Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff
I have my own specific beliefs in what it takes to build and maintain a consistent winner in the NFL. By the nature of the league, that is one of the most difficult tasks to perform in sports. I can argue for finding and paying a franchise quarterback, allocating specific percentages of the cap to certain positions, and weighting draft picks with positional bonuses. But at the end of the day its really not that complicated to each team's fan base.
Get it right. Just get it right.
The roster turnover in the NFL can sometimes go unnoticed to the fan base from a numbers perspective. That makes sense as we celebrate the first round picks and free agent signings yet pay little attention to those taken as late round draft picks or signed as rookie free agents. The number that's pretty standard in the NFL is that 30% of your roster will change each and every year. Blame it on age, contracts, injury, retirement or all out rebuilds, NFL GM's are under constant pressure to "get it right. Just get it right."
Lets take a look at the 2012 Atlanta Falcons. After a 13-3 season and NFC Championship Game loss, the team set out to get a little younger at a few key positions. By the end of the 2013 season, 27 of the 53 spots on the active roster featured players who were not part of the 2012 roster. That's 51%.
Sure, you could argue that injuries were to blame. That does make sense, but now let's take a look at the difference in the 2013 roster and so far in 2014. As of today, 20 of the 53 spots on the roster have featured players that were not on the roster in 2013. That's 38%. The magical 1/3 of the roster changeover is clearly in effect.
The change goes on everywhere. The 2014 Philadelphia Eagles currently have 19 players on their roster that were not on the division championship team of 2013. That's 36% of the roster. It doesn't matter if you're a winner or a loser. NFL GM's must continue to constantly draft, sign, and build a consistent winner. But for fans, they only have one request:
Get it right. Just get it right.