Unrestricted Free Agents Who Might Help

Word. I mean the draft isn't just Okung vs. Clausen or Bradford. You have to factor into the equation who plays LT, RT, C and RG going forward if we take a QB first. And the answer...there is no answer at LT and it should be obvious. I might argue it's just as obvious at RT. Heyer will be horrid in a zone blocking scheme. He's average when the defender is right in front of him, but when Heyer has to find a target, get to him and then make the block he's almost laughable. Honestly I think we're just as bad at RT as we are at LT. I don't see how we upgrade to an NFL caliber line w/o focusing our draft board on OL talent.

[Edit] Scratch everything above, Kiper Jr has proven the Redskins must take Clausen. Thank God i'm so glad the debate is over :)

Just started a thread about the offensive line...which will either get 20 replies and be forgotten, or somehow be turned into another QB-discussion thread.

http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-locker-room/35269-time-to-build-an-offensive-line.html

Good list of truly available talent. I would have liked to seen a solid UFA Center and LB that we could get at a reasonable price, but your list doesn't make that look very likely. I don't see us being competitive in bringing in any WR, mainly because there are teams with a much greater need at that position. So from your list, I would like to see the Skins make strong attempts to bring Leon Washington, Dunta Robinson, and Nick Kaczur (how old is he?) in.

If we got DR that would give us some flexibility to try and trade Carlos, and get some value for him. I think Carlos is very good, and that a change of scenery will be good for him, I just don't expect him to excel here.

And Leon Washington would be a good addition, probably releasing Betts/Cartwright and also bringing in a mid round draft RB.

Any solid Tackle ought to be looked at seriously and the Pats have had a good one for a while so Kaczur has to get a long look.

This is not going to be a list of restricted free agents that you can fantasize about having the Redskins go out and sign. And hopefully, this list would not put the Skins in such a salary situation that when the new CBA and the new cap rules are put in place, the Skins have to begin to dismantle the squad. [That happened to a small extent in the mid-90s when the cap first came into being.] I looked for UFAs who might be signable for a reasonable amount of money.

I avoided putting guys in their late 30s on this list. The Redskins have to get younger - - a lot younger - - so even though guys like Kevin Mawae is unrestricted, he is 39 years old. I do not have him on this list even though at age 39 he would be the best offensive lineman on the roster the day he signed.

Here are a couple of unrestricted free agents who can play a little at positions where the Skins need some help:

Offensive Line:

Justin Hartwig - - started for the Steelers on their Super Bowl winning team. Would be an upgrade at Center.

Nick Kaczur - - starter for the Pats for the last several years as a tackle. And do the Redskins ever need tackles...

Bobby Williams - - liked the way he blocked on run plays for Bengals this year; has been a starter there for several years.


Wide Receiver: [The Skins have "potential" at WR but not a lot of "achievement" there.]

Kevin Walter - - good possession receiver for Texans.

Antonio Bryant - - seems to have gotten past his immaturity/meathead problems from 5-6 years ago. He can play...


Running Back:

Leon Washington - - leg injury in '09 could make him a bargain signing

Chester Taylor - - very good 3rd down back and someone who can spell the #1 RB capably.

Willie Parker - - lots of injuries in the last year and a half...

Larry Johnson - - Maybe he performs like Cedric Benson with a change of scenery; maybe he continues to be a pain-in-the-ass...


Defensive Backs:

Dunta Robinson - - cannot believe the Texans would let him go elsewhere but...

Ryan Clark -- He won't need a map to find Redskins Park.

Leigh Bodden - - might be too costly an acquisistion.



No offense dude, but this is the crap that gets us in trouble with our young talent. NO WAY we need to bring in WR this year. Devin really showed some promise last year, and the way they are talking about Malcome Kelly this offseason, I am really excited about the potential he brings to the table. All the RB's you mentioned really dont seem to attractive. LJ is old, Willie isn't really very good, Leon came off big injury, Chester Taylor is getting up in years too. I'd stay with what we have before bringing in any of these guys.

Only thing I slightly agree on is maybe the tackle from NE. We need to replace both tackles, so we will mostly definately need to aquire one through FA. As far as the guards and centers, Dockery is a good guard, and I like reinhart. We can not grade the play of Dockery last season, nor anyone for that fact. The tackles,the most important, we both down to 3rd string, and hell 4th string on most teams. We fill those two positions with quality starters and Dockery will be back to his dominant run blocking self, and Reinhart will be a very productive young guy on the right side.

No offense dude, but this is the crap that gets us in trouble with our young talent. NO WAY we need to bring in WR this year. Devin really showed some promise last year, and the way they are talking about Malcome Kelly this offseason, I am really excited about the potential he brings to the table. All the RB's you mentioned really dont seem to attractive. LJ is old, Willie isn't really very good, Leon came off big injury, Chester Taylor is getting up in years too. I'd stay with what we have before bringing in any of these guys.

Only thing I slightly agree on is maybe the tackle from NE. We need to replace both tackles, so we will mostly definately need to aquire one through FA. As far as the guards and centers, Dockery is a good guard, and I like reinhart. We can not grade the play of Dockery last season, nor anyone for that fact. The tackles,the most important, we both down to 3rd string, and hell 4th string on most teams. We fill those two positions with quality starters and Dockery will be back to his dominant run blocking self, and Reinhart will be a very productive young guy on the right side.

I'm not sure that we have gotten in trouble for bringing in reasonably priced productive NFL starters through free agency. This is just a list of what is really out there, so that discussions can be grounded in some real basis. That said, I agree that WR's should not be messed with. I think LW could come back and be looking to re-establish himself, if I remember right, he was outstanding with the Jets, and with rehab, he might just give us a good solution to RB, and we can wait till next year to draft a young Shanahan RB.

Sportscurmudgeon, Just out of curiosity, why no Dansby on your list?

I don't see WR as a huge need but I definitely like the idea of Bryant. I don't see the Jets letting Washington go. I like Chester Taylor but I'm sure the Vikes will push hard to keep him.

Sportscurmudgeon, Just out of curiosity, why no Dansby on your list?


Simply because I don't think linebacker is anywhere near a top priority for an upgrade in this offseason. Dansby is a fine player but signing him will cost a lot - - he is out there to the highest bidder no matter what - - and I don't think that is where the Skins' emphasis needs to be just now.


That is why there are no linebackers on my list. And no tight ends either...

Simply because I don't think linebacker is anywhere near a top priority for an upgrade in this offseason. Dansby is a fine player but signing him will cost a lot - - he is out there to the highest bidder no matter what - - and I don't think that is where the Skins' emphasis needs to be just now.


That is why there are no linebackers on my list. And no tight ends either...
Ok. I guess I would have thought a solid experienced linebacker would be more in demand than us going out and getting a WR. Fletch is excellent, but he can't continue forever, and a good player there would be good for future as well as current. I would also say that I don't think one or two high cost players, ie Dansby, would put us in a bad position even if a salary cap comes back. But who knows exactly how or when that would even happen.

You know you are solid at a position when you don't even think about it, such as TE - I didn't even wonder why that wasn't included.

No offense dude, but this is the crap that gets us in trouble with our young talent. NO WAY we need to bring in WR this year. Devin really showed some promise last year, and the way they are talking about Malcome Kelly this offseason, I am really excited about the potential he brings to the table. All the RB's you mentioned really dont seem to attractive. LJ is old, Willie isn't really very good, Leon came off big injury, Chester Taylor is getting up in years too. I'd stay with what we have before bringing in any of these guys.

Only thing I slightly agree on is maybe the tackle from NE. We need to replace both tackles, so we will mostly definately need to aquire one through FA. As far as the guards and centers, Dockery is a good guard, and I like reinhart. We can not grade the play of Dockery last season, nor anyone for that fact. The tackles,the most important, we both down to 3rd string, and hell 4th string on most teams. We fill those two positions with quality starters and Dockery will be back to his dominant run blocking self, and Reinhart will be a very productive young guy on the right side.



No offense taken...

I have less devotion to "our young talent" than you do. Devin Thomas and Malcom Kelly have each been here two years. Take their stats for both years and add them together. Those stats do not add up to one Pro Bowl level receiver for a single year. Like I said, lots of "potential" but no real "accomplishments". Maybe bringing in somebody to make them think they could be out of work might make them better? Can it make them worse?


The RBs on the UFA lists are not very attractive; I give you that. But with Betts coming off an injury and Portis clearly on the downside of his career - - and a pain in the ass - - finding an inexpensive UFA might not hurt. Suppose Betts can't go next year and Portis flames out after 5 games, are you satisfied with Ganther and Cartwright? That may be where the Skins are headed for 2010...


You say you like Rinehart. Fine. I think Rinehart is another example of a guy who supposedly has potential but has never done a damned thing on Sundays that anyone can point to and say "Wow!" Until I see Rinehart play effectively against starting DL from NFC East oppoenets, he is nothing more than "just a guy". If you have clips of him doing that, please post them for all to see. I have no qualms about bringing in free agent offensive guards to try to motivate the folks on the current roster to become better players. You said, "Dockery is a good guard," and I agree totally. Wouldn't it be nice if he somehow became a "very good guard"? No one else on the roster can even pretend to be a "very good guard". Wouldn't it be nice to have another candidate to earn that label?


The reason you must grade the OL from last year is simple. Those are the guys on the roster now; those are the guys that will play again next year - - unless and until new bodies show up on the roster. I would not be thrilled to see the starting OL for Game 1 in September be Heyer, M. Williams, Rabach, Dockery, L. Jones. Absent new blood, that is probably what you are looking at when they introduce "YOUR 2010 WASHINGTON REDSKINS..."

No offense taken...

I have less devotion to "our young talent" than you do. Devin Thomas and Malcom Kelly have each been here two years. Take their stats for both years and add them together. Those stats do not add up to one Pro Bowl level receiver for a single year. Like I said, lots of "potential" but no real "accomplishments". Maybe bringing in somebody to make them think they could be out of work might make them better? Can it make them worse?


The RBs on the UFA lists are not very attractive; I give you that. But with Betts coming off an injury and Portis clearly on the downside of his career - - and a pain in the ass - - finding an inexpensive UFA might not hurt. Suppose Betts can't go next year and Portis flames out after 5 games, are you satisfied with Ganther and Cartwright? That may be where the Skins are headed for 2010...


You say you like Rinehart. Fine. I think Rinehart is another example of a guy who supposedly has potential but has never done a damned thing on Sundays that anyone can point to and say "Wow!" Until I see Rinehart play effectively against starting DL from NFC East oppoenets, he is nothing more than "just a guy". If you have clips of him doing that, please post them for all to see. I have no qualms about bringing in free agent offensive guards to try to motivate the folks on the current roster to become better players. You said, "Dockery is a good guard," and I agree totally. Wouldn't it be nice if he somehow became a "very good guard"? No one else on the roster can even pretend to be a "very good guard". Wouldn't it be nice to have another candidate to earn that label?


The reason you must grade the OL from last year is simple. Those are the guys on the roster now; those are the guys that will play again next year - - unless and until new bodies show up on the roster. I would not be thrilled to see the starting OL for Game 1 in September be Heyer, M. Williams, Rabach, Dockery, L. Jones. Absent new blood, that is probably what you are looking at when they introduce "YOUR 2010 WASHINGTON REDSKINS..."
:eek: The horror.....the horror... I don't care who we have in the backfield, that line ain't gonna cut it.