Peyton Manning to Redskins Rumor Has No Legs, Washington Must Target Matt Flynn

Mark Maske of the Washington Post claims the Washington Redskins are set to make a big run at free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning. The Redskins may want to make a big splash by bringing in the four-time MVP, but if they want to bring in a non-rookie quarterback, they should focus on Green Bay Packers backup Matt Flynn instead.

Manning will be looking to compete right away, and with that in mind, there are more attractive options out there. The Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks are certainly closer to competing for a championship than the Redskins are. 

What Washington should focus on is adding a younger quarterback the franchise can build around. If they can't get Baylor's Robert Griffin III in the 2012 NFL Draft, they should instead focus their attention on getting Flynn, the second-best option on the free-agent market.

The Redskins don't have any solid wideouts, as Jabar Gaffney and Santana Moss don't exactly strike fear in the hearts of defenses. While tight end Fred Davis is an emerging stud and running back Roy Helu could round into a very good player, they likely won't be enough to lure Manning to town.

I guarantee that the 11-time Pro Bowler doesn't want to help develop younger players for a Super Bowl run down the road. He will want to compete for a title now, and Washington is just not set up to do that at the moment.

Flynn is just 26 years old and—along with guys like Davis and Helu—could be around long enough to build something around. Yes, it would be a risk to acquire a guy who has never been a starting quarterback in the NFL, but no more of a risk than spending a high draft pick on a college signal-caller.

Instead of trying to lure Manning—which will likely be a fruitless exercise—the Redskins should go hard after Flynn and bring him into the fold.