NFL Free Agency: Players Not Named Peyton Manning 'Skins Should Target

Fasten your seat belts sports fans, 2012 NFL free agency has commenced. The Washington Redskins are known for making waves in free agency year in and year out, but, as they have already seemed to figure out, there are far more important free agents than Peyton Manning the 'Skins should target.  

Having collected the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft, the Redskins have all but secured Heisman winner Robert Griffin III.  Manning, meanwhile, has had several official visits with teams such as the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans.  

There is still a mountain of work ahead for the Redskins, though.  

As most of us know, free agency and age concerns have the Redskins taking inventory of their roster and trying to determine which areas are most concerning.  

Peyton Manning may be the most coveted name in this year's free-agent class, but you won't find him on the Redskins' radar.  Here are five free agents the Redskins should be targeting instead.  

Brandon Meriweather, Safety, Chicago Bears

Oshiomogho Atogwe was released on Monday after one lackluster year in DC and LaRon Landry, now in his free-agent year, looks primed to take his talents (and his muscles) elsewhere.  

Simply put, the Redskins need help at the safety position. Enter Brandon Meriweather.  

The two-time Pro Bowler and former Miami Hurricane is entering his sixth season and could be a huge asset to the Redskins' shaky secondary. As it happens, Meriweather has already met with the team, so we know that there is a high-level interest at play here.  

Meriweather is athletic and could certainly strike a chord with nostalgic fans who miss having a certain other Miami standout prowling the secondary.  

Meriweather does have a rap for hitting hard and often a little late, though. Still, there's something to be said for having someone aggressive at the free safety spot.  

With youngster Dejon Gomes looking to step up his game this coming season, Meriweather could help round out the Redskins' deep third. 

London Fletcher, Linebacker

This one might seem a little too obvious, but that also means it's at risk of being overlooked. If there's any truth to the adage that one must "take care of their own," then London Fletcher should be at the top of the list.  

Fletcher is the captain of this defense and one could argue that he is the heart of this entire team. 

Thirty-five is a little old for a kicker; for a middle linebacker, that figure is almost biblical. Yet Fletcher's motor is still running high enough to allow the John Carroll grad to lead the NFL in tackles in 2011.

The Redskins need him back and would be amiss to let him retire in anything other than burgundy and gold.  

Re-signing Fletcher insures that the Redskins have a veritable field general lined up for the next year or two while the front office works on finding young, explosive talent to fill in the holes.  

It shouldn't even be a question. There should always be roster space for No. 59.   

Aaron Ross, Cornerback, New York Giants

A 6'0", 190-pound cornerback fresh off his second Super Bowl appearance is sure to draw some interest. This is apparent as the Redskins and Ross have scheduled to meet on Friday.  

The former Texas Longhorn is coming off his fifth season in which he chipped in 60 tackles (46 solo) and four interceptions.  

Ross isn't renowned for being a physical player, but there's something to be said for being an integral part of a Giants unit that cut a big, imposing swath through the postseason on the way to shutting down Tom Brady and the fabled Patriots passing attack.  

What you get with Ross is a consistent slot corner who can offer a huge helping hand to current starters DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson.  

He'll also come at a relative bargain as he was only pulling in $1.25 million contract last year with the Giants. Due to the recent salary cap deduction, that is welcome news for a Redskins team on the prowl to provide a boost to its secondary.

Eric Winston, Tackle, Houston Texans

Trent Williams is running into off-field concerns and veteran tackle Jamaal Brown may not be with the team much longer, so what do you do if you're the Redskins?

Easy, shop for a tackle. In this case, free-agent Eric Winston would be a good snag. 

Winston was a 2006 draft pick who, coming out of Miami, has produced well for the Texans over the years. 

He's a monster at 6'7", 313 pounds and feels right at home in a zone-blocking scheme, something the Shanahans are very familiar with. 

If you're the Redskins brass and your chief concern is shielding your new star quarterback, offensive tackle has to be a concern. It certainly hasn't been a source of optimism for the Redskins recently, at least, not to the degree that they were hoping for. 

With Williams' extra-curricular concerns now compounded with his streaky play on the field, Winston could help anchor the line with a little veteran leadership. 

The Redskins better move fast as the Kansas City Chiefs have already begun their courting of the Midland, TX native. 

Ben Grubbs, Guard, Baltimore Ravens

The Redskins need an offensive guard like the 495 needs another two lanes added. The problem is, they're not the only team looking to procure his services. 

Grubbs has been on a lot of people's lists as one of the better candidates to plug into DC's blocking scheme, and for good reason. 

Grubbs is easily the most talented guard in this year's free-agent pool and if looks as if the Ravens, who have already scheduled a visit with Philadelphia's Evan Mathis, aren't waiting around for Grubbs to make up his mind. 

With the addition of Grubbs, the Redskins would vastly improve the interior of their line and effectively caulk off what were glaring holes that, in the NFC East, where pass-rushing is a trade, simply cannot be afforded. 

It's even more imperative, given the ACL injury suffered by Kory Lichtensteiger.

The Redskins must press hard now that the New Orleans Saints are big players in the Ben Grubbs sweepstakes. It will take some serious negotiating on the Redskins' part, what with their reduced cap space and all, but the investment would be worth it. 

Worth more, perhaps, than any other Redskins free-agent acquisition in the 2012 offseason.