Adofo-Mensah’s veteran acquisitions include quarterback Sam Darnold; tight end T.J. Hockenson; running back Aaron Jones; offensive tackle Cam Robinson; defensive linemen Jerry Tillery, Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard; linebackers Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard; and cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin.
If you’re very good at identifying current NFL talent and not so good at identifying 22-year-old college talent, why wouldn’t you play to your strength?
There is precedent for this in NFL history. Former Washington coach George Allen hated playing rookies, so he kept his veterans around as long as possible and augmented his roster with veterans he could acquire, although free agency was not a big factor in the old NFL.
For all of his renown, Patriots coach and de facto GM Bill Belichick drafted poorly for much of his stay in New England and made up for his lack of draft prowess by keeping his most valuable veterans and augmenting his roster with veteran free agents.
It’s a more expensive strategy than building through the draft. It’s also more reliable.
Look at the players the Vikings acquired last offseason. Now look at the players available for low prices on the trade market during this season — Davante Adams, Diontae Johnson, Ernest Jones, DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper. The highest price paid for these quality veterans: the conditional third-round pick the Jets sent to Las Vegas for Adams.
