Peyton Manning and the Washington Redskins: Why 'Skins Should Target Matt Flynn

Peyton Manning is open to playing in the NFC, but would prefer to be on an AFC roster next season.

If I had to guess, I'd say that means the four-time MVP will end up playing for the Miami Dolphins in 2012. If that is the case, the Washington Redskins should stop even thinking about luring Manning and instead focus on bringing Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn to town.

Flynn is set to be the second-best quarterback on the market this offseason and, unless the Redskins believe they can put a huge package together to move up to the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft to select Baylor's Robert Griffin III, he is the their best option.

The 26-year-old LSU product has not played much during his four-year career, but when he has been on the field for the Packers, he has shown impressive skills. In 34 career games, he has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,015 yards, with nine touchdowns and five interceptions, and carries a career passer rating of 92.8.

The Redskins need a quarterback. As last year's tandem of Rex Grossman and John Beck showed, the team can't just keep taking guys off the scrap heap (like Donovan McNabb) and expect success.

Washington needs to tie its future to a signal-caller who can grow with the roster's other young playmakers. Flynn would fit that mold.

The Skins already have a stud tight end in Fred Davis and an emerging playmaker in running back Roy Helu. If they can add to the offense through the draft and add a guy like Flynn, the Redskins could be a developing force in the NFC. 

What they can't do is just add another placeholder at quarterback until they find a better option. The team needs to invest in someone who can grow with the guys around him. 

Yes, adding Flynn would be a risk because he has never been a starting quarterback in the NFL before. But he won a national title at LSU, has learned behind Aaron Rodgers for four seasons and watched his mentor lead the Packers to a championship in Super Bowl XLV. If any backup has ever been prepared to take over a full-time starting role, it's Flynn.