2012 NFL Free Agents: Washington Redskins Targeting a Top Free Agent WR?

It should come as no surprise that the Washington Redskins have plans to target a high-profile receiver once free agency opens on March 13.

According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the Redskins will attempt to dip into a deep pool of talented free-agent receivers.   

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The Washington Redskins are making plans to add a high-profile wide receiver in an NFL free-agent market that has them in abundance, according to several people familiar with the team’s deliberations.

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The three names Jones mentions as top possibilities are Vincent Jackson (San Diego Chargers), Pierre Garcon (Indianapolis Colts) and Marques Colston (New Orleans Saints).

Looking at the Redskins' depth chart and production at the receiver position, it's no wonder why the free-spending club would want to use free agency as an avenue to add talent to the passing game.

Jabar Gaffney led the team in receptions (68), receiving yards (947) and touchdowns (five) in 2011. At 31 years old, Gaffney is nothing more than a stop-gap option for the Redskins. Beyond Gaffney, Washington has Santana Moss, who is 32 and in decline, Donte Stalworth (free agent), Anthony Armstrong and three 2011 rookies (Niles Paul, Leonard Hankerson, Aldrick Robinson).

The Redskins obviously had problems at quarterback, but the receivers they employed on a weekly basis did Rex Grossman and John Beck no favors.

That reality should change if the Redskins can get one of the three aforementioned receivers to sign on the dotted line.

Jackson has been through a tumultuous couple of years in San Diego, but it's still possible that the Chargers slap the franchise tag on their No. 1 receiver. If they don't use the tag, Jackson could very well walk. 

The 29-year-old receiver has three 1,000-yard seasons and 37 career touchdowns. 

Garcon, 27, reportedly turned down a five-year, $35 million contract from the Colts last weekend, which could either mean he wants more money or he's waiting to see what happens with Peyton Manning. Either way, Garcon should be available for negotiations on March 13.

He caught a career-high 70 passes for 979 yards and six touchdowns in 2011 with a worse quarterback situation in Indianapolis than Washington.

Finally, Colston could be an option, but you'd have to assume that the Saints will do everything they can to get him signed. He's far and away the most productive receiver of the three mentioned by Maske, with five of his six NFL seasons resulting in 1,000 or more receiving yards.

One other situation to potentially monitor is the package deal with Manning and free-agent receiver Reggie Wayne. Sports Illustrated's Peter King wrote Tuesday that the two Colts could be moving together if Manning is released by the Colts before his $28 million roster bonus kicks in on March 8. 

An important factor in any deal will be how the Redskins sell their quarterback situation. Are they going after Manning? Will they trade up for Robert Griffin III? Is Ryan Tannehill going to be their guy at No. 6 overall? What about free agent Matt Flynn? 

All those questions are likely to be asked by the top free-agent receivers before they even consider the Redskins. No big-name receiver will want to sign with a team that has problems at quarterback, especially in this era of historic passing numbers.