Year after year, the decisions of the front offices of NFL teams are followed closely and magnified by fans and media alike. Will their team go on a spending spree, throwing dollars at every big name available, in an effort to make a big splash and pay their way into the playoffs?

Or, will they go the conservative route of finding players that fit their system, are relatively inexpensive, and provide help in the areas that are perceived as weaknesses? 

While many feel the draft makes or breaks a team for years to come, the same can be said about free-agent acquisitions. By tying up money in a long-term deal on a player that was either generally overrated, or, in some cases, just a poor fit for a that particular team, a franchise can find themselves in trouble for the forseeable future. 

One of the biggest and most common mistakes is when a particular franchise overpays for a player that simply cannot perform up to the expectations set forth by his contract. Instead of cutting their losses, teams become stubborn and wait for years to see if the player will live up to the investment made. By doing so, they waste seasons at a time and hinder the franchise from moving forward.

It is for this reason that grading each player on an individual basis with accuracy and intelligence is necessary in order to have a successful team.

Don’t sign the guy that was mediocre for the first four years of his contract, but suddenly doubled his numbers in his contract year. He’s most likely going to slump back into mediocrity after his big payday. 

Look for players that have consistenly shown not only a high level of performance, but also the ever-important desire to win, as well as the ability to lead and be good teammates. 

Since all free agents were not created equal, it’s best to break them into groups based on certain qualities:

Class I

This class consists of those who have established themselves as elite players in the league and have a proven track record to back it up. These players carry a hefty price tag and either live up to their expectations with the new team, or in some instances draw the ire of fans, who see them as overpaid and a drain on the salary cap. There are always several teams bidding for their services.    

Class II

The second class consists of young players who are up-and-coming. They have shown signs of improvement each year in the league and should be ready to bust onto the scene as household names at any moment.

These players have proven to be team-oriented and willing to learn. In addition, they do what it takes to become effective players at their position, putting in the necessary thime and effort, something many draft picks fail to do.   

Class III

One of the most important classes, and where some of the best bargains can be found, this class is composed of veterans who would be welcome additions to provide stability by filling a void on many teams. They can vary from special-teams players to second-string running backs and linebackers.

They provide consistent competition for starting roles, thus keeping the current starters sharp and focused. They bring experience, leadership, and the desire to win the right way. 

Class IV

Class Four is made up of the players who never met the lofty expectations that were set by the organizations who made them high draft picks. Yet, teams are not willing to give up on them just yet and hope that a change of scenery is all that will be needed to get that particular player back on track to stardom. 

It’s not uncommon to see the price tags on some of these players inflated based on their names. However, bargain prices are also a very good possibility.

Class V

Finally, there is the class of washups and players with major issues (on or off the field).  These players might have been stars at one point, but they have fallen out of the good graces of teams through their own actions.

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