Draft Daily: How does free agency affect draft strategy?

Pro Football Focus’ Draft Daily will hit on a number of NFL Draft-related topics including recent news, scouting reports, PFF draft takes, and much more on a frequent basis.

Free agency impact

Free agency is upon us. and players are signing deals at a frenetic pace. Some NFL teams approach free agency as the time to fill roster holes so that they can select the best players available in the draft without overcompensating for a position of need. A team signing a high-priced free agent at a position doesn’t necessarily preclude it from using a draft pick on the same position, but in the salary cap era it’s not necessarily the best team-building strategy to have a disproportionate amount of a team’s salary cap tied up in just one position. Therefore, these free agent signings will impact every teams’ draft boards to some degree. So be sure to check out our Free Agency Tracker with 24-hour coverage, and stay up to date with all of the news from a PFF perspective: https://www.pff.com/pro-2017-nfl-free-agency-news-updates/

PFF scouting report

Here is our scouting report on Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp. Lamp had an outstanding senior season and has picked up steam since the season ended. Lamp’s versatility should see him be one of the first offensive linemen selected in a draft class that lacks a ton of top-end talent.

"Shows good ability on backside cut blocks. Good fit for a zone-blocking scheme."

Forrest Lamp scouting reporthttps://t.co/nQ0UBOHUnv

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 9, 2017

PFF analyst draft takes

"The more I watch the more I think there's a decent chance Temple LB Hasson Reddick is the best player in the entire draft."@PFF_Sam pic.twitter.com/qMl4orqQMu

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 8, 2017

Temple linebacker Hasson Reddick’s game has been getting attention since the end of the season. Thus far through draft season events such as Senior Bowl and the combine, Reddick has been showing off his tremendous athleticism and also his versatility. Reddick’s ability to be a rangy off-the-ball linebacker and also a productive edge-rusher can’t be ignored, but this is a bold claim from Sam Monson.

PFF Draft Podcast

For those of you who enjoy getting your information in audio form. our podcasts will keep you up to date on all the action from a PFF perspective. Senior Analysts Sam Monson and Mike Renner discussed the free agents who are set to make an impact on their new team on the latest PFF Podcast. Subscribe to the podcast and follow along with us as we move through the free agency and up to the draft.

Be sure to download and subscribe to the PFF Podcast from your favorite provider.

From the ‘My guys’ list

During the 2013 season, I was evaluating North Carolina’s seniors when a freshman wide receiver named Ryan Switzer kept catching my eye and distracting me from the task at hand. Switzer was an instant big-play machine for the Tar Heels both as a receiver and a punt returner. Switzer can change directions so suddenly that routes like a post-corner become opportunities for him to create separation from the defensive back within the structure of the route. Switzer’s change-of-direction ability will him allow him to thrive in the slot in the NFL just as it did in 2016 when he racked up 84 catches and 960 yards in the slot for North Carolina. Switzer is a very technically sound receiver who does a lot of the little things right and should be able to make an impact as a rookie for the NFL team that drafts him.

PFF Draft Pass

PFF Draft Pass has officially launched, and can be accessed by clicking here. Users can now view PFF signature stat breakdowns by position, and will soon have access to expanded scouting profiles with grades and signature stats for each top prospect. In addition, PFF Draft Pass users will have access to the PDF version of the PFF Draft Pass in the coming weeks.