Washington Redskins: Striking a Balance Between Free Agency and the Draft

The Washington Redskins are often hailed as the offseason champions, which has earned them exactly one playoff win since the millennium. Dan Snyder has become infamous for his offseason spending and total lack of respect for the draft. While division rivals are busy bolstering their roster through the draft, the Redskins have been trading their picks for overrated talent and created a sizable debt for themselves in the process.

Even with the CBA still up in the air, Washington has one of the most important offseasons in their recently troubled history.

The Donovan McNabb experiment failed and Albert Haynesworth proved more trouble than he was worth for another year. With those failures in mind, fans are going to look to Mike Shanahan to make up for his mistakes in a hurry. Free agency is still a question mark, but has the potential to be one of the deepest talent pools in recent memory.

The McNabb deal and the trade for Jammal Brown leave the Redskins without a third or fourth-round pick in this year's draft, limiting their ability to fill the numerous holes on both sides of the ball.

There seems to be a contradiction between what fans want now and what they wanted three or four years ago. It got to a point where whenever free agency started there was a collective groan by the fans because they knew some overpriced player was going to come to town, get fat and rich, and do nothing for the team. Fans were adamant about the team ditching the fantasy team mentality and drafting for the future.

When the season ended for Washington, the discussion turned immediately to who the team should pursue in free agency.

Granted, the talent that is projected to be available is impossible to pass up on. However, some people have this idea that six top free agents plus the draft equals instant contender. Sign Logan Mankins, sign Nnamdi Asomugha, sign DeAngelo Williams, sign Vincent Jackson, sign everyone. No one wants another Adam Archuleta, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Sanders, Jesse Armstead, Mike Barrow or other overpriced or over-the-hill spending spree.

Throwing money at problems is what got the Redskins into their current predicament and continuing the trend is hypocritical.

Then there's the draft. The Redskins have never drafted well with the exception of a select few. Chris Samuels, Sean Taylor, Chris Cooley, Brian Orakpo and Trent Williams are probably the best picks in the last decade. But it isn't what they've done with their top picks, but how they have failed to hit on much of anything in the later rounds.

The Redskins look especially inept in the draft when compared to teams like Pittsburgh and New England, who built their teams rather than bought them.

In recent draft conversations, there have been too many people encouraging the selection of quarterback Cam Newton. They see the national title win, the perfect junior season, the athleticism, the arm and the highlights. They overlook the flaws, the lack of experience in a pro-style offense, the mediocre performance in the title game and the overall status as a project player.

Washington is not and should not be in a rush to contend, but a player like Newton requires a system built around him rather than having him forced into a system he cannot excel in.

Shanahan has proven that he is not one to adjust to his players, but rather have his players adjust to his system. Shanahan cannot afford to take a risk on a player like Newton, and would be better off drafting for need instead of by the best available player.

The best idea that has been thrown around, albeit prematurely, is to trade back or out of the first round to acquire more picks and build from there.

The Redskins need to balance the appeal of the free-agent class with the available talent in the draft with their needs in mind. Sign one or two of the best free agents at the positions that are in most need and then fill as many of the remaining holes as possible through the draft. Build chemistry and the proper attitude during the season, rinse and repeat next offseason.

There is no need to do it all at once, and the fan impatience is a self-defeating action.

With so much still up in the air with the CBA, and rumors around Haynesworth and McNabb, the Redskins have all the time in the world to plan their offseason attack. Anything less would be foolish and expecting it to be easy is just as senseless.