In an interview on Redskins Radio on Friday (nicely summarized here by host Bram Weinstein) Vinny Cerrato said that the Redskins do not expect to be major players in free agency in 2008. The signing period is set to start on Friday, February 29.
This is not exactly shocking news considering that it takes cap room to be a major player in free agency and the Redskins have precious little of that. They're currently about $4 million over the cap. Most of that overage will go away when Mark Brunell's contract voids out at the start of free agency, creating a net cap deduction of around $3 million (all cap information, as always, courtesy of my friend PC's Redskins cap site). The rest of the overage can be taken care of with a few minor restructures.
As of now, there is no talk of any players becoming cap casualties or even being asked to take a pay cut. As long as that remains the status quo it's good news for some players like Phillip Daniels and Cornelius Griffin, both of whom have high cap numbers, declining productivity and significant savings if they were to be released.
As was discussed here earlier this week, Brandon Lloyd could be released before free agency starts, either as a regular cut or as one designated as post-June 1. The former move would force the Redskins to find another $3 million of cap space as that would be the net hit for doing so.
The Redskins will be able to sign a couple of moderately-priced free agents, like they did last year with London Fletcher and Fred Smoot. There isn't much floating around out there in the way of names, although Cerrato did say that the team would be looking for a tall WR either in free agency or in the draft. Among free agents who would fill that bill are Ernest Wilford (6-4) of Jacksonville and Bryant Johnson (6-3) of Arizona.
There still is talk of the Redskins going after Chicago LB Lance Briggs or New England CB Asante Samuel, but all of that is likely to remain talk. Both of those players are going to command $20 or more in guaranteed money and while it's possible that the Redskins could clear enough space and structure a deal the right way to fit such a contract in this year it would be unlikely.
Unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility. You never say never with this bunch.
3 comments:
Briggs and Samuel would be a waste.
Shawn is better than Asante, and Fred is at least as good as any #2 in the league, so we just need a guy to battle out for the #4 job with torrence while rogers recovers...probably a 3rd-5th round draft pick.
Redskins starting linebackers are second to none, so what would briggs do, other than eat up cap? I thought not trading for briggs was the best move Redskins made last year. Granted, they were exposed at backup OLB with Khary being little more than a quick guy off the edge who is better suited for kick coverage and blades showing himself to be much more suited for the middle. Washington should still be a starter for another two or three years. Godfrey showed himself the intelligent veteran without much gas left. So OLB should come from a cheap young free agent, rookie free agent, or 3rd-7th round draft pick.
I like all of their young DTs too much to think of bringing in a pass-rush specialist there as Cerrato is mentioning. I think HB Blades could be the inside rusher they've missed, if properly utilized, but they'd have to do a little more 3-4 to fit him in with London playing every down. Blades is in line to be the starter in 2009 I think. A few more safety blitzes wouldn't hurt in the mean time and fits in well with Blache's emphasis on one-on-one CB matchups...when Rogers is fully healthy and assuming Springs is given a cap friendly extension, there should be no reason the Redskins can't blitz either safety regularly.
My main concern is backup pulling offensive guard. This is probably not as big of a concern with Gibbs retirement, but Bugel is still there and Zorn is indicating he likes the current running schemes. The last two times Randy Thomas has been injured the Redskins running game has flopped badly simply because no other guard on the roster is even average at pulling and leading the run. #1 or #2 pick out to be a very athletic guard capable of stepping in this year in event either of the two old guards get hurt and ready to start in 2009. It should not necessarily be a C/G or G/T swing-man as Cerrato is emphasizing. I think a C/G/T swing-man could come from another high pick, a couple cheap discards with starting experience in the NFL, and a few rookie free agents.
Redskins do need a 3rd and 4th wide receiver, but I'm thinking rather than swallow the lloyd cap this year what would it hurt to give him a shot at 4th receiver slot in a zorn styled offense? We know he can run, and athletically he'd make an excellent fill-in at all three west-coast WR slots. As for a tall third wide-receiver, there are a lot of mid-priced veteran backup WRs hitting the market this year and in most cases they are less of a gamble and financial investment than drafting one real high. How about we see what we can get Johnson from arizona for? Hackett is intriguing as well. If not one of those guys, there are some less experienced guys we can get cheaply enough or trade for cheaply enough. Mike Williams comes to mind as a cheap washout with a tall upside that just needs to be used properly for his gifts (height, hands, body) and not expected to juke or burst anyone at the line.
Redskins need to bring in a backup true free safety, as they got exposed when the great one was taken away. They basically started the year with 1 FS and 6 SS, and cut a couple of the SS during training camp. Shawn Springs was actually the best FS they had after Taylor. Maybe in 2009 or 2010 they should consider Springs for the FS position. The free safety should be a 6th or 7th round pick, rookie free agent, or $2mil or less veteran free agent.
Redskins do need a QB, but I'm thinking they might as well just bring back the three young guys who battled it out last year as well as a rookie free agent or two and have z man work with them for a few weeks to determine who he wants as the practice squad guy. No point in spending anything on this unless a drool-about QB project falls to 5th round or later. Trent Dilfer or Mark Brunell would be great character veterans to battle collins for the 2nd and 3rd QB slots on the roster so sign them all for $2mil each and leave cap room to cut the one that doesn't catch on to the new schemes quickly.
Rock should be back and be given plenty of chances at 3rd RB slot. He probably ought to put on 15lbs and try to work his way in as the 3rd FB as well...making an explosive pass catching 3rd down fullback in the mold of his first year in the league. No point in drafting or signing any other RBs, as skins find a speedy rookie free agent RB who can't fit on the squad every year anyways...I think Redskins got a gem in Shelton, who could battle it out with Broughton for 2nd fullback slot. Wouldn't hurt to bring in a rookie free agent to join the battle.
So basically Redskins draft should be something like:
1 G
2 C/G/T
3 CB
5 WR
6 OLB
7 FS
Any of the last four picks could be swapped out for a pass rushing defensive lineman who falls too far in the draft.
Otherwise, I think the Redskins are pretty set.
Good stuff, SS. A few points--
--Shawn is pretty good, but he's no Samuel and Samuel is 5 years younger. A moot point since there's no shot at signing him anyway.
--Blades is a bit small to be powering up the middle, don't you think?
--Great point about the athletic pulling guard.
--Lloyd is due a $1.5 million roster bonus in mid-July, so it's pretty expensive to "give him a look" in camp.
--I seriously doubt that Rock will be back.
Thanks again.
We can disagree on Samuel and Springs...I think Samuel is a bit better at jumping routes, but slightly less accomplished locking down a receiver and not nearly as skilled at turning the run back toward the middle or making sure tackles. Now injuries...well Springs is healthy now.
Nobody would see Blades coming ;)... but I was thinking more in terms of the big D-linemen leading/moving the big guys out of the way...Even if Blades is blocked it creates a numbers game at the line and gives Carter a more probable one-on-one...and it creates the uncertainty of whether blades, washington, doughty, fletcher, mcintosh, or landry is coming any given down...Not a bad idea to start sending Springs now and then too...I think we'll see Blache is much more aggressive than Williams.
My understanding on Lloyd is that even with the roster bonus he will account for a major cap hit in 2008 if he is cut before June 1, and a more modest cap hit in 2009 if he is cut after June 1. I could be way off on this.
I don't think Rock will leave unless someone promises him backfield time. Hopefully, having lived through the whole Chad Morten debacle that got Morten less than 50 rushing attempts before a new head coach came along, Rock would know it could be a short-lived promise. He's in a good, Thrash-like position where his versatility could keep him on the roster years after other players with his amount of talent at his position have been out of the league. I choose to hope he realizes it and that the Redskins realize they need the Rock that puts out 100% whenever he's on the field.
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