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"I was sick of football ... I ended up resenting everything that pro football represented. I was tired of all of it, the media, football and practice. I just had enough. I put too much pressure on myself and I talked way too much when I came out, probably to get more money." - Tony Mandarich
With the second pick in the 1989 NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers select: Tony Mandarich
Third pick: Barry Sanders (Hall of Famer)
Fourth pick: Derrick Thomas (Hall of Famer)
Fifth pick: Deion Sanders (Future Hall of Famer)
Many times we have seen players taken early in NFL Drafts that don’t pan out, and today I'll be taking a look at the advantages of the NFL Draft verses NFL Free Agency.
Let’s not forget to give praise to Tony Mandarich, who had the fight and heart in him to come back after a cocaine addiction to play football again.
I'll start this off by taking a look at the advantages of the NFL Draft. Take a look at any great team in the National Football League you will notice that they all draft very well.
For example, the Pittsburgh Steelers are always drafting future replacements and seem to never make a wrong move when it comes to letting an older player go. They just replace him with a draft pick.
A recent example would be Larry Foote leaving for the Detroit Lions and the Steelers already having the replacement in former first-round pick Lawrence Timmons to fill the void he leaves at inside linebacker.
Another example would be the Philadelphia Eagles. They always know when to get rid of players at the end of their careers. Last year they got rid of Jeremiah Trotter and had Stewart Bradley in the waiting to replace him. Not only did Bradley outplay Trotter, he is becoming a rising star at MLB.
The real advantage you get in the NFL Draft is that the potential is by far much higher then getting a player through free agency. However, to be fair they also have a higher bust potential. Yet we always see those later round picks making impacts after being a “nobody” in the draft.
Take Trent Cole of the Philadelphia Eagles for example. Cole was the 10th player selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft and has turned out to be one of the best defensive ends in the NFL.
Almost any football fan knows who the 252nd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft was, and that would be Marques Colston. Colston holds the record for the most catches in the first two years of any wide receiver ever with 168. Going from a seventh round pick to a superstar wide receiver is something no one saw for Colston. It just stresses the fact that every single draft picks matters.
The NFL Draft is simply amazing to NFL coaches because it allows them to grow with the player and get to know them from day one when they step onto the field. Coaches start to groom players the first day of training camp and even in mini camps.
The NFL Draft is simply amazing to NFL coaches because it allows them to grow with the player and get to know them from day one when they step onto the field. Coaches start to groom players the first day of training camp and even in mini camps.
Coaches love the ability to develop players and watch them not only grow as a player but as a person in general. Being able to build a connection with a player is a great thing for the team and the community; without a connection you may never see eye to eye.
The benefit of free agency is that you know what type of player you’re getting because you have seen them play at the pro level; it’s a quicker process than drafting a player and teaching him the ropes of football.
The benefit of free agency is that you know what type of player you’re getting because you have seen them play at the pro level; it’s a quicker process than drafting a player and teaching him the ropes of football.
Last year's biggest free agent player was Asante Samuel, who was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles after playing with the Patriots for five years. Samuel was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 draft and quickly became one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
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