I’m sure most, if not all, of us are familiar with the venus flytrap. A beautiful creature, really, if you’re not aware of how it works. Enticing flowers, beautiful leaves, and bright, attractive colors can make it difficult to avoid, and even ignore. The few flies who act based on such difficulties, perish.

The same holds true for free agency. As fans, whether of the Chiefs, or of any other team, as I recently heard a Redskins fan complain of the lack of action in free agency. Ironic, right? As far as false hope goes, free agency may easily be the biggest display in sports. The success of Asante Samuel in New England’s dominance, the shocking athleticism when Bernard Berrian was able to get the ball in his hands, and the peaks of inconsistency in players like Alge Crumpler, Shaun Rogers, and D.J. Hackett all seem tempting. But for those ignorant of the risks, they become flies.

Looking at our current needs, we definitely need a LT, C, CB, and a 2nd WR, while a RG, DT, and RT would be wonderful for insurance purposes. We would literally have to hit on every single one of our draft picks to accomplish that all in one season. While that makes it seem reasonable to expect a large quantity of free agents, it shouldn’t be a shock (as I’ve already said) or a disappointment to not make any blockbuster deals. Yet we all still find ourselves longing for the very thing we’ve detested over the past few seasons. You’ve heard it many times, and you will here again.

You build your team through the draft.

Now that doesn’t mean you can’t sign free agents. It just means you generally shouldn’t. While occasionally you can find a Priest Holmes, an Adalius Thomas, or a Terrell Owens (the Cowboy version), but you more often end up with Kendrell Bell, Mike Williams, the Cleveland Broncos defensive line, or at best, maybe a Patrick Surtain. It’s true what they say, that players get cut for a reason. In rare occasions, that may be system, or attitude, or a new coaching staff, but in most cases, it’s not. It’s because they underachieve, they have no work ethic, they’re damaged beyond repair, or hey, they just suck.

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