We’re always looking for an edge, right? Something that will help us make the right choice between two or more players when it’s time to draft. Age, injury status and schedule are all things to consider. And sometimes, we even use contract status. But should we?

It make sense, of course. A guy wants a new deal, so he has millions of reasons to play just a little harder and be a little more resilient. Why shouldn’t that be a valuable tiebreaker?

Well, it should, kinda. At least, it would if there was a clear sense of what a “contract year” really is anymore. Is Kirk Cousins in a contract year? Sure, but when isn’t he in one? Drew Brees is in one, but what does he need to prove? Devonta Freeman is also in one, but by the time you draft he might not be. And even if he is, a deal could be done at any time.

So who's in a situation where a player could really step up to get a deal? Jarvis Landry is going to play out his rookie contract. If anyone has a reason to really shine, it's him. But what can he really accomplish? If the Dolphins don't want him, they'll let him walk. If they don't want someone else to have him, they can franchise-tag him if a long-term deal doesn't make sense. And those options are there if he catches 20 passes or 200 passes in 2017.

So what incentive (aside from the regular incentives of an elite-level, competitive athlete) does someone like that have? Will it matter on your draft day? Is anybody really in a difference-making contract year? And even if they are, a deal will usually get done before the season starts or the team has already decided it won't matter.

Well, that's the irony of the contract system in the NFL. While it might look like nobody's really in a contract year, the truth is that everybody is in one. Even when you sign a new contract, it's still a contract year.

Brock Osweiler signed a four-year contract for more than $70 million. Exactly one year later, he was traded to Cleveland. For most players (with smaller contracts and guaranteed numbers) they would have been released outright. The first year of every contract is also a contract year.

So is it meaningless? Not always. How about Doug Martin? He's had exactly two good years in the NFL: His rookie year and the last year of his rookie deal. I'm sure those who drafted him have been frustrated at times, and that includes the Buccaneers. Still, I bet he's on your draft board somewhere.

Alshon Jeffery is a guy who wants to parlay his one-year deal into a long-term contract, so he has all the motivation in the world. What he doesn't have is a difference-making quarterback. Kind of a big deal, no?

Maybe I'm not smart enough to navigate who will or won't perform better due to their contract status, but it sure seems like a mess to me. I could see a guy going all out to prove his worth, and I could see him not wanting to get injured when he's on the cusp of earning life-changing money. If he's had a great year and he knows there's a payday in free agency, how motivated would he be to play hurt during the final games of a losing season? How about the all-important week 16?

Personally, I don't dread contract years and I don't look forward to them. I think we make too much of them because there are so many other variables that impact a player's opportunities. Play well and you may or may not get rewarded with a long-term deal. Play poorly and you'll likely be wearing a different helmet.

I'm all for finding factors that can make a difference when the time comes to fill out our roster. I just don't really think this is one of them.

Am I crazy? Do you get real draft-day mileage out of considering contract status? What's the best way to get that information to work in your favor? Share your thoughts below.