All in or bargain shop in free agency?

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, over the years I've come to the conclusion teams should only spend money or invest serious draft capital in quarterbacks, pass rushers and positions where the ideal player is a physical oddity, such as offensive linemen or corners. Safeties, receivers, off-ball linebackers and running backs are great if they fall into your lap, but you shouldn't chase them. I think I learned most of this from you. My question is where do tight ends fit in this picture?
Their supply is ample. A team in need of a tight end should be able to address the position in any year's draft. I think of tight end as a rounds 3-5 type of position. Gronkowski is a two. Kelce is a three.

Jim from Monroe, WI
Vic, if the Packers do manage to trade for Dee Ford, do you think that would be a good move?
He's a one-trick pony, but it's a very important trick. This draft is loaded with pass rushers. I think the Packers can find their guy in the draft and probably even find better for less money.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, do you have any good John Kuhn stories?
Kuhn and Aaron Rodgers sat in the row behind me on a Packers flight, and they had me laughing with their humor for the whole flight. Kuhn is an accomplished football player and a bright man who, I have no doubt, will be just as successful in his post-football life as he was during his productive and popular career with the Packers.

Randy from Medicine Hat, AB
As it relates to life, what does "always buy, never sell" mean?
It means don't quit, keep living by finding new ways to enrich your life.

Derrick from Rockaway, NJ
Did Antonio Brown get rewarded for acting like a brat? I hope this doesn't set a bad precedent.
Going to the Raiders is a reward? By the way, this  isn't the first time in Steelers history something like this has happened. Ernie Holmes walked out on his team in 1977 and was traded following the season. Brown has spent his entire career to this point playing with one of the best deep-ball, big-play quarterbacks I've ever seen. He may come to regret his temper tantrum.

Dave from Savage, MN
Do you have any Dan Jenkins stories? I loved his stuff.
Jenkins was in the Orange Bowl press box when Raquel Welch made her Super Bowl X appearance. We all shot each other a look. I love his writing. He was old-school football and his writing helped give the game the toughness that made it the most popular professional sport in America. "Semi-Tough" is not-so-semi genius. It embodied the personality of the game I loved and miss. I was in awe of Jenkins; I still am.

Mark from Nashville, TN
I have used your BAP philosophy to recruit physicians into our quaternary care medical center, where previously we hired for specific need. It has worked extremely well and I thank you, Vic. I even have our senior leadership talking best available player.
Who doesn't want the best available doctor?

Aaron from White Hall, AR
Vic, if there is one thing in football I hate to hear, it's when I hear a team is in win-now mode. I feel if the Jaguars sign Nick Foles, then Tom Coughlin will be putting the team in salary cap hell for the second time. Am I off base with this?
That's the risk and it appears the Jaguars are prepared to take it. Look at it this way: They have a good team, but they don't have a good quarterback. That won't work.

Tom from New York, NY
NFL success at which positions can be most realistically predicted by college football performance? I see college and the NFL as two completely different sports.
I think the interior line positions translate to college and the NFL equally well. Aaron Donald, for example, has been as dominant in the NFL as he was in college football. The scheme positions are where it gets most unpredictable.

Dan from Richmond, TX
Vic, aside from best player available and move to where the value fits a position of need, are there any other draft philosophies you think are good practice?
Coach Noll was fond of saying "never fall in love with a guy." His point was another team could draft that player and leave you lost to find a prospect you love as much. That happened to Bill Belichick with Kyle Brady.

Brian from Yakima, WA
The Packers have a decent amount of cap space this offseason. Would you favor them signing a starter type or two, or going for 4-5 players that cost much less but would add depth and plug in for a year or two?
I prefer the bargain-shopping approach.

Pete from Minneapolis, MN
What is the best thing about free agency?
It creates offseason enthusiasm and helps teams create change where they need to change the most.

Johan from Pembroke, IN
Is the biggest challenge facing Matt LaFleur whether or not his team will be able to maintain a lead with four minutes left in Seattle?
The biggest challenge facing LaFleur is getting to those last four minutes in Seattle.

Ben from Alameda, CA
How do teams ascertain leadership qualities in a combine interview? What would you ask in a combine interview?
I would ask a prospect what he thinks I need to know about him. If he doesn't understand I know everything there is to know about him, and he doesn't voluntarily address any particular issues in his background, he's either too stupid or too unaccountable to play for me, unless he's really good. If he's really good, I'll probably make an exception for him.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Vic, you said the Steelers would be lucky to get a third-round pick for Antonio Brown. How did you know?
Picks, not players. Some things never change.