jackals wrote:
Mutable technical skills change from game to game over time based on the hidden trend variable, coach skills (requires being on a team), etc. Picking up a player means that the coaches' skills are being taken into consideration for future ratings.
The way you're describing it, it probably has more to do with my coaching staff. I do look for highly qualified coaches (besides the head coach's specific playbooks). I know physical attributes like speed/acceleration/strength change with a position swap weight gain (RB to FB, TE to RG, etc.), but I'd figure that current levels of skills like route running or B&R avoid (not future potential) would stay the same regardless of the team.
I don't look at player skill levels on a game to game basis, just see what happens at training camp and work on the assumption it will be at that level for the entire season. I know rookies develop quicker with more experience, but I figure that a fifth year WR has most likely reached whatever ceiling he has and won't suddenly boom out of nowhere.