Vision Quest: 2008 Redskin Cap Cuts & Free Agent Review

Now that the Redskins have a complete coaching staff, including brand new coach Jim Zorn, it is high time that we can turn our eyes towards the Redskin free agents. At the time of writing this article, the Redskins have an amazing 18 free agents. What is amazing is that none of them can really be described as anything more then role players at best.

This is a good thing. Our cap situation is still pretty bad. And although we have had a few restructures, some cuts will have to come as the Redskins are currently $13 million over the NFL Salary Cap of $116 million. However this is not a time to panic either. About 75% of the over cap amount is because of a large roster bonus due to Chris Cooley.

However before we address the Free Agents we need to look at cutting a few players. Here are my nominations (figures in parenthesis are post June 1 cut savings):

Salary Cap Savings

Cut List

Brandon Lloyd, WR Savings: -2.929 (2.405)

On the face of it Lloyd’s cut would actually be a salary cap hit, however under the new NFLPA labor agreement the team will be allowed to designate two cuts per year as post June 1 cuts yet do it at the beginning of the year. Mr. Lloyd, your time has come. A West Coast offense depends on precise routes and sure hands, two things Lloyd does not do well. A post June 1 like cut will give us salary cap space for our draft picks.

Phillip Daniels, DE Savings: 2.986 (3.100)

I know there are once again rumblings on the Defensive staff about keeping Daniels and moving him inside. I still think we are better off just cutting him period. He is ineffective, overpaid, and old. Three things that add up to Cap cut in my opinion.

Todd Wade, OT Savings: -.546 (1.686)

The second post June 1 cut should be Todd Wade. Stephon Heyer’s emergence as a reserve OT has made Wade expendable. Also Wade’s inability to stay healthy and effective will not help his cause.

Honorable Mention

These players will either need to restructure or could possibly be cuts.

Shawn Springs, CB Savings: 2.516 (5.000)

Shawn is always a tempting target because of his cap figure, and entering the last two years of his contract he becomes even more tempting. However circumstances (such as Carlos Roger’s injury) will most likely keep him in DC. I hope the Redskins offer him a true restructuring deal and not the pay cut they tried to force down his throat last year. Otherwise Shawn will most likely make them cut him and he can get paid somewhere else.

Marcus Washington, LB Savings: 2.404 (4.425)

Another tempting target, but once again will get saved because of injury to a young star. The injury to McIntosh means Washington is not as expendable as he once was thought to be. Unlike Springs though, Washington’s play has seriously declined.
Washington will not get a big contract somewhere else and is in less of a negotiating position.

Jon Jansen, OT Savings: -1.770 (4.980)

Jansen has a large $1.25 million roster bonus due this year and is in danger of not seeing it. 2 out of the last 4 years he spent most or all of the season on IR. Stephon Heyer’s emergence could put him in jeopardy as well, but most likely not yet. Jon gets one more year to prove he can be a viable consistent option on the right side of the line.

The Redskin Free Agents:

Once the cap cuts have been done here is how I would treat our free agents.

UFAs

Ethan Albright, LS

This is a must resign, and most likely will be redone soon. Usually big Red will go into Dan Snyder’s office and sign a 1 year contract for Vet minimum or a little above. However he deserves a decent raise since he was in the pro-bowl this year. He simply is one of the best at his position and underappreciated. Don’t break the bank but give him a 3 year contract with a $1 million bonus.

Ryan Boschetti, DT/De/Waterboy

How this guy keeps making the squad year in and year out makes my head hurt. 4 years on the team and not worth a dang. Let him go onto his next career.

Reche Caldwell, WR

I would love to see him in from training camp on. I think he will make plays and can be a decent NFL 3^rd or 4^th WR. But only at vet minimum would I bring him back.

Rock Cartwright, RB/KR

Rock Cartwright has no bigger defender on the web then yours truly. Each of the last 4 years some of the fan base fell in love with some flashy running back and I stuck with Rock. In 2004 it was Sultan McCullogh, 2005, Nemo Broguhton, 2006 Jesse Lumsden, and in 2007 Derrick Blaylock, none of whom could take the 3^rd RB spot from Rock. Rock also was a force on special teams and the last two years in kick returns. So it my come as a surprise for some of you to read that I do not think the Redskins should re-sign him. He simply will cost too much and wants to be involved in the offense. Neither of which the Redskins can offer. Also rock is roughly the same age as Betts and Portis, and the Redskins need youth to back them up. Rock has had 7 good years, more then most 7^th round draft picks could ever hope to have. It is time for him to find greener pastures elsewhere and time for the team to get a young RB to learn the new offense under Zorn.

Mark Brunell, QB

Brunell got 4 years at the end of his career here in DC. It has been a nice ride. We have an open QB coach position, maybe we could offer it to him. I wouldn’t be opposed to a vet minimum signing but Brunell is not a West Coast QB and really serves no purpose under the new regime.

Todd Collins, QB

Thank you for the playoff run Todd, but Papa Al awaits you in St. Louis. Perhaps you can teach the system to Bulger and then try and take his job there as well. Buh Bye.

Rick DeMulling, OL

Never could get on the field even with all the injuries we had on the line. Cya.

Jason Fabini, OL

Jason stepped in for Randy Thomas when he went down, and although he wasn’t horrible, he is not an NFL starter. If he wants to sign for vet minimum fine, but I rather get younger OL guys that can learn the new offensive system and have fresh legs out there.

Derrick Frost, P

Inconsistency, thy name is Derrick Frost. I have no problem with resigning him because he does show flashes of brilliance, but please bring in real competition for him this summer if for no reason other then to save his leg for the season.

Randall Godfrey, LB

Just too old to be of service anymore. We need youth on the defense, especially at LB. I don’t see him coming back.

Brian Kozlowski, TE/Lump on a Log

The best thing Zorn could do is lose this guy’s phone number. Let some youth get a chance at being the worst player on the team. Koz has held this title each of the last 4 years under Gibbs.

David Macklin, DB

We need depth at CB but Macklin never showed anything on the field. Vet minimum resign only.

Keenan McCardell, WR

The WR position needs to be made over and there is no room for an ancient Wide Receiver like Keenan on our squad right now.

Pierson Prioleau, S

If we did not lose Taylor I would risk letting Prioleau go. But we will need depth and though P-squared did not play well, the injury he was recovering from may not get better till this year. Vet minimum and let him compete for a spot in camp.

Mike Pucillo, OL

I like Pucillo but the emergence of Lorenzo Alexander took away his goal line TE role. Right now he is just a backup center and maybe guard. I say resign him, but only at vet minimum.

Omar Stoutmire, S

Omar is the red-headed step child of the Washington Safety corp. He was re-signed and cut so many times last year I think Charlie Brown feels sorry for him. Let’s not torture him anymore and let him go find work somewhere else.

RFAs

Nehemiah Broughton, FB

I wouldn’t mind tendering the absolute minimum one year deal to Broughton and letting him compete for a backup FB spot. Sellers is not getting any younger and Broughton was a draft pick and showed flashes of potential. But if someone else wants to sign him, let him go and get our 7^th round draft choice compensation.

Shaun Suisham, K

Suisham was undrafted so no compensation for him if he is signed by another team and we tender him at the lowest option. However that is exactly what we should do. If another team tries to sign him we could always match their offer. I am not totally sold on Shazaam though he did kick a few game winning kicks this year. I would still like training camp competition for him as well.

So that is it, as Free agency approaches I will take a look at some of the expected free agent targets of the Redskins. Until then may the Zorn be with you.

Hail to the Redskins!

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