About to enter my first draft and free agency and I was just wondering what I should be doing during the free agency week. Out of contract players are released in free agency week. What exactly happens in respect of signing players, is it first come first served, is it the best contract offer overnight etc?
Planning wise do coaches look to plug gaps now or after the draft,
Any other ideas?

* All pending FAs will be released for signing

*Players will accept best bonus money not necessarily the highest contract.

*This is the only time you can poach a coach from another team.

Something also to remember, all players you didn't sign on your team will still show on your team until they are signed or the training camp sim ..

Edit: forgot to add some players will wait maybe 2 or 3 sims to sign.

I would also add:

*Set your draft board.

*Reevaluate your weights for the draft.

Very good advice above.

As to your question about coaches filling holes now or later, that is where you have to do some homework. Before spending a fortune on a player in FA, check out what the talent at the given position is in the draft. If the draft class is pretty stocked, let the FA go and pick a rookie in the draft. If there is not much help in the draft, or you are in desperate need, then I would put some funds (lots for elite players) to the FA.

As mentioned somewhere in the forum world....there is a reason they are a Free Agent. Looks can be deceiving at times. Like mentioned below, do your homework. Are they old? Are they often injured? Check out their stats. Do they miss tackles, do they have a terrible catch %. Happy hunting.