Washington Redskins: Coming to Terms with the Pierre Garcon Signing

Before free agency began at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday afternoon, the Washington Redskins were expected to play key roles as movers and shakers within the market. More specifically, the Redskins would be very active amongst the wide receiver position.

Marques Colston’s name was mentioned, but he never seemed to emerge as a favorite amongst the fans or Redskins front office. Ultimately, Colston made the best decision and re-signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Vincent Jackson, on the other hand, received more than enough attention within the nation’s capital. He was the “home-run threat,” as most people called him, equipped with the size, speed and strength to drastically help a rookie quarterback in a seemingly tough situation.

As a guy that was never high on Jackson coming to Washington, I was happy to learn he’d be taking his talents to Tampa Bay. And as wild and ridiculous as Jackson’s new $55 million deal is, it didn’t actually come until after the Redskins landed their guy.

Heading into the free agency frenzy, Indianapolis Colts receiver Pierre Garcon appeared to be the best wide receiver available. Perhaps not the big name or elite skill set of a Vincent Jackson, Garcon was a young and budding star on the brink of making his splash in the NFL.

After being drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft, Garcon was nothing more than a reserve during his rookie season. On a team that boasted a player as good as Reggie Wayne at his position, it wasn’t surprising to see a former Division III standout like Garcon have only four catches on the year.

In 2009, Garcon worked his way in to becoming Wayne’s backup, and an early injury suffered by opposite receiver Anthony Gonzalez is what ultimately threw Garcon into the starting mix. Ever since, Garcon has became a better football player, year after year.

Garcon finished 2009 with 47 catches for 765 yards and four touchdowns in 13 starts. He then improved in 2010 with 67 catches for 784 yards and six touchdowns. And in 2011—his contract season—Garcon put up career-highs on the receiving end of not Peyton Manning, but Curtis Painter. Garcon finished last season with 70 catches for 947 yards and six touchdowns.

For a team that was in obvious search of an offensive playmaker, a guy like Garcon is a good find. Although not the tallest wideout, Garcon is an honest six-footer and he is a very strong athlete. Not to mention, his speed can get him behind most defenses and his acceleration makes him a threat after every catch.

Garcon’s weakness? Inconsistent hands. Although not necessarily enough to scare anyone away, it’s certainly a required note on Garcon’s record. In defense, however, Garcon will be just 26 this season and has room to grow. Believing Garcon’s hands will improve in Washington is not asinine or crazy.

The only red flag (and it’s a very faded red flag) that I can see regarding Garcon is the obvious: his contract. Garcon signed a five-year deal (good) for $42.5 million (OK) with $20.5 million guaranteed (say what?) and an $11 million signing bonus (huh?).

It’s not necessarily a bad thing. At the end of the day, the Redskins had their sights on their guy and they got him. That’s how free agency should work. However, the thought of a young man—who has yet to break 1,000 yards in a season—guaranteed more cash than, say, Atlanta’s Roddy White is a little bizarre.

Or what about Garcon’s new deal compared to a guy like Green Bay’s Greg Jennings? In Garcon’s four years in the NFL, he’s averaging around 630 receiving yards per season. Jennings averages almost double that with about 1,030 yards per season, yet the guaranteed cash of his most recent deal was a little more than $16 million. Mind you, Jennings was signed to an extension in 2009, but his output as a pro up to that point was better than Garcon’s.

I’m not about to call Pierre Garcon a bad signing, nor would I indicate the Redskins overpaid. The truth of the matter is Mike Shanahan and the front office wanted a playmaker to place in Robert Griffin III’s arsenal and Garcon fit the mold perfectly. Without a first-round pick until 2015, Shanahan wanted a young receiver with speed, strength, athleticism and the ability to gain yards after the catch—Pierre Garcon is all of that.