Are There Any Solutions to the Washington Redskins' Wide-Receiver Enigma?

The Washington Redskins have struggled to acquire offensive playmakers for as as long as I can remember. With the exception of Santana Moss, they have never, in recent memory, been able to provide the offense with a sparkplug or a consistent home-run threat.

The 'Skins have a solid running game, but it is the passing game that has kept the offense from taking off. Jason Campbell will only take what opposing defenses give him and so he needs a special player to provide him more opportunities to open up the offense.

Possessing a great receiver opposite Moss would enable Campbell to expand his game and become a more unpredictable QB. Too many times last year, Campbell would struggle to find open receivers.

This hurt his production and he began to become less decisive as the season wore on.

Campbell is all about rhythm. He needs to have things working smoothly. He needs his receivers to create opportunities. 

Moss is as close as it comes to having a big game receiver, but he isn't consistent. He goes through stretches where he drops passes in bunches. He also lacks the ability to get by some corners.

Moss is very explosive, but he would benefit from having a bigger possession-type receiver opposite him. This would allow him to matchup on opposing defenses' number two corner.

At this point in the offseason, it's surprising to see so many options in front of the 'Skins to remedy this problem. In fact, they have several viable ones.

1. Stick With What We've Got

This is the most uncomplicated scenario, but perhaps the most risky.

The 'Skins stick with Moss and Antaawn Randle El, hoping to see some progression from last year's pair of second round draft picks, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly.

Thomas saw some playing time during the season, but he wasn't the threat the offense needs so badly. He lacked great speed, but his route running improved and he caught most everything thrown his way.

Thomas might develop into a solid possession receiver. He's big at 6'2", 218lbs and seemed to catch on by the end of the year. However, whether he can step into a more prominent role has yet to be seen.

Kelly has shown nothing yet. Like Thomas he struggled to learn the playbook in the early stages of last year. Then he had issues with his knee all season and hardly saw the field.

Kelly is also a big receiver standing at 6'4", 219lbs, but he really failed to impress last year. Thomas began to make an impact, but Kelly had trouble even staying healthy for practice.

My Take: Given Vinny Cerrato's horrible track record for draft picks, he won't want to pull the plug too early on last year's top picks. But he needs to give Jason Campbell some targets.

I expect Thomas could be a solid contributor, but neither he nor Kelly are guys who could fill the number two spot. Antwaan Randle El disappears for long stretches and is suited to play the number two.

So, basically, Cerrato needs to do something, but will he?

I doubt Cerrato and Snyder expect to have Campbell or Jim Zorn back next year. So if the coach and QB are lame ducks, will the front office bother to get them any help?

First off, the 'Skins need to address the right tackle spot. So they must hang on to their No. 13 pick and grab Michael Oher or whomever falls to them.

This leaves the 'Skins with just four other picks in later rounds. Investing any of those in a receiver is too big a risk, and so it's time to check the free agent market.

2. Taking a Shot with a Vet

The 'Skins could hit it big in the market. There are several receivers with impressive resumes available.

A. Marvin Harrison

Harrison is past his prime, but can run routes better than anyone currently on the Redskins squad. He caught 60 balls for 636 yards and five TDs last year.

Harrison is one of the greats and is just two years removed from a 95 catch season. However, he's 36 years old and recently came off a knee injury that kept him sidelined for most of 2007.

My Take: Harrison is more of stopgap solution who could mentor the younger receivers. His numbers with Peyton Manning were pedestrian last year and he doesn't seem to be drawing much interest.

I wouldn't make a move for Harrison unless I could get him for the bare minimum, but Harrison left Indy because he refused to take a pay cut (his 2009 salary was $13.4 million). So it's doubtful the Skins could get him for a good price and get some good mileage from him.

B. Plaxico Burress

Burress is a headache, but he provides the aspirin too.

He is a fantastic deep threat and can be one of the better receivers in the game when he puts his mind to it.

The question: Is Burress' talent worth the all the squabbling, missed practices and meetings?

Add in the possible jail time Plax is facing, and it becomes unlikely many will gamble on him.

Plax would certainly open up the field. Moss would benefit, Chris Cooley would flourish. Hell, Randle El would become much more dangerous in the slot. Campbell would have a big target that could run deep or go over the middle.

It sounds great, but what if Plax's legal issues caught up with him or they just continued? That would be a big risk.

My Take: Plax is a winner. He knows what it feels like to be on top. The 'Skins need a swagger and he could give it.

But the 'Skins don't need players in jail. That's what could be facing Burress.

If the 'Skins were to sign him, it should be a short-term incentive based deal. That's the only way to treat these mercurial receivers.

In all honesty, I like the move. It's daring and could be what the Redskins need to become a legit offense. Sure you might run into some roadblocks, but hey, you sign him for a year and what there to lose?

It's not like expectations are high for this offense so what does it matter if they stink with Burress? If it works out, sign him long-term.

C. Torry Holt

Holt is younger than Harrison (32). He put up huge numbers in 2007 (93 receptions, 1189 yards, 7 TDs). His numbers dipped largely because the Rams couldn't do anything right in 2008. Marc Bulger was abysmal and the Rams couldn't establish much anything through the air or ground.

In 2008, Holt had 64 catches for 796 yards (note the higher receiving average than Harrison; 12.4 to 10.6), and three TDs. Holt can still be a viable option and his numbers could actually improve over the next season or two if he gets into the right system.

My Take: Holt is another great route runner. He could mentor the receivers like Harrison and at the same time provide some explosiveness on the field unlike Harrison.

He might command the largest salary out of these three, but Holt would give one or two good seasons to the 'Skins. He might not be a big-possession receiver, but he knows how to get open and turn short gains into scores.

Cerrato would be smart to look at Holt as the Skins desperately need someone who can be a playmaker. Holt knows how to be a playmaker and it could rub off on Thomas and Kelly.

D. Anquan Boldin

Boldin is a phenomenal athlete. He catches everything and turns most plays into huge chunks of yardage.

He has all the tools and intangibles. However, he is an Arizona Cardinal.

My Take: People think Boldin will be on the move as soon as the Cards get the right trade partner.

I think not.

Boldin is far too talented to ship off and the Cardinals know that. Boldin said he would play out his deal so he will be there for at least two more years.

However, the rumors persist.

Really I think the 'Skins would have to give up too much in a trade. They must get a tackle in this draft, and there are few players on the roster worthy of Boldin.

So nice thought, but very unlikely.

E. Chad Johnson

Snyder wanted him badly last year, but the Bengals saved the Redskins from themselves by declining the 'Skins offer of two first-round picks.

Johnson's play was very good until he decided to stop playing last year. He seemingly gave up and didn't produce while his teammate TJ Houshmandzadeh kept up the hard work despite the Bengals' sorry state.

My Take: Johnson can be a top flight receiver when he puts his mind to it. But he's a diva. He purposely gave up last year. Plax tends to get lazy at times, but that's more a flaw in his game rather than a deliberate attempt to play his way out of a bad situation.

So I have to say I dislike Chad more than Plax. Chad is a diva and a problem in the locker room. Plax is living a troubled life, but he doesn't bring as many problems on game day.

There isn't a media circus following him and blowing out of proportion his every utterance like CJ or TO.

So to me CJ would be riskier due to team chemistry. Add the fact the 'Skins might have to trade a bunch to get him and things get dicey. It's a bigger investment than Plax.

So I have to say he isn't worth it.

Anyway, there you have it. Washington needs a playmaker, hopefully one of these guys is the answer.