Some teams go wild spending for veterans in free agency. Others prefer to focus on the fresh crop of college talent.
Free agency philosophies vary almost as much as teams’ uniforms, and they can change year to year depending on the budget.
Fans love free agency because most of the players are known quantities, if not household names. But it’s important to remember when the market opens Tuesday that there are always reasons these players are available in the first place, be it consistency, character, chemistry or simply cost.
“In a perfect world,” Bears GM Ryan Pace said, “you address a lot of your needs in free agency to open up the draft for (the) best player available.”
Broncos boss John Elway has made some splashy moves in free agency the last few years, including signing the biggest free agent ever in Peyton Manning. He’s also lured Louis Vasquez, Wes Welker, T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware.