McCants to draw heavy interest from other teams...

This excerpt was at the end of an article at the WP about the Portis deal. Nunyo Demasio briefly mentioned Restricted Free Agents. Darnerian McCants is one of them. Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19921-2004Mar1_2.html

"The Redskins have made the lowest tender offer for all their restricted free agents, including wide receiver Darnerien McCants. The moves -- executed before yesterday's 3 p.m. deadline -- make Washington's four restricted free agents more likely to receive offers from other teams. However, the Redskins can match any offer, and say they intend to use the right if necessary.

"We're familiar with the restricted game," Vice President Vinny Cerrato said. "If somebody wants to go after our guys, we look forward to matching the offer."

This year's low tender offer cost $628,000, which counts for that amount against the salary cap. If another team signs a restricted free agent, that club must give up a draft pick from the round in which the player was selected. Since McCants was chosen in the fifth round, he is expected to draw much interest. The mid-level tender of $1.368 million would have cost a team a first-round pick to sign McCants.

"This will tell me how the rest of the league sees me," McCants said. "I'm not worried at all. I definitely would love to play for Coach Gibbs. Plus, it's great to play in your home town. If I get a big offer, hopefully the Redskins will stick to their word and match."

***

Just a thought, but I'd hate to lose McCants for a fifth round pick. You have to think he's one of the RFAs our front office would fight for. It also sounds like he wants to play for Gibbs.

Still, wasn't this a similar situation for the Jets last year? I remember reading that the Jets could have received two #1's for Laveranues Coles if they had offered just a bit more. I may have to check on that to be sure.

I think McCants will be re-signed, he's far more valuable to us than a 5th rounder.

yeah, he's a great receiver.

If we can get a 3rd or higher, I'd trade him. We have a lot of talent at WR.

Beemnseven:

You are absolutely correct. There are three levels of qualifying offers. the higher the offer from the team tha has the player now, the more the team will get if he signs elsewhere.

HOWEVER, that qualifying offer cannot be changed. If the RFA does not get a better offer, then the qualifying offer is his deal and there is no ability to make it cap friendly. To give McCants the top level offer would mean that he might cost them close to $2M in cap room next year and that probably is more than he is worth at this point in his career.

I would not be surprised to see the Eagles or the Browns make him an offer.

Someone will make him an offer I'm sure, especially since the asking price is only a 5th rounder. How big of an offer is the question though. If someone goes higher than $1.5M then I don't think we should match. Not for a WR who might be #3 at best.

He's an excellent Red Zone receiver. Makes the big catch in traffic, often outleaping opponents. I think he's an ideal #3 wideout. While he won't get 7-10 receptions a game, eventually the DBs will forget about him -- then he comes up with a big catch.

Remember the Eagles game in Philly? He caught what could have been the game tying TD if the 2 pt. conversion had worked.

I'll bet these are the qualities many coaches are looking for, especially since he'll be a reasonably good bargain. I would hate to see him in Philly.

That said, I wouldn't break the bank for him. Sooner or later, we're going to have to find out once and for all what we've got with Cliff Russell and Taylor Jacobs. Plus, there's Patrick Johnson in the mix too.

Nice to know there's at least one position on the Redskin roster we won't have nightmares over.

One reason why he is so important for our red zone passing game is that he is big (he played TE in college). We need a big wideout with steady hands. I think 1.5 million is too much though. $1 million is about all I think he's worth.

Why is Ohalete looked down on? He was 2nd in the team in tackles, had three picks and two FFs. He seemed to be in on a lot of plays. Wasn't Bowen a bigger disappointment?

I'd take the pick in the draft. We need it.

Still, wasn't this a similar situation for the Jets last year? I remember reading that the Jets could have received two #1's for Laveranues Coles if they had offered just a bit more. I may have to check on that to be sure.


Just a corrention, it wasn't 2 #1's. It was only one #1 and a one 3rd round pick.
I think 5th round pick for McCants is little low. He is one WR we can use in clutch situation when top opposing DB are on Coles and Gardner. There is no doubt in my mind he is the ideal big WR for nickel sets. His size is good and he catches well. I think we will be making a mistake if we don't give him a bigger tender. WR is one position we have depth, but that is mostly on the basis of speed. Johnson, Cliff and Jacobs didn't contributed much at all last season.