td Philadelphia Eagles / 1st / 13th pick /
1988
LT
John Michels 23 Rook 9
Green Bay Packers / 1st / 27th pick /
1996
LT
Gary L. Brown 25 2 5
Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 148th pick /
1994
LG
Aaron Taylor 24 1 16 1 fumble recovered Green Bay Packers / 1st / 16th pick /
1994
C
Frank Winters* 32 9 16 1 fumble recovered Cleveland Browns / 10th / 276th pick /
1987
RG
Adam Timmerman 25 1 16
Green Bay Packers / 7th / 230th pick /
1995
RT
Earl Dotson 26 3 15 1 fumble recovered Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 81st pick /
1993
Defensive Starters
LDE
Reggie White* 35 11 16 8.5 sacks, 1 interception, 3 fumbles recovered Philadelphia Eagles / 1st / 4th pick /
1984 Supp
LDT
Gilbert Brown 25 3 16 1.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 79th pick /
1993
RDT
Santana Dotson 27 4 15 5.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 5th / 132nd pick /
1992
RDE
Sean Jones 34 12 15 5.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Los Angeles Raiders / 2nd / 51st pick /
1984
LLB
Wayne Simmons 27 3 16 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered Green Bay Packers / 1st / 15th pick /
1993
MLB
George Koonce 28 4 16 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered
RLB
Brian M. Williams 24 1 16 0.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 73rd pick /
1995
LCB
Craig Newsome 25 1 16 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Green Bay Packers / 1st / 32nd pick /
1995
RCB
Doug Evans 26 3 16 3.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Green Bay Packers / 6th / 141st pick /
1993
SS
LeRoy Butler*+ 28 6 16 6.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered Green Bay Packers / 2nd / 48th pick /
1990
FS
Eugene Robinson 33 11 16 0.0 sacks, 6 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
Special Teams Starters
K
Chris Jacke 30 7 0 21 of 27 field goals & 51 of 53 extra points Green Bay Packers / 6th / 142nd pick /
1989
P
Craig Hentrich 25 2 0 68 punts for a 42.4 average, 0 blocked New York Jets / 8th / 200th pick /
1993
PR
Desmond Howard 26 4 0 58 punt returns for a 15.1 average and 3 td Washington Redskins / 1st / 4th pick /
1992
KR
Desmond Howard 26 4 0 22 kick returns for a 20.9 average and 0 td Washington Redskins / 1st / 4th pick /
1992
Roster
Glossary · ProBowl(*),
1st-team All-Pro(+), · CSV · PRE
No.
Age Pos G GS Wt Ht College/Univ BirthDate Yrs Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) 50
Mike Arthur 28 C 5 0 280 6-3
Texas A&M 5/7/1968 5 Cincinnati Bengals / 5th / 130th pick /
1991
82
Don Beebe 32 WR 16 6 185 5-11
Aurora,
Chadron State,
Western Illinois 12/18/1964 7 Buffalo Bills / 3rd / 82nd pick /
1989
34
Edgar Bennett 27 RB 16 15 217 6-0
Florida State 2/15/1969 4 Green Bay Packers / 4th / 103rd pick /
1992
22
Bucky Brooks 25 DB 2 0 192 6-0
North Carolina 1/22/1971 2 Buffalo Bills / 2nd / 48th pick /
1994
87
Robert Brooks 26 WR 7 7 177 6-0
South Carolina 6/23/1970 4 Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 62nd pick /
1992
68
Gary L. Brown 25 T 8 5 307 6-4
Georgia Tech 6/25/1971 2 Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 148th pick /
1994
93
Gilbert Brown 25 DT 16 16 340 6-2
Kansas 2/22/1971 3 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 79th pick /
1993
36
LeRoy Butler*+ 28 DB 16 16 197 6-0
Florida State 7/19/1968 6 Green Bay Packers / 2nd / 48th pick /
1990
89
Mark Chmura 27 TE 13 13 248 6-5
Boston College 2/22/1969 3 Green Bay Packers / 6th / 157th pick /
1992
91
Shannon Clavelle 23 DE 8 0 287 6-2
Colorado 10/12/1973 1 Buffalo Bills / 6th / 185th pick /
1995
54
Ron Cox 28 LB 16 1 235 6-2
Fresno State 2/27/1968 6 Chicago Bears / 2nd / 33rd pick /
1990
67
Jeff Dellenbach 33 C-T-G 3 0 290 6-6
Wisconsin 2/14/1963 11 Miami Dolphins / 4th / 111th pick /
1985
72
Earl Dotson 26 T 15 15 315 6-4
Texas A&M-Kingsville 12/17/1970 3 Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 81st pick /
1993
71
Santana Dotson 27 DT-DE 16 15 278 6-5
Baylor 12/19/1969 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 5th / 132nd pick /
1992
42
Corey Dowden 28 DB 9 0 190 5-11
Tulane 10/18/1968 Rook
33
Doug Evans 26 DB 16 16 188 6-1
Louisiana Tech 5/13/1970 3 Green Bay Packers / 6th / 141st pick /
1993
4
Brett Favre*+ 27 QB 16 16 225 6-2
Southern Miss 10/10/1969 5 Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 33rd pick /
1991
86
Antonio Freeman 24 WR 12 12 198 6-1
Virginia Tech 5/27/1972 1 Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 90th pick /
1995
55
Bernardo Harris 25 LB 16 0 247 6-2
North Carolina 10/15/1971 1
40
Chris Hayes 24 DB 2 0 206 6-0
Washington State 5/7/1972 Rook New York Jets / 7th / 210th pick /
1996
30
William Henderson 25 FB 16 11 249 6-1
North Carolina 2/19/1971 1 Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 66th pick /
1995
17
Craig Hentrich 25 P 16 0 213 6-3
Notre Dame 5/18/1971 2 New York Jets / 8th / 200th pick /
1993
90
Darius Holland 23 DT 16 0 330 6-5
Colorado 11/10/1973 1 Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 65th pick /
1995
56
Lamont Hollinquest 26 LB 16 0 250 6-3
USC 10/24/1970 3 Washington Redskins / 8th / 212th pick /
1993
81
Desmond Howard 26 WR 16 0 185 5-10
Michigan 5/15/1970 4 Washington Redskins / 1st / 4th pick /
1992
13
Chris Jacke 30 K 16 0 205 6-0
Texas-El Paso 3/12/1966 7 Green Bay Packers / 6th / 142nd pick /
1989
88
Keith Jackson* 31 TE 16 5 250 6-2
Oklahoma 4/19/1965 8 Philadelphia Eagles / 1st / 13th pick /
1988
32
Travis Jervey 24 RB 16 0 222 6-0
The Citadel 5/5/1972 1 Green Bay Packers / 5th / 170th pick /
1995
27
Calvin Jones 26 RB 1 0 205 5-11
Nebraska 11/27/1970 2 Los Angeles Raiders / 3rd / 80th pick /
1994
96
Sean Jones 34 DE 15 15 270 6-7
Northeastern 12/19/1962 12 Los Angeles Raiders / 2nd / 51st pick /
1984
65
Lindsay Knapp 26 G 9 0 300 6-6
Notre Dame 2/25/1970 3 Kansas City Chiefs / 5th / 130th pick /
1993
53
George Koonce 28 LB 16 16 245 6-1
Chowan,
East Carolina 10/15/1968 4
94
Bob Kuberski 25 DT 1 0 298 6-4
Navy 4/5/1971 1 Green Bay Packers / 7th / 183rd pick /
1993
25
Dorsey Levens 26 RB 16 1 230 6-1
Georgia Tech,
Notre Dame 5/21/1970 2 Green Bay Packers / 5th / 149th pick /
1994
80
Derrick Mayes 22 WR 7 0 205 6-0
Notre Dame 1/28/1974 Rook Green Bay Packers / 2nd / 56th pick /
1996
60
Gene McGuire 26 C 8 0 300 6-4
Notre Dame 7/17/1970 3 New Orleans Saints / 4th / 95th pick /
1992
95
Keith McKenzie 23 DE 10 0 267 6-3
Ball State 10/17/1973 Rook Green Bay Packers / 7th / 252nd pick /
1996
9
Jim McMahon 37 QB 5 0 195 6-1
BYU 8/21/1959 14 Chicago Bears / 1st / 5th pick /
1982
77
John Michels 23 T 15 9 300 6-7
USC 3/19/1973 Rook Green Bay Packers / 1st / 27th pick /
1996
85
Terry Mickens 25 WR 8 5 201 6-0
Florida A&M 2/21/1971 2 Green Bay Packers / 5th / 146th pick /
1994
85
Anthony Morgan 29 WR 3 0 200 6-1
Tennessee 11/15/1967 5 Chicago Bears / 5th / 134th pick /
1991
28
Roderick Mullen 24 DB 14 0 202 6-1
Grambling State 12/5/1972 1 New York Giants / 5th / 153rd pick /
1995
21
Craig Newsome 25 DB 16 16 190 6-0
Arizona State 8/10/1971 1 Green Bay Packers / 1st / 32nd pick /
1995
18
Doug Pederson 28 QB 1 0 220 6-3
La-Monroe 1/31/1968 3
39
Mike Prior 33 DB 16 0 208 6-0
Illinois State 11/14/1963 11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 7th / 176th pick /
1985
84
Andre Rison 29 WR 5 4 188 6-1
Michigan State 3/18/1967 7 Indianapolis Colts / 1st / 22nd pick /
1989
41
Eugene Robinson 33 DB 16 16 200 6-1
Colgate 5/28/1963 11
46
Mike Robinson 23 DB 6 0 192 6-1
Hampton 6/24/1973 Rook
75
Ken Ruettgers 34 T 4 1 295 6-6
USC 8/20/1962 11 Green Bay Packers / 1st / 7th pick /
1985
38
Brian Satterfield 27 RB 1 0 225 6-0
North Alabama 12/22/1969 Rook
59
Wayne Simmons 27 LB 16 16 245 6-2
Clemson 12/15/1969 3 Green Bay Packers / 1st / 15th pick /
1993
49
Kevin Smith 27 TE 1 0 255 6-4
UCLA 7/25/1969 4 Los Angeles Raiders / 7th / 185th pick /
1992
73
Aaron Taylor 24 G 16 16 305 6-4
Notre Dame 11/14/1972 1 Green Bay Packers / 1st / 16th pick /
1994
83
Jeff Thomason 27 TE 16 1 255 6-5
Oregon 12/30/1969 4
63
Adam Timmerman 25 G 16 16 310 6-4
South Dakota State 8/14/1971 1 Green Bay Packers / 7th / 230th pick /
1995
92
Reggie White* 35 DE-DT 16 16 291 6-5
Tennessee 12/19/1961 11 Philadelphia Eagles / 1st / 4th pick /
1984 Supp
64
Bruce Wilkerson 32 T-G 14 2 295 6-5
Tennessee 7/28/1964 9 Los Angeles Raiders / 2nd / 52nd pick /
1987
98
Gabe Wilkins 25 DE-DT 16 1 304 6-5
Gardner-Webb 9/1/1971 2 Green Bay Packers / 4th / 126th pick /
1994
51
Brian M. Williams 24 LB 16 16 240 6-1
USC 12/17/1972 1 Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 73rd pick /
1995
37
Tyrone Williams 23 DB 16 0 193 5-11
Nebraska 5/31/1973 Rook Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 93rd pick /
1996
52
Frank Winters* 32 C-G 16 16 291 6-3
Western Illinois 1/23/1964 9 Cleveland Browns / 10th / 276th pick /
1987
Team Total 27.1
16
243.0 6-2.2
3.9
Now, without going into semantics, I count 11 players who were VERY important in hindsight to getting us a SB win. THe difference? They were signed over the prior years. All this to say that FAs DO HELP win SUPERBOWLS!!!!
I am not saying "lets sign a bunch of guys for bunches of money right now for a SB run".
I am saying we need to continue to find those C-Woods, Picketts, and Grants, all who will get us there. We are doing a great (ok, good) job. Its now time to amp up and find the last few to push it through.
I dont want to be the Eagles, always going to and Losing NFC Champ games. Always a bridesmaid...
We are built NOW to get there. We need some more players, but the key is to do it when the players we HAVE are ready. I really think that it was last year, but we didnt have the line yet. If we can repeat the success of last season with a LINE and a HEALTHY Harris, I think we can make that push next season.
Or we will continue to rebuild.