I don't believe that getting players from other teams is the way to build a team. Whether you trade for them, or just pick up free-agents, it's just not a successfull, team-building way of doing things. You build a team through the draft and you don't worry about shopping for used parts until you're ready to get those one or maybe two pieces that you need to hit the big time. It seems to me that making big trades (for players) is how you become a team that competes, but can't win anything big. It's instant gratification and REAL gratification comes to those who work for it and are patient.
Heres a few things that do work (generally):
trading a high pick for more lower picks;
trading over-hyped players for picks or more, younger, best-of-them-still-to-come players (probably the opposite of Ray Lewis);
not paying players what you think they will be worth some day;
not having a defense that demands 11 geniouses on the field, all of them with the skills of professional athletes--one which I doubt the DC himself could play if he was young and super-athletic (at least he would know what he did wrong after the fact);
don't replace an average veteran with a rookie, just because he is probably going to be a stud in about 5 yrs (let him sit and watch);
don't believe the hype surrounding the draft every year and then, in turn, don't give up on a player completely when he sucks 2 years into the pros. There's a reason that some of those guys are called veterans and it shows when they demolish most of the rookies. What you want is a team full of guys that are just hitting their prime, getting paid like the losers they've been in the past, and kicking butt for the money they will get paid come next contract time. That is how you kick tail and take no prisoners. When they all start raking in the millions, you can't keep them all. The last thing you want is a few overpaid superstars (that you're paying for what they did in their prime FOR ANOTHER TEAM) and a cheap team around them that has no chance of winning big in the playoffs.
Obviously, these are general guidelines, but just think how much better off they'd be if McNair had said years ago, "Cass, don't trade for players until we only need a piece or two. I'll let you know when we get there."
I guess my answer to the poll is none of the above. Making the playoffs is an awefull lot to ask for after last year and I don't like the other ideas (maybe Abraham....maybe). If we trade down and Bush is STILL available (that is possible, you know), then we ALL know what to do.
You're never going to get the best deal, if you insist on buying the brand new exotic sports car and then get your doors blown off by a souped up, 40 yr. old Mustang. That's just the way it is.
