NFL Lockout: First 5 Things for Washington Redskins To Do Once Lockout Is Lifted

Not to get ahead of ourselves with the rumored deal that is approaching between team owners and the NFL Players Association, but it appears safe to say that there's going to be football soon. 

Before long, players will be back with teams, coaches will be evaluating a slew of names and owners will likely be opening their checkbooks in order to take part in one of the deepest free-agent markets in quite some time. 

With owner Dan Snyder's large bankroll and the intelligence of head coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen, the Washington Redskins should already have a few ideas of what they're going to do after the lockout is lifted. For those that give a hoot, here's my opinion.

1. Re-Sign Your Talent

The Shanahan-Allen brain trust will first look to retain the players that have, or could have, a meaningful role on this football team for 2011 and beyond.

Santana Moss is coming off arguably one of his best seasons as a pro after hauling in a career-high 93 catches last year. Moss has been a reliable receiving target for the Redskins over the last five years and he deserves to be re-signed. At 32, Moss may not get a huge lucrative deal—but he deserves fair money and he should retire a Redskin.

Moss wants to be in Washington, Snyder wants Moss in Washington and the fans want Moss in Washington. This will get done.  

After trading for right tackle Jammal Brown last season, the Redskins didn't actually get everything they had hoped for. Throughout the season, Brown suffered injuries and was forced to miss time—which just added to the debacle that was the Redskins offensive line. Brown is by far the team's best right tackle and he is a good player when healthy. At 30 years old and possessing the athleticism necessary to succeed in Shanahan's scheme, I would say that Brown is a top target on Shanahan's re-sign list.

And finally, as much as I bash him and rag on him for his idiotic mistakes, the Redskins have no reason not to re-sign quarterback Rex Grossman. Because of his experience in the system and with operating the offense, Grossman serves as a very decent No. 2 option and arguably (referring to last season) as a starter.  

I would also extend offers to rush-linebacker Chris Wilson, cornerback Phillip Buchanon and offensive line plug-man Stephon Heyer. In my opinion, Wilson has some serious potential when it comes to getting after the quarterback and Heyer is a commodity as a substitute.

The team will likely part ways with cornerback Carlos Rogers and they'll need to make an educated decision about 27-year-old linebacker Rocky McIntosh—who appeared to struggle last season in the 3-4 scheme.  

2. Get on the Horn with Undrafted Free Agents

As pleased as I was with the Redskins and the fact that they drafted 12 new guys, I also believed there to be a lot of talent left undrafted in 2011. 

Although Jason La Canfora of NFL.com reported that the Redskins would make big splashes in free agency, I sincerely hope that Shahanan and Allen don't overlook the potentially talented rookies that remain as free agents. 

Not that the current offensive line has any solidity at all, but I think replacing veteran center Casey Rabach would be one of my top priorities. Other line positions require some attention too, but I see some potential in a few undrafted rookies that the Redskins could really benefit from.

Jake Kirkpatrick (C, TCU)

Standing 6'3" and weighing over 300 pounds, Kirkpatrick has all of the physical tools necessary to be an effective center in the NFL. Although he has what some would describe as limited experience, Kirkpatrick is a very smart football player with natural blocking ability.

Kris O'Dowd (C, USC)

Very surprising to see this guy still around. I could see Shanahan passing on O'Dowd due to his slight lack of athleticism, but the 6'5", 300-pound lineman will be a successful player at the next level. O'Dowd is very experienced, very smart and he has all the right tools. His ability to get to the next level and move in the ZBS, however, are certainly areas of concern.

Ryan Bartholomew (C, SYR)

After a superb showing at the combine, Bartholomew is another guy that I was surprised to see undrafted. Bartholomew has collegiate experience at both the guard and center positions and he has the speed, athleticism and strength that Shanahan looks for in his linemen. Some may nitpick Bartholomew for his short arms and the possibility of being a workout warrior—I disagree. This guy fits. 

A few other offensive names that Shanahan may be interested in...

Pat Devlin (QB, UD)

Originally a Penn State quarterback, Devlin began to receive Joe Flacco comparisons after transferring to Delaware. Devlin is 6'4" and has the arm and accuracy to succeed in Shanahan's offense. I'm not sure if the team really wants to bring along a rookie this season, but it's a possibility. 

Terrence Toliver (WR, LSU)

The Redskins may not be interested in wide receivers after drafting three of them in April, but the 6'5" Toliver is an experienced pass-catcher that can really take over a game when he's in his zone. Perhaps a little inconsistent, I wouldn't mind bringing on Toliver as a project.

David Mims (OT, VU)

This mammoth-sized (6'8"/331) tackle from Virginia Union is a raw talent, but very unique. In addition to his overpowering appearance, Mims has the strength and extension to become a solid blocker. With Trent Williams on the blind side, Mims could be the team's future lockdown right tackle. 

As far as the defensive side of the ball, I believe the cornerback and nose tackle positions are going to receive the most attention. I do, however, think that Anthony Bryant played well down the stretch last season and I'd be comfortable with him at the nose. 

Kendric Burney (CB, UNC)

Even after being suspended six games by the NCAA last season as part of the whole Chapel Hill fiasco, Burney is a very experienced and hard-nosed corner. At just 5'9", Burney is certainly a bit undersized, but he has great movement that helps his position and he doesn't back down from opposition. 

Ian Williams (NT, ND)

I may have missed on Williams, as I mocked the Redskins to take him somewhere in the middle rounds—but never did I believe he'd go undrafted. Williams is an experienced tackle in both the 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, he has a strong work ethic and his athleticism helps teammates penetrate the opposing line. The only reason why I could see Williams not making it on Shanny's list is because Williams is more of a run-stopper and Shanahan may be looking for someone with a little more balance—maybe even leaning more towards the pass-rushing side.

A few other names that I believe to be intriguing are wide receivers Jeff Maehl (Oregon) and Dane Sanzenbacher (Ohio State), linebacker Mark Herzlich (Boston College) and free safety Deunta Williams (North Carolina).    

3. Look To Score in Free Agency

Typically, the Redskins offseason is nothing shy of entertaining. The rubber band comes off of Snyder's money, Vinny Cerrato finds every waste-of-space player available and the team ultimately pays to get worse. 

Fortunately, this Redskins offseason isn't typical. 

Although the free-agent pool is deep and the Redskins are in need of help at a number of positions, Shanahan and Allen don't appear to be ones to blow their money on egotistical scumbags that are only looking to score a paycheck. 

That being said, Jason La Canfora's report about the rumored Redskins targets post-lockout is a bit frightening. La Canfora mentioned names like receivers Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards, and defensive linemen Cullen Jenkins, Kris Jenkins and Barry Cofield—none of which I would have any interest in. 

Obviously Holmes is an attractive name, but I don't think he leaves New York. The Jenkins brothers are nice subs, but their injury history in combination with their age make them too big of a risk. Edwards hasn't shown me enough to make him deserving of the big money that he anticipates. And Cofield doesn't seem to fit the Redskins scheme after playing as a 4-3 defensive tackle since the beginning of college.

On the other hand, La Canfora also reported some names that I did like. Those included guards Marshal Yanda and Chris Chester, as well as offensive tackle Jared Gaither.

Rather than going crazy on the more popular high-dollar names in the market, I think the Redskins could also target guys like tackle Ryan Harris, guard Davin Joseph and cornerback Josh Wilson. All are either 26 or 27 years old and they'd all fill a position of immediate need. 

Harris is a zone-blocking lineman originally drafted by Shanahan in Denver. Although Trent Williams is viewed as the left tackle of the future and Jammal Brown is likely a priority to re-sign, Harris would bring experience and familiarity. Harris does have a slight history of injuries, but that could also allow the Redskins to score him on the cheap if Shanahan believes he can stay healthy.

Joseph is more of a run-blocking interior lineman, but one that could really be effective under Shanahan.

Wilson is a younger corner that served as a really nice (and surprising) plug-in last season for the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson isn't a lockdown corner by any means, but I'd have to say he'd be the Redskins No. 2 corner in the probable case that Carlos Rogers walks.   

4. Remain Calm, Collected and Sane

With Cerrato gone and Snyder appearing to look like he's grasping what it means to be an NFL team owner, this Redskins offseason should be a little more rational and understood in 2011.

Shanahan and Allen showed their style by pursuing and eventually signing safety OJ Atogwe—addressing an area of need and demonstrating that not every player coming off a decent year deserves a billion dollars.

This offseason, it's my wish that the Redskins do not pursue guys like Holmes, Edwards or Nnamdi Asomugha. Although Holmes is arguably the best receiver available and Asomugha is clearly one of the top cover corners in the league, both are veteran guys that will come only by way of very large price tags.

Holmes is only 27 and really in the prime of his career, but how do we know that Shanahan didn't find his very own Santonio Holmes in last April's draft?

After drafting Leonard Hankerson, Niles Paul and Aldrick Robinson, I think everyone should be a little excited as to what could come about. All three guys are capable of making big plays and they'll provide awesome competition in camp/preseason.

Asomugha, on the other hand, would be a great fit in Washington. With the playmaking DeAngelo Hall on one side and the lockdown skills of Asomugha on the other, the Redskins front seven would benefit the most. However, Asomugha is 30 years old and is likely looking to cash in on a huge contract. Not to mention, since hitting the hill, Asomugha probably has a little bit of Super Bowl on his mind.

This offseason's free-agent quarterback class is pretty weak, which hopefully leads to Shanahan remaining committed to John Beck as the team's starter in 2011. Originally there seemed to be some speculation about the Redskins bringing in a veteran to serve as sort of a stopgap until the team could draft the future in next year's draft.

But, just like any other newcomer, a guy like Matt Hasselbeck or Marc Bulger would need time to learn the system as well. Is it really worth chucking Beck to the side with minimal knowledge of what he can actually do, in favor of a 35-year-old on the downside of his career?

That being said, I wouldn't be surprised to see Shanahan go after a Vince Young if he's released or Alex Smith if San Francisco doesn't want him back. Not that either of these guys would serve as the future of the franchise, but I think they have the stuff to make it in Kyle Shanahan's offense until the team drafts their future cornerstone.

And finally, getting back to the receiver position, I would remain hesitant and slightly weary on guys like Sidney Rice and Malcom Floyd. Although both guys are big targets and have shown impressive production, neither of them have me 100 percent sold. In my dreams of Redskins past, the team would sign the 25-year-old Rice to a big deal and we'd all expect the world—only to receive numerous injuries and limited production over the next four seasons.

This offseason, whether you sign six guys or no guys, I think it's important to stay calm, collected and sane—none of which were present during Cerrato's terrorizing reign. And because of Shanahan and Allen, I think the Redskins will handle this offseason responsibly, both evaluation-wise and financially.   

5. Sign LaRon Landry to His Long-Term Deal

After returning to his natural position last season in Jim Haslett's 3-4 scheme, Landry was overly impressive in his start to the season. By the time the Redskins hit the bye week, Landry was already receiving praise around the league and his trip to the Pro Bowl was almost locked. Unfortunately, Landry would finish the season having played just nine games due to injury.

Landry is 25 years old and is set to become a free agent after this season. The Redskins drafted Landry with the sixth overall pick in 2007 with all intentions of watching him become one of the top safeties in the NFL. In his new role with the Redskins and now playing in a very dangerous 3-4 scheme, now is the time to lock up Landry for the long haul and watch him fulfill the team's wishes.

Although he won't shut down opposing receivers in coverage, Landry is an absolute force behind the front seven. Landry is a solid tackler, he can lay out bone-jarring hits, he has playmaking ability, his blitzing skills are improving and his presence on the field alone serves as a benefit to the defense.

Reminded again that the Redskins front office is now operated by intelligent football minds, I don't think the team will waste any time giving Landry the long-term contract that he deserves in order to keep him in Washington for a long time.