I think everybody is missing the point.
The GM's obligation is to try and assure a long-term point of view for the direction of the team while the HC's job is to assure the team starts winning as quickly as possible.
Since these two goals are not always "consistent" with each other, there needs to be a collaboration between the GM and the HC in determining who to draft, who to get from Free Agency and how to keep the cap under control so we are not "bankrupt" in terms of being able to bring in new players each year.
(Fortunately for us, our new HC is big on "collaboration)
This is a balancing act, where each side must acknowledge the obligations that the other side brings to the table.
There may be coaching changes being made at this point if necessary or just desirable.
The GM needs to organize the draft and provide the HC all the scouting and other information about available players. Then the GM needs to determine how much of what we have can be spent and leave enough for "emergencies" that would require bringing in other player during the season and still be in good shape for the following draft and free agency. That's a lot of talk for saying that a portion of our cap capital will need to be held back and that should fall exclusively to the GM.
The HC needs to evaluate the team and determine what positions need to be improved or backed up. He needs to let the GM know which players performance is beginning to peak or is falling off or is just not developing as hoped for. Throw all this stuff on the table and use it to set up the draft board, along with anticipating which FA's will need to be brought on board. Then contingencies must be determined to address drafts that effect our draft boards plans.
At that point there is an initial plan which may need to be re-adjusted to stay with cap limitations, pre-draft trade developments and other player/personnel changes that are being made. At this point we would begin releasing players and opening trade discussions with other teams, most of which will not be completed until the draft is in progress.
Once that is over, UDFA's will be re-evaluated in light of who we drafted, who we expect to get in FA and what we can spend.
At this point we get serious about FA's.
We probably will not be done yet and late trades and "player adjustments" such as re-writing contracts and replacing good players who take advantage of FA to go to other teams will require some final personnel changes that must be accounted for while we still maintain a cap reserve for future needs.
That's it in a "nutshell", or should I have said Nut Case - LOL
If you don't like it, you can tell it to the Marines.
Just remember one thing, a Marine just laid it out for you - LOL
No - I don't have anything better to do, why do you ask? - LOL
