I thought about doing this as a poll, but haven't we all suffered enough? :D

Seriously, though, as free agency hits in the NFL, I'm wondering what position other FOFCers think most warrants overpaying. By that I mean which position merits free agency offers above basic player talent/value due to its importance. I realize this varies from year to year due to player availability, but answer it just as a general rule.

I'm leaning toward cornerback. It just seems like quality corners are too hard to come by, and in some ways they either "have it" or they don't.

Thoughts?

Punters, baby! It's all about the punters!

Originally posted by Kodos
Punters, baby! It's all about the punters!
Speaking to you as an alien, can you imagine punting on a planet with lower gravity? Like the punt goes up a 1/2 mile? I already think punt returner is the worst job in football, but DAMN!

Well I wouldn't overpay for anything. I think overpaying for any one person is what kills most teams.

Clearly quarterback is the single most important player to any team, but aside from that I think I'd agree that cornerback is a very important position. Great ones take the opponent's best reciever out of the game.

I'd overpay the coach. Seems like if you get a good one, he can make the most out of guys playing at minimum.

Originally posted by WSUCougar
Speaking to you as an alien, can you imagine punting on a planet with lower gravity? Like the punt goes up a 1/2 mile? I already think punt returner is the worst job in football, but DAMN!

We've got some deep thinkers here at FOFC, yes indeed. :)

I would definitely overpay the coach.

but, that wasn't one of the options, so I'll say QB.

If I owned a team I would offer the exact amount of $1 in bonus money for the players on the squad. Whoever produced would then divide all of the busloads of money that was left and the rest would be beheaded.

i wouldnt overpay anyone but the coach...a team made up of a star CB and less players around him wont stop anyone. a corner can only cover a person so long, no pash rush and eventually he is open. a team made up of a great QB with no offensive line gets crushed and cant show his talents anyways. so dont overpay for anyone and hit every position and you should be in business.

In real life, I think center is the most underpaid and underrated. They are the least paid on the O Line and they are usually the captains and signal callers of the line. All great O lines of history have great centers. Think of your great Hall of Fame O lineman of all time (Jim Otto, Mike Webster, Jim Langer, etc) and they frequently are centers. Yet when was the last time a center was a first round draft pick? I'd be willing to overpay for a great center.

As far as FOF4 is concerned, safety. In my experience safeties are the big play makers on D. For their relatively cheap salary they pay off big time. Yeah, I'd pay more than the market will bear for a great one.

I'd overpay my O-line. Given enough time anyone will eventually get open and a bad QB will be able to hit him with a pass. Given a good enough line anyback will look like a superstar. But you also need five good guys so if it meant paying a good but not great player superstar money to sure up a major hole on my line id do it.

I wouldn't overpay for any position, but the most important position, is probably QB, or maybe RB

A good blocking TE. Blocking TEs usually don't demand a really high salary, and they can be key in the running game, so it wouldn't hurt too bad to overpay there.

D. Woody for NE was a first round pick a few years ago. A first round pick and he can't shotgun snap.

I'd definately overpay for a guy who can protect my quarterback's blind side

A great quarterback, not a decent quarterback. I wouldn't fork out millions for Elvis Grbac or Brian Griese but if someone like Manning, McNabb or Favre ever got loose, I'd pay them a large portion of my team's cap. Of course, wouldn't any team and that's why they're never available in free agency. :D (Except in FOF, LOL)

A position that might be open for free agency I'd pay a bundle for is a dominant defensive lineman, preferable a pass rushing menace. Reggie White was free. The Cowboys managed to trade for Charles Haley. Every once in a while, you can find a great defensive lineman.

In FOF4 safety is key, also QB and RB and DL.

In the NFL, coach seems to be key, as does CB.

In college (where they do pay, really), tailback and DL are key.

I would overpay my O-line. Can't have my QB getting knocked around all game.

I'd overpay for a bruising, blocking FB. He doesn't need to run the ball or even catch passes, just create holes for my RB.

I would overpay for RB. it seems you can win a Super Bowl with a 3rd round drafted QB (it's happened the past 4 years). but it seems that by and large most every great running back is selected in the 1st round. other than Terrell Davis (7th round, i believe) or any other Denver RB, it looks like you get more bang for your buck with a great RB.

and unless you're talking about Vick or McNabb, who can turn make do with less than stellar supporting casts, a QB is only as good as his WR's. a perfect pass means squat if a WR can't break away from a CB. but a great RB (Barry Sanders comes to mind) or even a very good one (LaDanian Tomlinson) can take a shitty team and make 'em competitive right off the bat.