5 Steps to Fix the Washington Redskins' QB Dilemma

The current quarterback situation in Washington has the Redskins looking like they're a little more than questionable at the position. 

After trading for Donovan McNabb last April, head coach Mike Shanahan appears to be finished with that project.

Rex Grossman is a journeyman with experience in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme, but he's clearly not a starter in the NFL. 

And then there's John Beck—the apparent front-runner for the starting gig in Washington. After being somewhat handpicked by Shanahan, the 29-year-old Beck is prepared to lead the team.

Call it a controversy, problem, mess, platoon position, whatever. The fact is whether the entire Redskins Nation believes in the Beck Bandwagon or not, there is a dilemma at the quarterback position.  

1. Trade Donovan McNabb

First things first—the Donovan McNabb project didn't appear to work in Washington.

As excited as we were to have McNabb in DC (the first real quarterback in more than a decade), head coach Mike Shanahan called off the operation when he benched McNabb against the Detroit Lions in Week 8. Although McNabb went on to start five more games, it was evident that his reign in Washington was nearing an end.

It's not that I'm against McNabb as the Redskins starter, but I'm sure the tense relationship amongst him and the coaching staff isn't exactly healthy. Not to mention, if the Redskins do retain McNabb, they'll owe him $16.25 million. If they trade McNabb, or at worst release him, the team of course gets off by paying him $3.75 million for 2010 and nothing in 2011.

The speculated suitors for McNabb's services seem to be Minnesota, Arizona and Tennessee. Not that it means a whole lot to the Redskins where McNabb ends up, but Minny seems like the best bet.

In my opinion, the first team to offer a fifth-round pick or better, whether it be the Oakland Raiders or the New England Patriots, would be the new home for Donovan McNabb.

If reconciliation can be found amongst McNabb and the coaching staff, I'm all for McNabb in 2011. But when he's owed a large sum of money and there's obvious relationship woes, the best move for everyone seems to be parting ways.

“While Donovan’s feelings about Washington remain the same, the Shanahans—both Mike and more specifically Kyle—have made this an extremely difficult relationship to maintain," McNabb's agent Fletcher Smith released in a statement at the end of last season. "Their comments have been beyond disrespectful and unprecedented for a six-time Pro Bowl quarterback such as Donovan."

2. Think About Trading for a Project

Before anyone starts shouting slurs, slamming their keyboard and/or writing me off as being completely insane--please understand that this is an option or a thought for the Redskins, rather than a believed necessity in fixing the quarterback situation.

I understand the youth movement that Shanahan is implementing and I fully support building a team through the draft and going with the best philosophy this team has seen since Dan Snyder purchased the franchise in 1999.

That being said, there are a couple quarterbacks out there that are set to become free agents in 2012 and that could come with a pretty low price tag in the case of a trade this season.

When I mention "trade", I'm not talking about a Vinny Cerrato-esque transaction that requires the Redskins giving away all their picks in exchange for a used-up has-been with minimal output left. Instead, I'm talking about a well thought out trade that could land the Redskins a project at the quarterback position. A project that comes with the potential of one day becoming the team's starter.

How about a guy like Matt Flynn in Green Bay?

After leading his LSU Tigers team to a National Championship as a senior in 2008, Flynn was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Flynn has sat behind Aaron Rodgers for three seasons now, improving his already impressive mind for the game. And when Green Bay has called upon Flynn, he has answered--even throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns against New England in Week 15 last season.

Flynn has been described as a student of the game and his abilities tend to match those required by Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He has valuable football experience, both in college and in the NFL and I don't think shooting a low-round draft pick and maybe a player to Green Bay would be a bad decision.

How about Kyle Orton?

Orton's name has been linked to Washington since last season, but I wouldn't necessarily call it glamorous or exciting. Orton is going to be 29 in November and his play is most easily described as "getting the job done".

Coming off a 2010 season in which Orton threw for over 3,600 yards and 20 touchdowns while posting a rating of better than 87, we can all expect his price tag to be a little on the high side. Not to mention, I don't know what the Shanahan's would make of Orton's age as part of the youth movement. Sure 29 isn't old, but the Redskins currently have a 29-year-old in John Beck that may have greater potential.

There's always a slim chance for Kevin Kolb, right?

I don't think the Shanahans are players in this offseason's Kevin Kolb sweepstakes, but I know that Mike Shanahan has a damn good poker face—usually keeping all of his moves top-secret.

Kolb appears to be a young quarterback with big potential, but there's no doubt that other teams will desire Kolb's services and likely offer much more than Shanahan is willing to part with.

Remember the speculation of Vince Young in Washington?

Some may call him a headcase, I would call him a winner. It doesn't help that I'm a Texas fan or that I've followed Vince since his senior year in high school, but I wouldn't mind him coming to the Redskins one bit.

Although Young is set to become a free agent in 2012, team owner Bud Adams made it clear last season that Young would not return to the Tennessee Titans—which could actually make this more of a free agent signing if Young is released rather than a trade.

Other than the slight connection between Kyle Shanahan and Young from their days at Texas, Young is appealing to the Redskins because he seems to operate efficiently in the short game and his mobility is a plus. However, Young's past character issues could cause concern for a management team that is looking to build a solid foundation in the locker room.

Finally, would Pittsburgh's Dennis Dixon be worth a shot?

I'm not completely sure how Steelers fans feel about Dixon or his future with the team (please feel free to comment), but Dixon is a mobile quarterback with some potential—I think—if placed in the right system.

The cost of Dixon would have to be very low, as he would be a big project with some serious work to do before becoming a starter in the league. Dixon is a restricted free agent this season, meaning the Redskins would have to throw out an offer and the Steelers would have to refuse to match it in order for Dixon to land in DC.

With limited experience and his current free agent status, Dixon in a Redskins uniform is highly unlikely.

3. Force Competition

Regardless of whether it's a battle amongst Rex Grossman and John Beck, or the two of them and two newcomers that were brought on for the preseason, I think it's absolutely necessary and healthy to have some positional battles in the shortened offseason.

Rumor has it that Mike Shanahan is very high on Beck, which is fine. But I don't think I would just hand the reigns of my football team over to a 29-year-old passer with limited experience because I think he looks good in warm-ups.

If Beck wants to be the starter and Grossman feels he's better for the job—let 'em prove it. Let them vie for their teammates support, gain the confidence of their coaches and gain some respect and boost from the Redskins fans.

I'll admit that a potential quarterback fight between Beck and Grossman may not be a sellout at the box office, but it's what's best for the team. With Shanahan at the helm, I don't think there's any chance of a free lunch at the position.

4. Declare Starter by Week 1 and Roll with It

Let's face it, no one should be calling this Redskins team a serious playoff contender. Do I want them to be labeled as serious playoff contenders? Not really. Do I want them to make a run in the playoffs? Absolutely.

But with so many unanswered questions (at least at this point before free agency), Redskins Nation should chalk the 2011 season up as a rebuilding season. That's not to say that the Redskins suck or that this season has gone down the crapper, it's just a realistic point of view with a lot of positive feeling for the future.

That being said, I think it's important for the team to declare a starter before the season begins and stick with that guy throughout the year. At this point, I'm assuming John Beck gets the nod and he's in my head as this team's starter in 2011.

If Beck starts out the season and leads the Redskins to a 3-1 start, great. If he starts out the season and the Redskins go 0-4 to open the year, damn. But is there any reason to pull Beck in favor of Grossman? Does the coaching staff really need to "evaluate" Grossman again this season? So what if Grossman gets you one or two more wins on the year, Beck is potentially more of the future than Sexy Rexy is.

Whoever the quarterback is in Week 1 should be this Redskins team's quarterback until Week 17. Let the quarterback grow with the team, let him develop a relationship with his receivers, let him feel the protection provided by his line (or lack thereof) and let him experience the ups and downs of the regular season.

5. Take a Long Look at the 2012 Quarterback Class

Like mostly everyone else, I'm on board for believing that Stanford's Andrew Luck is the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning. But I'm also in belief that the Washington Redskins aren't going to "Suck for Luck" or be within five selections of the first-overall pick in next year's draft.

Not too fear though, there's plenty of other worthy quarterback prospects in the Class of 2012. Although Luck is ahead of the others at this point by a pretty decent margin, those other guys could ultimately fall to the Redskins a little later in the first round.

Mat Barkley of USC, although likely to be gone by pick No. 10, is a prospect with valuable experience in the pro-style offense and I expect him to have a breakout season this year as a junior.

Oklahoma's Landry Jones threw for over 4,700 yards and 38 touchdowns last season on 65 percent passing. His senior season is set to be good one as well, which could very well make him the second-best quarterback prospect in this draft.

Kirk Cousins of Michigan State appears to be a guy that all the tools of a Shanahan offense (strong arm, mobility, smarts) but he doesn't necessarily bring the flashiness. Whether that be good or bad, Cousins is a late first-rounder at this point.

Other names to keep an eye on this season: Nick Foles, a Michigan State transfer playing for Arizona. Ryan Lindley, although his accuracy is a bit questionable, he has a lot of experience in San Diego State's pro-style offense. Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill lacks experience, but the converted wide receiver is an athlete at the QB position. Boise State's Kellen Moore may be vastly undersized, but he knows the game and could be an interesting work under Shanahan.

And some more under-the-radar guys could be late-round prospects such as GJ Kinne of Tulsa, Chandler Harnish from Northern Illinois and Dominique Davis of East Carolina.