NFL Free Agency: Washington Redskins Smart to Choose Garçon and Griffin

For the first time since Dan Snyder took over as owner of the Washington Redskins, the team finally looks like it has some kind of plan for the future.

The Redskins spent the first two seasons under Mike Shanahan purging the roster of salary cap drains. They drafted for need and signed free agents to fit their schemes on offense and defense.

With free agency in full swing, and the draft coming in April, the Redskins are investing in sustainability.

The biggest acquisition the Redskins have made this offseason is the second overall pick in the draft and the rights to the Robert Griffin III. Griffin has exhibited uncanny maturity both on and off the field.

He has also wowed fans, experts and analysts with his Heisman-winning senior season as quarterback of the Baylor Bears.

For all intents and purposes, Griffin is the franchise quarterback the Redskins have not had since Joe Theismann, which speaks to the desperation of the organization.

The Redskins have been starved for a quarterback like Griffin for at least the last 20 years. They've seen draft picks like Jason Campbell and Patrick Ramsey flame out amid poor coaching and worse player management.

Though Griffin is still an unknown—having yet to play a single down of professional football—he is projected to be a sound investment for the future.

With the quarterback position solved, the Redskins have invested in free-agent wide receivers to make things more comfortable for their incoming rookie passer. Pierre Garçon's five-year, $42.5 million deal puts him near the top of the depth chart. Josh Morgan's two-year deal gives him a ton of incentive to finally live up to the potential he has shown in his brief professional career.

Garçon is coming off of a career year with 70 receptions, 947 yards and six touchdowns with Kerry Collins, Dan Orlovsky and Curtis Painter under center. They are all surprisingly more woeful than Rex Grossman.

Imagine the type of season Garçon might have had he not been sidelined following his neck surgeries.

The best part about the addition of Garçon, and the forgone addition of Griffin, is that the two will have a chance to grow together. Unlike Cam Newton with the Panthers last season, Griffin's top target will be hitting his prime in the next few years—rather than entering his twilight in Carolina.

Jabar Gaffney, Washington's top receiver last season, produced 68 catches for 947 yards and five touchdowns, but averaged just 3.4 yards after the catch compared to Garçon's 5.4.

Despite being overshadowed by Eddie Royal and Vincent Jackson in terms of market value, Garçon topped this year's free-agent class in YAC. A small stat in the grand scheme of things, but productivity after the catch is an invaluable skill that the Redskins have lacked in recent years.

There is no discounting the uncertainty of things at this juncture, but Redskins fans have to start changing their mindset—just as the team has changed its approach. No one is predicting a Super Bowl win next season, but it isn't too much to think that they will reach the playoffs in a year or two.

The Washington Redskins are changing for the better, and look to be moving towards respectability once again. Mike Shanahan's days may be numbered, but the players inked in free agency (and set to be drafted) will go a long way towards insuring that he sees the full life of his contract.

For Redskins fans, Griffin and Garçon are part of a brightening future, and an offense that may finally hold up its end of the bargain.