An interesting aspect of free agent signings is how it plays into additional draft picks. If you lose more/better free agents than you signed you will get supplemental draft picks in the following year's draft. Not surprisingly, the Steelers, Pats and Colts have always been good at managing that. Since players that are cut are not treated as typical FAs, I believe this only applies to players that are truly FAs. Someone correct me if I am wrong on that.

This year the only players we have signed away from a former team during free agency are Jack Grove and Joe Berger. However, we lost Goodman and Renaldo Hill. Based on the production of all 4 players in 2008, we definitely gave up more than we received. If I am understanding this correctly, we will hopefully get an additional draft pick out of this in 2010.

The Pats have signed one FA and have seen 5 of their FAs sign with other teams.

I believe this plays into Parcells/Ireland's long term strategy and contributes to the reason they have been so quiet in free agency this year. We have basically made 3 key signings. Cameron Wake who was not a NFL FA; Gibril Wilson who was cut; and Grove who was a FA. Berger was a FA and he could play a role for us, but it is certainly not a "big" signing.

Bottom line is that I think the trifecta's plan going forward will be to build through the draft; not leave a stone unturned in finding new talent (Wake) from outside sources; sign high impact players that were cut (Wilson); and be very selective in free agency. Extra draft picks have helped the Pats, Colts and Steelers for years. I think you will see the Dolphins added to that list in the future.