As much as I grumble about the things I would do differently were I GM, and as sure I can be that I would get it so much more right, the truth is I feel this has been the best off season we've had in some time. We've let guys go who weren't worth what it would have taken to resign them, and whom we could not afford to resign. We managed to keep those most important. We've signed a few free agents who might turn out to be good value. Though not yet written in stone, it seems we're on track for the maximum number of compensatory picks a team can get -- four. A fourth, a fifth and two sixths. We overpaid a little for a backup QB but it probably was our best option when our former backup slipped away.
If it had been up to me, we would not have resigned Geno. We'd have Lock as our starter. But I know I'm in the minority, particularly in my willingness to have a down season to maximize our chances of being good later. I'd actually welcome a two or three win season followed by high draft picks. I'm still frustrated by the Williams trade and our lack of draft capital, made worse by the loss of draft capital to get Howell. Of all the years to lack draft capital, this is tough because the opportunity is there to strengthen the trenches in rounds one through four. But I'm glad we're absorbing the big cap hits this year, which indicates an intention to get the worst of the Carroll excesses in the rear-view mirror and rebuild in a smart and efficient manner.
If we could turn back the clock and I were in charge, when Rogers went down and the Jets were desperate for a QB, I'd have offered them Geno for this year's first. I'd not have gone near the Williams trade. Just before the mid-season trade deadline, I'd have offered desperate teams Lockett for a second. Perhaps even DK for a first and a second or a couple of firsts if it was a team likely to make a deep run. This draft would be the opportunity to rebuild the foundation of the team. In other words, I'd want a complete reset.
Instead, we're doing a partial reset. The risk is that we remain in the purgatory of mediocrity. But there's at least been an eye toward the longer-term future, which is a breath of fresh air, after so many years of "always compete" short-sighted stupidity.
