Vision Quest: Off Season Gameplan, Offensive Needs by Position

The Super Bowl is over, the pro-Bowl is on tap and soon the off season will officially be here. However most teams, including the Redskins, are already scouting and filling out their free agent wish lists. Normally this is the season we look forward to the most. The Redskins for the past few years have won the March Super Bowl but failed to produce once September came around.

Not this year. Following a very successful season the Redskins are not looking to splurge in free agency. The Redskins go into free agency with only one major offensive hole (#2 WR) and a need for role players in every other position. I do think a large signing at WR is a very real possibility with 2-3 smaller role players, vet minimum signings to flush out the offense. Of course the Redskins may opt to address some of these needs in the draft. But with only 5 picks, and no first rounder, it is unlikely that all of the role players will be found there. I expect the Redskins to be very active in the mid tier free agent market this year.

Below I have analyzed each position on offense. I have listed the current players under contract as well as any Redskin free agent at that position. I also suggest the expected off season moves for this position and my top 3 Free Agent targets for the Redskins. Keep in mind the Redskin targets do not necessarily match up with the most talented free agents expected to be on the market. Free Agency in the cap era is a balancing act and there are different needs at each position. I list the top targets I believe the Redskins should, and hopefully will, take a look at this off season.

Quarterback
Current Roster: Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell, Patrick Ramsey
Redskin Free Agents: None
Suggested Off Season Move: Trade Patrick Ramsey for a mid round draft pick, replace with a veteran journeyman QB.
CNY’s Top 3 Free Agents to target: Tim Hasslebeck (NYG), Bryson Spinner (UFA), Todd Collins (KC)

Ok Patrick Ramsey is pretty much out of DC. When you rent a U-Haul to clean out your locker and the new Associate Head Coach Offense Al Saunders fails to mention your name when talking about the good quarterbacks on the team, the writing is pretty much on the wall. On top of that Ramsey is in the final year of his rookie contract and can save a cap strapped club close to 2 million if traded and is the only real trade bait that can garner a modest draft pick and even Stevie Wonder can see this coming.

With Ramsey’s departure Campbell will move up to the #2 spot behind Mark Brunell and have an outside chance at the starting nod. So the Redskins need a #3/emergency QB to round out the roster. This should be someone who is willing to take a vet minimum and not someone who will take a large paycheck. Tim Hasslebeck may wish to move back to the DC area and Gibbs loved him in his first year here. Tim though may not be willing to be a 3rd QB again. Bryson Spinner may actually have a shot at making the final roster now. He was in training camp each of the last two year’s and is a young mobile QB who might be worth the risk. Todd Collins already knows Al Saunder’s system from his time in KC.

All three of these players would be willing to play for vet minimum or close to it. I doubt we spend any draft choices on this position in 2006, so making a correct choice in free agency will be key. Look for the redskins to sign both Collins and invite Spinner to camp and let them fight it out for the final QB spot.

Running Back
Current Roster: Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, Nehemiah Broughton
Redskin Free Agents: Rock Cartwright
Suggested Off-season Move: Resign Rock Cartwright and keep unit intact for next season.
CNY’s Top 3 Free Agents to target: None

There is no position on the Redskin roster that is as chock full of talent as this one. Even if Rock does not resign with us we have 3 very good RBs in Portis, Betts, and Nemo. If Rock does resign then the squad may look to see if anyone has an outrageous offer Ladell Betts as well. If not they will keep all 4 running backs as they did last year and have great depth behind super stud Clinton Portis.

Wide Receiver
Current Roster: Santana Moss, David Patten, Taylor Jacobs, James Thrash, Antonio Brown, Jimmy Farris
Redskin Free Agents: None
Suggested Off Season Move: Sign a big name solid #2 wide receiver in free agency to start opposite Moss. Play Patten in the slot and let Thrash play #4 WR. Jacobs, Brown, Farris, and others can fight for the 5th WR spot.
CNY’s Top 3 Free Agents to target: David Givens (NE), Joe Jurevicius (SEA), Antwaan Randle-El (PIT)

The most talked about need for the Redskins in the off season is a true #2 Wide Receiver. A true #2 would make opposing defenses be honest in their coverage and open up the field for Moss. Patten could fill that role again but it makes more sense to move him into the slot. Perennial disappointment Taylor Jacobs is a practice stud but a game day dud. James Thrash is a great role player and decent depth at WR, but that is about it. Antonio Brown can’t catch and Jimmy Farris is too raw of a prospect.

The Redskins will probably look at free agency to solve this problem. Personally this writer wants Reggie Wayne, but word out of Indy is they would rather franchise him then let him get away. So given that I would love for the Redskins to bring in David Givens. He is young and has come into his own as a big strong possession receiver and would be the perfect compliment to Moss and Patten. Joe Jurevicius is my close second and only because of age. His is huge and can go over the middle as well as run a decent post pattern. Randle-El is the sexy pick and probably the most expensive, thus he is third on my list. I do like the possibilities of him returning kicks for us and throwing off a reverse.

H-Back
Current Roster: Chris Cooley, Mike Sellers, Manuel White, JR.
Redskin Free Agents: None
Suggested Off Season Move: Keep everything the same, find a couple of new cheerleaders for Cooley.
CNY’s Top 3 Free Agents to target: None.

If running back is the most stocked position this is a very close second. The only thing in flux here is what Al Saunders is going to do with the h-back. I suspect he will keep it and use more combinations of Mike Sellers at h0back and Chris Cooley lined up as TE. Manny White will have a chance at a roster spot in that case backing up Mike Sellers. With no free agents to sign and no real depth needed I see very little action here or in the draft.

Tight End
Current Roster: Robert Johnson, Calen Powell
Redskin Free Agents: Robert Royal, Brian Kozlowski
Suggested Off Season Move: Resign Robert Royal but either look in the draft or Free agency for an upgrade to start at TE.
CNY’s Top 3 Free Agents to target: Chris Baker (NYJ), Christian Fauria (NE), Roland Williams (STL)

This is my pet peeve ads some will remember last year’s love letters to Heath Miller. Still Robert Royal did prove to be a poor TE this last year. He was a little better at blocking then the previous year but he showed inconsistency in receiving even without factoring in his disastrous game against San Diego. An upgrade at TE can and should be done.

I don’t know if it can be done in free agency though. There are remarkably little talented free agents out there and none I would like to throw big money after. So I would resign Robert Royal and look to the draft to upgrade over him. However if the Redskins were unable to sign Royal or were not willing to use a draft pick on the position, then there are a few prospects out there. Before breaking his leg Chris Baker was showing signs of promise as a receiving and blocking TE for the Jets. He could provide good competition for Royal and is relatively young. Christian Fauria is getting up there in age (35) but is an underrated blocker and decent receiver. He is also coming off an injury year and may take a low salary for one more shot at a ring. Roland Williams is far removed from his glory days during the 1999 Super Bowl, but has size and talent and could be an upgrade at TE.

Offensive Line
Current Roster: Jon Jansen, Chris Samuels, Randy Thomas, Casey Rabach, Cory Raymer, Jon Alston, Jim Molinaro
Redskin Free Agents: Derrick Dockery (RFA)
Suggested Off Season Move: Tender Derrick Dockery and Release Cory Raymer, look at mid level free agents on the interior of the line and also on 2nd day of the draft.
CNY’s Top 3 Free Agents to target: Mike Flanagan C (GB), Tom Nutten G (STL), Toniu Fonoti G (MIN)

Depth, especially on the interior, is the main concern here for the Redskins. The starting five most likely to return. Dockery is the weak link here and the only free agent. However he is a restricted free agent and unlikely to see a lot of action. He will more then likely get one more year to improve and keep his job. With Ray Brown’s retirement though there is no quality sub on the interior of the line, especially with the expected release of Cory “Ole’” Raymer.

Most likely the second day of the draft will be teaming with young players to fill in on the cheap and compete for roster sots, but the Redskins would be advised to get one experienced inner lineman that can step in due to injury. Mike Flanagan has been a competent Center in Green Bay and may accept a reserve role on a championship caliber club to chase one more ring. The same with Tom Nutten, guard, from St. Louis. Both ended last year injured and may not get high offers from other clubs. Another interesting prospect is Toniu Fonoti, G, from Minnesota. He was injured in his first start with Minnesota but is a promising young guard who could push Dockery.

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