No salary cap may actually hurt the Redskins’ chances of quickly rebuilding through free agency.
The elite left tackles appear shackled to their teams. Many cornerbacks and receivers are as well. The uncapped year will instead create the thinnest free agency pool since the system was implemented in 1993.
Dan Snyder’s money isn’t any good if 212 players remain restricted free agents should labor talks between NFL owners and the players association fail by free agency’s March 5 start. Given few league leaders expect an agreement, the Redskins ironically won’t benefit from their free-spending owner rejuvenating the roster with high-priced signings.
Washington needs a left tackle, cornerback, guard, receiver and quarterback. Free agency will dictate whether the Redskins choose a quarterback or left tackle with the fourth overall pick on April 22. If Washington can pry away a veteran left tackle, it’s easier to draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.
Unfortunately, three of the top four left tackles available will be restricted given no labor agreement, meaning Washington would also send first- and third-rounders to the player’s former team. The Redskins don’t have a third-rounder so they’d probably have to give up a 2011 second-rounder.
Green Bay’s Chad Clifton is the only premier unrestricted left tackle, but he’s 33. Baltimore’s Jared Gaither also is free, but many consider the former Maryland Terrapin a right tackle. Then again, the Redskins also could use a right tackle.
Guard also is thin. New England’s Stephen Neal is the only worthwhile unrestricted free agent, but at 33 isn’t worth the bidding war over a stopgap player. Washington may be forced to keep incumbent Randy Thomas after he missed nearly all of last season.
Washington should keep restricted free agent cornerback Carlos Rogers despite the last coaching staff benching him. New England’s Leigh Bodden and Houston’s Dunta Robinson are the sole elite corners available to play alongside DeAngelo Hall, but they’ll also be overpriced. Then again, Hall is no shutdown corner so the Redskins need help.
Malcolm Kelly should play a more prominent role, but Washington still needs a dominant receiver. However, top receivers like Denver’s Brandon Marshall, San Diego’s Vincent Jackson and New York Jets’ Braylon Edwards are restricted.
Snyder now has a new coach and GM to oversee free agency. We’ll see if overspending remains the team’s offseason motto, but doing so will be much harder this year.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
