NFL Free Agency: 5 Possible Wide Receiver Options for the Washington Redskins

This year's free-agent crop is loaded with talent at the wide receiver position, and it's no secret that wide receiver has been a problem for the Washington Redskins for just about forever.

We know the story—Santana Moss is serviceable and an all-around good guy, but he's not a true No. 1.  The Redskins need a big body that can take up space in the red zone and free up space for players like Moss.  They need depth and talent and need consistency at a position that has been in flux for years.

Here are some possibilities for the Redskins in 2012's free-agent market.

1. Dwayne Bowe

Bowe's got the entire package.  He can run; he can stretch the field, and he can be a possession guy when he needs to.  He can also score touchdowns, long or short.  He's not the most consistent guy, but he's shown that he can be an elite-level wide receiver when he has a stable quarterback situation.  

The Redskins don't have a stable QB situation.  But at the very worst, Bowe could use those long arms to make it a little bit better.  Remember, he is a season removed from catching 15 touchdowns with Matt Cassel under center.  I think that Bowe would be a great addition to the team.

2. Vincent Jackson

Jackson might be the best receiver out of this group, but he's far too inconsistent.  He's never had 70 catches in a season despite having Phillip Rivers throwing him the ball.  He's got some definite injury concerns and can disappear for long stretches of time.

That being said, Jackson certainly is an enticing prospect.  He's immensely talented and is a rare receiver in the sense that he can stretch the field despite being absolutely enormous.  He's 6-foot-5, 230 pounds and has a career YPC of 17.5, which indicates he can play short or long.

For a team that needs a threat in the red zone (or a threat, period), Vincent Jackson could help the Redskins in many ways.  It's all about whether or not the 'Skins want to take that risk on a big contract. 

3. Marques Colston

Here's the thing that will always dog Colston: he's a seventh-round draft pick who has had decent success in one of the NFL's best offenses.  So the question is, how good is Marques Colston?

He's not an elite receiver, but he could be just what the Redskins need.  While a bit of an injury risk, he's an excellent possession receiver and an absolute terror in the red zone.  He's big at 6-foot-4, but it often seems like he plays much bigger.  He's a physical receiver that could help move the chains in Washington.

But how good is he, really?  I'm willing to say he's the real deal.  He's near the middle of his career and has had over 1,000 yards in all but one of his 6 seasons—and that's because he only played in 11 games.  Colston would be an excellent upgrade to Washington's WR corps.

4. Mario Manningham

The Super Bowl champion is something of an enigma, but the fact remains that when he plays, he plays well.  He's never had 1,000 yards in a season but he's a hard working guy that could work very well in the slot if used correctly.  While he wouldn't be the solution to Washington's WR problems, he could definitely help.

5. Brandon Lloyd/Braylon Edwards/DeSean Jackson

Take your pick.  Each player has his own risk, but they are all incredibly talented.  Lloyd is a definite stretch based on his catastrophic stop in D.C. in 2006, but why shouldn't the Redskins target him?  He's been one of the best yardage-gaining receivers in the league the last two years.

Braylon Edwards has all the talent in the world, and you know that he dreams about returning to his 2007, 16-touchdown form.  He's not as good as he was, and he was cut by a team (49ers) that had definite issues on offense.  That alone should be a red flag, but Edwards is a 6-foot-3, field-stretcher who could help if he actually focuses on football.  You never know, maybe he could join.

Then, there's DeSean Jackson.  I hate Jackson.  I hate him so much.  But I can't deny my respect for his talent. 

Now, bringing up Jackson in this article is purely speculative—I hope the Redskins don't sign him because not only is he a locker room time bomb, he also doesn't fill a need.  But I'm sure many fans will be clamoring for Bruce Allen to make a play on the NFL's best deep threat.  Here's to hoping Allen doesn't sign Santana Moss 2.0, effectively exacerbating the issue at hand.

The Redskins need a big receiver.  The names are on the market.  Could any of these guys don the burgundy and gold in 2012?

Wait and see.