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A Scout’s Take: The importance of scheme fit when adding defensive linemen

Every year, there are several quality players available in veteran free agency and the NFL Draft. Just because they are good prospects, that doesn't mean they can play in a certain team's offensive or defensive schemes. In today's NFL, it's imperative that a team find players who are capable of playing within their scheme.

There used to be the thought process that a club should just draft good players and find a way for them to fit within the scheme. That is false thinking and sets a club up for losing. I had the opportunity to work with Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells for seven years in New York with the Giants, and Bill had a saying;" If you start drafting exceptions, you're going to have a team full of exceptions… and then you'll lose.