If you've paid any attention to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 13 years Marvin Lewis has served as head coach, you know the organization has tried hard to build through the draft.
As long as the team can draft well in the later rounds and find quality undrafted free agents, the belief is those same players can be offered affordable, sensible contract extensions on second and third deals that keep them in stripes.
It's a philosophy that goes back many years, handed down annually as an unofficial edict from team president Mike Brown.
Since 2009, the approach has worked. That year, the Bengals reached the playoffs, kicking off an unprecedented string of five postseason berths in the past six years. Much of the talent on each of those playoff teams was homegrown talent; players drafted or signed as undrafted free agents by the Bengals.
According to this post from ESPN national NFL reporter Kevin Seifert, as of this offseason, the Bengals are the best team in the league at developing homegrown talent. With help from ESPN Stats & Information, Seifert found that 37 players on Cincinnati's current roster were former Bengals draft picks. That number includes defensive end Michael Johnson, who returned to the team this offseason after spending last season in Tampa Bay.
Like Seifert mentioned, much of this speaks to continuity within the front office. Although transitioning duties in recent years to his daughter, executive vice president Katie Blackburn, Brown still holds the same title he has had since the 1991 death of his father and team founder, Paul Brown. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin has been part of the club since 1999, and Lewis has held his role since 2003.
Only the Patriots have gone longer without a head-coaching search than the Bengals.
Seifert and Stats & Information found that just behind the Bengals' 37 homegrown players were the 32 the Green Bay Packers currently have. In part because of their better postseason track record, the Packers have long been praised for their ability to stay quiet in free agency each year, only to draft and retain quality talent.
The Bengals have taken the same approach, but haven't been met with the same level of adulation. Again, Lewis' 0-6 playoff record likely has something to do with that. The Packers, meanwhile, have won a Super Bowl in the time Lewis has been in Cincinnati.
New Orleans is the worst at keeping homegrown talent, according to the findings. The Saints have just 15 former team draft picks on their current roster. The Browns are next lowest with 16.