Washington Redskins Top Free-Agency Targets for the Secondary
"My kingdom for a secondary" should be the offseason battle cry of new Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan. It's pointless even trying to decide which area needs more help: Safety or cornerback?
For the sake of argument, let's just keep things simple and say both positions are in dire straits and the secondary as a whole needs a major revamp. Pulling that off this year should mean making moves on the veteran market.
Free agency simply offers richer pickings for defensive back-needy teams like Washington than the 2015 NFL draft. The rookie classes at corner and safety lack the "wow factor" only elite prospects can create.
But free agency houses a strong core of solid, scheme-versatile players who can instantly upgrade last season's 24th-ranked pass defense. The following are the five free-agent secondary men McCloughan and the Redskins should focus on once the opening bell sounds to start free agency.
All statistics via NFL.com.
Stating the Problem
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For a short and to-the-point checklist, here are Washington's problems in the secondary: Too old. Poor depth. Lack of talent.
Things really are that simple and that bad. But don't despair, this offseason represents the perfect time for a clearout.
Aging safeties Ryan Clark and Brandon Meriweather are both ticketed for free agency, along with Tanard Jackson and E.J. Biggers, according to NFL.com. But they may not be the only names struck off the books at Redskins Park.
McCloughan may feel it's time to say goodbye to DeAngelo Hall. The veteran cornerback may be Washington's best cover man when he's healthy. But he tore the same Achilles twice in 2014.
That's a tough injury for any player to rebound from. But it will be especially difficult for a 31-year-old to make a full recovery.
McCloughan may look to get younger at the position. Hall is the same age as Meriweather, while Clark is 35. Real Redskins blogger Rich Tandler has noted how McCloughan is "very wary" of players over 30.
Hall's age, along with his $4,812,500 cap hit for 2015, per Spotrac.com, could encourage McCloughan to cut bait. He may do the same with Tracy Porter, the brittle veteran who couldn't get on the field in 2014.
Porter appeared in just three games this season, leaving the Washington pass defense lacking at the vital slot cornerback position. He's also set to make $2,250,000 in 2015, via Spotrac.com.
The 28-year-old seems like a prime candidate for the axe.
Names Washington Should Avoid
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New England patriots star duo free safety Devin McCourty and cornerback Darrelle Revis don't make the list. That's despite the pair being the top names at their positions in this year's market.
But they would each command the type of contracts too rich for a team with multiple problems to fix. McCloughan must make repairing the secondary a priority. But so is fortifying an offensive line that surrendered 58 sacks in 2014. There are also problems along the defensive front.
That's a lot of needs for a team expected to have $13,328,139 worth of cap space, according to OverTheCap.com. Washington can't fritter all of its cash away on a few star names.
You also won't see a player such as Arizona Cardinals veteran Antonio Cromartie on this list. He's still a fine cornerback, but since he'll turn 31 before the 2015 season, he doesn't quite fit the recruitment strategy McCloughan has already hinted at, per ESPN Redskins reporter John Keim: "We’re not going to have to go out to other organizations and bring in 32- and 33-year-olds who have different plans."
Instead, here are the defensive backs who make most sense for the Redskins.
Antoine Cason, CB, Baltimore Ravens
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Antoine Cason is sure to be considered the least inspiring choice on this list, but dig a little deeper and you'll find a veteran possessing more than a few qualities that should appeal to Washington.
Yes, Cason played for two teams in 2014 and has had four different homes since the start of the 2012 season. But the 28-year-old isn't necessarily well traveled because of poor performances.
He was a standout for the San Diego Chargers in 2010, picking off a career-best four passes. In 2013, Cason suited up for the Arizona Cardinals as a useful sub-package cover man in then-coordinator Todd Bowles' blitz-happy defense.
Cason started this season on another one-year deal, this time with the Carolina Panthers. He was a solid performer who was released when the Panthers were struggling and decided to opt for more youth in the secondary, per NFL.com writer Conor Orr.
Cason's numbers with the Panthers were respectable. He made 58 combined tackles, including 44 solo stops. Cason also broke up six passes. Most important, he displayed a true nose for the ball, a career-long trait, by intercepting two passes and forcing a quartet of fumbles.
Cason finished the season playing for the Baltimore Ravens, featuring in the playoffs.
But what would Cason bring to D.C.? First, he has good size for the position at 6'1" and 195 pounds. That frame enables him to comfortably handle playing outside or in the slot.
Second, Cason is well-versed in man coverage, having utilized the technique extensively during his year with the Cardinals. But he also has ample experience playing zone from his time with Sean McDermott's Panthers defense and Dean Pees' Ravens unit.
That flexibility could be key in a potentially new-look scheme. Current position coach Raheem Morris is tipped to leave to take over the Atlanta Falcons defense, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post.
Former New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is a candidate to replace Morris, according to CBS Sports reporter Jason La Canfora. Like Morris, Fewell has roots in the Tampa 2 scheme having coached under Lovie Smith.
But while he likes zone, Fewell's Giants also played a lot of 2-Man coverage. If he's hired, this team will need cover men comfortable with both techniques.
Cason would bring plenty of versatility, size and experience to a secondary certainly needing an infusion of all three. He would work as a third corner with starter's potential, who could lock up an outside receiver and let one of David Amerson or Bashaud Breeland shift inside in nickel and dime packages.
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Rahim Moore, FS, Denver Broncos
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Rahim Moore may be the top-rated safety in a market that doesn't boast the star power of last year's crop. But that doesn't mean Moore won't be in the Redskins' reach.
For one thing, the Denver Broncos have a tricky salary-cap situation to manage. Offensively, key receivers Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and tight end Julius Thomas are free agents. Over on the defense, front-seven linchpin Terrance Knighton could also leave town, per Spotrac.com.
Handing out new contracts to even half of that foursome will take a big bite out of Denver's projected $27,802,129 worth of cap space, per OverTheCap.com. In that scenario, a player such as Moore could be left to write his own ticket.
Washington should be among the first teams to make him an offer. Moore has steadily developed into a true centre fielder at his position. He covers the deep zones well and has a knack for breaking on the ball and making big plays.
Moore picked off four passes and forced a pair of fumbles in 2014. He also broke up five passes and was in on 49 tackles.
He has the range and coverage instincts Washington's secondary desperately needs at the free safety position. Put Moore in the deep middle and young corners Amerson and Breeland could play more aggressively and take some chances underneath.
That would be enough to justify Moore receiving the biggest contract offer handed out by McCloughan's office this offseason.
Darius Butler, CB, Indianapolis Colts
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Darius Butler is a cornerback who just has to be firmly on McCloughan's radar ahead of free agency. He's tough, opportunistic and savvy, three qualities that were in short supply in this season's secondary.
Butler works best from the slot, where he'd be a major upgrade over both Porter and Biggers in D.C. He's not afraid to gamble in coverage, but he usually takes calculated risks.
Butler broke up nine passes and forced a pair of fumbles in 2014. The only blot on his copybook was laying a goose egg in the interceptions category.
But quarterbacks weren't so keen to test Butler after he'd grabbed eight picks during his first two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Although he didn't get his hands on the ball as much, Butler still showcased skills the Redskins need.
Specifically, he's developed into a more-than-capable press corner. Butler was outstanding in Indy's playoff win over the Denver Broncos.
He routinely clamped on and roughed up Denver receivers at the line. His tackling in the open field was also exceptional, helping ensure short passes stayed minimal gains.
Those are the kind of attributes Washington's secondary must possess in 2015. Butler would instantly make the slot cornerback position, a problem spot for too long, his own.
He'd even push Amerson for a starting berth.
Brandon Flowers, CB, San Diego Chargers
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New Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry knows exactly what Brandon Flowers can do. As linebackers coach for the Chargers in 2014, Barry got a firsthand glimpse of Flowers' talent.
What he'll have seen is a smart veteran who excels in zone coverage. The 28-year-old is a classic Cover 2 corner. He works well at the line and has an excellent understanding of zone discipline.
Flowers intercepted three passes and broke up 10 more in San Diego this season. He also isn't afraid to tackle, despite his diminutive 5'9", 187-pound frame.
That was the first step in repairing a reputation damaged by his final season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Once considered a rising star at his position, Flowers floundered in the man coverage schemes implemented by Chiefs coordinator Bob Sutton in 2013.
But he did enough this season to remind people he's still a quality cover man. If the Redskins do hire a zone guru like Fewell, Flowers would be a great fit.
Ron Parker, SS, Kansas City Chiefs
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Ron Parker entered the 2014 season fighting for a spot in the cornerback rotation in Kansas City. He ended the campaign as the Chiefs' leading safety.
Parker made a seamless conversion to strong safety, responding to the switch with 94 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception. Those numbers reveal a player comfortable playing close to the line, being a force against the run and useful on the blitz.
But Parker isn't strictly limited to the box. As a former cornerback, the 27-year-old can cover slot receivers and match up well with tight ends. The latter skill would be a huge asset for a Washington team forced to face Larry Donnell, Zach Ertz and Jason Witten twice a season in the NFC East.
B/R analyst Chris Simms sees Parker as an unheralded prospect Washington must consider. He could slip through the net in Kansas City given the team's free-agency situation.
The Chiefs have to resolve the long-term future of star pass-rusher Justin Houston, who is set to hit this year's market, according to Spotrac.com. They may also be tempted to find room for some extensions ahead of 2016 when outside linebacker Tamba Hali, inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, nose tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Sean Smith will all be free agents, per the same site.
The Chiefs may struggle to match any healthy offer made to Parker. His flexibility and development make him a very intriguing target for a team that has been crippled by problems along the last line of its defense.
Washington simply cannot enter another season with a threadbare secondary stitched together with short-term solutions to major problems. All of the players on this list can provide immediate help.
Many are scheme versatile and flexible enough to play multiple positions. Each are below 30, fitting the recruitment model McCloughan is expected to follow.
Perhaps most important, all are solid players who won't require breaking the bank to sign. That's a key factor for team with as many holes as the Redskins.
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