The Patriots do this incredibly well. They identify future needs and seek out up-and-coming players who can fill those roles, either via the draft or even off the street. Look at Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler, an undrafted free agent afterthought who is now a quality, wildly inexpensive starter for a team that earned a playoff bye.
I learned a great deal about player evaluation, player acquisition, the draft, how to organize a scouting department, and most importantly, the marriage between the scouting department and the coaching staff. All of our decisions will be based on what’s in the best interest of the Detroit Lions, period.
We will have a plan. We will use all avenues of player acquisition. The NFL Draft is not the only way to acquire players, free agency, trades, waiver wire, tryouts, other leagues. We will use analytics as a supplemental tool, not a primary tool in scouting. Our team will be based on having outstanding depth. Injuries happen in this game. One of my main roles with the Patriots was to find that next player, and I feel like we are going to have to do that here with the Lions.
We. Will. Have. A. Plan.[/quote]
http://sidelionreport.com/2016/01/12/bob-quinn-and-the-patriot-way-in-detroit/
GREAT READ