Washington Redskins: Santana Moss Re-Signed, Donovan McNabb Headed to Minnesota

The NFL lockout is finally over and the league is back to business as usual. With plenty of needs and a good amount of cap space, the Washington Redskins are poised to make an impact in this expedited offseason. The Redskins wasted no time once free agency started, and are the subject of one of the bigger trade talks going on post-lockout.

Washington re-signed receiver Santana Moss and are in the process of trading quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings.

Re-signing Moss can mean any number of things for the supposed interest in New York Jets receiver Santonio Holmes. Moss's return means the success or failure of the receiving is not dependent on a new face, and that there will be some familiarity and experience to share with the younger receivers. It doesn't rule out a play for Holmes, but it makes the move less important if they can get another 90-catch, 1,000-yard season out of Moss.

Moss has the versatility to produce as a No.1 receiver, slip into a slot role and be an outright deep threat.

The Redskins have the newly drafted Leonard Hankerson and the returning Anthony Armstrong likely vying for the second and third receiver roles. While Armstrong showed promise last year, no one can honestly say they're confident either he or Hankerson are going to be enough this season. Holmes is a similarly versatile receiver who could step into any role the Redskins need, while the younger receivers learn at their own pace.

Maybe even more important than the move to re-sign Moss is the report that the Redskins were not only in talks, but agreed in principal to a trade that sends McNabb to Minnesota.

The deal is contingent on McNabb restructuring his contract, but would send him to the Vikings and nets the Redskins two sixth-round picks in the next two drafts. While it gives Washington one less headache to deal with in this coming season, it leaves the roster with just one quarterback under contract in John Beck.

The team signed former Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell as an undrafted rookie, but it is unlikely he will be anything more than a depth signing.

The first day of player movement is in the books, but it is far from over. The Redskins may still pursue Holmes, and still have their eye on Green Bay Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins, who would fit the team's 3-4 defense better than anyone else currently on the roster. There are a lot of names the Redskins may likely be connected to in this class of free agents

Hopefully Washington doesn't fall back on old habits and decides to bring in big names instead of better fits.