Maybe it was just his agent ginning up interest, but I read in several places that the market for Branch was heating up. Stills gave us a hometown discount; Kiko was fair; Jones is a top flite safety in the league. We may have overpaid a bit for Timmins but the deal for Hayes more than counterbalances that.
It's very plausible that the roster players we re-signed would have gotten more elsewhere if the FO wasn't so proactive. Also, Buffalo gets credit for overpaying Taylor.. this moke is all over the place.