That's just part of team development and not what I would personally consider "substantial" free agent moves. That is, spending real money on proven talent. UDFAs that develop into good players are not the same thing. Ted Thompson may only be pretty good at my so-called "substantial" free agency pursuits because he rarely dabbles, but I can't help but think he could have had similar success another time or two. Another couple of players could have made a big difference. It's happen many times throughout the NFL the past few years. It doesn't always work out, but that's football.
And if bringing in Peppers or other similar players hurts the development of players such as MD Jennings, Brad Jones, CJ Wilson, et al., then so be it. That's a risk I'd be more than comfortable with taking. The actual cream would still rise to the top, imo. Sometimes a free agent or developing young player won't work out, but what about when they actually do?
Originally Posted by: DoddPower