Washington Redskins: 10 Draft Prospects and Free Agents To Avoid This Offseason
By all accounts, the Washington Redskins are in for another whirlwind offseason after their 6-10 regular season showing. Head coach and director of player personnel Mike Shanahan is likely to have his hands full with a roster stacked with over-the-hill veterans and square pegs in round holes. With all the focus being spent on who the Redskins should draft or sign in free agency, there is a tendency to overlook the other end of the spectrum.
With a history of bad drafts and worse free-agent signings, it would be a crime to leave the worst available options uncovered.
The projected free-agent class is set to be as deep as it has ever been, and the Redskins are no strangers to buying all the help they can get. The draft has talent at positions of need and would go a long way toward building the team the right way. With any talent pool comes a certain amount of risk, and this year's crop of free agents and prospects is no different.
Here are just some of the names the Redskins should steer clear from this offseason.
Cam Newton, Quarterback, Auburn Tigers
1 of 10
Cam Newton may be the quintessential boom-or-bust prospect in the 2011 draft. He has the size, the speed, the highlight reel and big-game victory to warrant a top 10 pick, but he doesn't have the experience. He is a quarterback through and through, but Newton doesn't have the polish to be a true NFL passer the way the Washington Redskins would need him to be.
That isn't to say Newton won't be a good pro, but he should not be on the Redskins' watch list unless it involves swinging a trade with a team that really wants him in the first round.
Newton finished his lone season at Auburn with 30 touchdowns to just seven interceptions to go along with 20 rushing touchdowns. He is nothing if not dynamic, but the Redskins don't necessarily need dynamic right now. They need to figure out what the plan is before they can get the pieces in place, and Newton would be too raw of a piece to consider the future of the franchise.
He had just one full season as a Division I starter, and spread offense quarterbacks are often red-flagged by NFL scouts for having difficulties adjusting to a professional offense.
He has the name, the credentials and the marketing potential to catch Daniel Snyder's wallet's eye, but by no means should Washington draft him for purposes of being their franchise quarterback. Newton is best suited for a team that would be willing to build a team and an offense around him rather than force him into an established offense.
If the handling of Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth were any indication, the Redskins staff is not one to adjust their plan to their players.
Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Alabama Crimson Tide
2 of 10
Julio Jones has the size, speed, strength and production to warrant being taken in the first round. What he doesn't have is the consistency of a top 10 pick, and the Redskins can find better value elsewhere. While Washington is in need of a new No. 1 receiver, they have too many needs elsewhere to draft Jones and then figure out the quarterback position to properly utilize him.
The Redskins aren't in any rush to compete for a Super Bowl, and Jones would have time to mature in the rebuilding process, but his hands aren't going to get any better or consistent.
Jones has the potential to be a No. 1 wide receiver, with a combination of size and speed, but the hands are a problem. He was worlds better this season than he was in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, improving from 58 and 43 catches to a terrific 78 during his junior year. He has a great eye for the ball and makes difficult catches look routine, but can also disappear from week to week.
He went over 100 yards in each game against Auburn, Duke, South Carolina and Tennessee, but failed to break 50 against Penn State, Florida, Mississippi and Mississippi State.
Simply put, the Redskins are not in the position to be drafting a wide receiver in the first round. They have needs at quarterback and all along the offensive line, save for Trent Williams at left tackle. The defense is in need of proper 3-4 personnel and it cannot be swept aside, even for an explosive receiver like Jones.
Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, Arkansas Razorbacks
3 of 10
As a quarterback Ryan Mallett is as physically imposing as there is in football. At 6'6", no one will ever bring up his ability to see over the offensive line in the NFL. He threw for nearly 7,500 yards and 62 touchdowns in his two seasons at Arkansas, and he led the Razorbacks to their first BCS bowl
What Mallett has in size and arm strength, he lacks in accuracy and polish as a future NFL quarterback.
Arm strength is rarely everything for a quarterback, lest we bring up Kyle Boller's NFL career, and Washington can't let his 80-yard throw boast blind them to the fact that he is not a franchise quarterback. He has the advantage of coming out of a pro-style offense at Arkansas, but he did not improve enough to shake the many criticisms about his overall play.
He has poise in the pocket, but he is not a leader and has shown himself to be easily discouraged or rattled in big-game situations.
The Redskins do need a quarterback, and Mallett has the experience necessary to fill that need. He would have been great in the Mike Shanahan, run-first offense, but with Kyle Shanahan in the mix, Mallett's inaccuracy is his undoing. There are better prospects in this year's draft, at quarterback and elsewhere, and Washington won't be the only team passing on Mallett in the first round.
Mike Shanahan needs to make up for the Donovan McNabb debacle this offseason, and drafting Mallett would not help his cause.
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Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU Tigers
4 of 10
If all the Redskins needed this offseason was a great corner on defense, Patrick Peterson would be the perfect pick. He recorded four interceptions this season and was in the Heisman conversation heading into the 2010 season. He has tremendous physical talents and would otherwise be a great pick for the Redskins. There are a million and one reasons why the Redskins should draft Peterson, but only one reason against that notion matters.
The Washington Redskins have more pressing needs than cornerback heading into the offseason, and only tremendous strides through free agency are going to make Peterson a viable pick.
He is the size of a safety with the speed and skills of a corner. He has been projected as being a quality return man in the NFL because of his physical talents. If it were a family business, he could pull the family card on Washington since he is Santana Moss's cousin.
None of it really matters with the position the Redskins are in this offseason. Holes on both sides of the ball and more pressing needs means Peterson should not be drafted by the team.
If Washington does draft Peterson, they will be resigning themselves to offensive mediocrity and overlooking the utter lack of a defensive line. He is a great talent, but not good enough to make the other problems go away. It may come down to Peterson being the best player available at No. 10, but the Redskins need far too much help to draft with that mentality.
Jake Locker, Quarterback, Washington Huskies
5 of 10
Looking at his numbers throughout his college career, there is really nothing too stellar about Jake Locker. He has prototypical quarterback size, but seems unpolished in every other area. How could anyone have projected him as the best quarterback in last year's draft class, or even a first round pick in this year's draft?
The Redskins can't afford to take a risk on a player like Locker, especially at a position like quarterback where they are desperate enough to try anything.
It is impossible to tell how much of Locker's pedestrian career numbers are the result of playing for the Huskies and how much is a result of being an average quarterback. It is apparent that he is not the player that everyone was so quick to anoint as the best player in last year's draft. His career completion percentage is in the mid-50s and doesn't lend itself to the past criticisms of his accuracy.
His athleticism is his most intriguing asset, but so was Heath Shuler's and we all know how that turned out for the Redskins.
Locker had four games during his senior campaign where he threw for less than 100 yards, including a 5-for-16, 56-yard bowl performance against Nebraska. His nine combined passing touchdowns against Syracuse and Oregon State account for more than half of his season total of 17 passing touchdowns. He has some of the tools of an NFL quarterback, but not enough to warrant the 10th overall pick in the draft.
He had the hype last year, and would have been considered a steal at No. 10. The Redskins should turn and run from Locker, even if they intend to have him sit for a year. He may be more athletic than Ryan Mallett, but showed his utter lack of polish in his final year with the Huskies.
He is a project quarterback that the Redskins do not have the time to spend waiting for a breakthrough.
Ronnie Brown, Running Back, Miami Dolphins
6 of 10
Ronnie Brown has the ability to be one of the best running backs in the NFL. He can run with power, he can run around defenders and he is versatile enough to catch out of the backfield or throw a pass if he has to. Miami's Wildcat offense put his talents on full display, but despite keeping his carry totals to a minimum in comparison to the typical starting running back, Brown only managed to start a full season this year.
He broke his hand in 2006, landed on IR in 2007 and 2009 with knee and foot injuries and has only sniffed 250 carries in a season once in his career.
Brown is at home in Miami because of the system being built around, but who knows if the Dolphins will commit to him as their franchise running back with his injury history. If he hits the free-agent market, Washington should steer clear because the last thing they need is another overpriced injury risk at running back.
With Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams looking every bit like capable running backs, there is no need to splurge on a premier rusher this offseason, let alone one with the injuries Brown has.
Champ Bailey, Cornerback, Denver Broncos
7 of 10
Everyone wants to see Champ Bailey back home in Washington where he belongs, and if it were three years ago I would be part of that group. But Bailey is 32 and coming of a mediocre season for the Denver Broncos. He is headed for what should be the last real payday of his career, and the Redskins can't afford to be that payday.
Bailey still has the skills to be a good corner, but the Redskins are already the oldest team in the NFL and can't add to that total with another aging player.
Bailey is beyond the years of being the best corner in the NFL, and the title itself seems to change year to year. He managed just two interceptions on the season and hasn't had more than three since 2006. The Broncos defense managed just 10 interceptions on the season while allowing 26 passing touchdowns. Bailey is just one player on that defense, but he is a part of it, and the results should point to his declining production.
There are younger, albeit more expensive, options to Bailey this offseason and Washington would do well to pursue one of them rather than chase after a beloved, but still aging veteran.
James Jones, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
8 of 10
The Green Bay Packers offense is made for players like James Jones. With weapons like Greg Jennings and Donald Driver on the field, it is easy to lose track of a player like Jones in the fray. Throw in Aaron Rodgers' ability to find open receivers on the move and Jones should look no further than his current team for his future. His numbers don't scream much of anything, but Jones is on the rise and may look to cash in with the depth at wide receiver projected for free agency.
Washington can't buy into any hype, and would only overpay for Jones regardless of his real worth to the team.
The Redskins don't have the pass-frenzied offense the Packers do, and Jones is not a No. 1 receiver. He recorded career highs of 50 catches, 579 yards and five touchdowns, which are good for a third receiver. He is the perfect third or fourth option when there is talent in front of him to distract defenses.
He is a big target at 6'1" and 208 lbs., but he is a glorified red-zone/possession receiver, there are plenty of players capable of being that type of player available in the later rounds of the draft.
With Malcolm Kelly still on the roster, and a much cheaper alternative despite his injury issues, it is easy to pass up on a player like Jones given his potential asking price.
Braylon Edwards, Wide Receiver, New York Jets
9 of 10
In a perfect world, Braylon Edwards would be a dominant and well-adjusted wide receiver with the Cleveland Browns, fed up with losing and looking for a way out via free agency. Instead, he is a streaky and immature receiver, taking on the personality of Jets head coach Rex Ryan in the trash-talking department. Washington desperately needs a true No. 1 receiver, but is it worth the price to endure Edwards?
The simple answer is no, and any ideas the Redskins have about angling for Edwards would be better suited for the numerous other cheaper, equally as talented and much less annoying free-agent receivers.
Edwards is 27 and in the thick of a run at the Super Bowl as a member of the New York Jets. Even though he may be intrigued to stick around because of the Jets' success, he is likely to carry a hefty price tag despite producing average receiving numbers for the season. As a No. 1 receiver, he managed just 904 yards on 53 catches with seven touchdowns.
Not terrible numbers, but not worth what Edwards is likely to ask for in the offseason.
Consider that Santana Moss had more catches (93), more yards (1,115) and just one fewer touchdown on a bad Redskins offense. Anthony Armstrong had 44 catches for 871 yards and three touchdowns with an average of 19.8 yards per catch. Edwards still has plenty of good years in front of him, but his character issues and inconsistent production should be red flags for the rebuilding Redskins.
It would also help if Washington had an idea of who will be their quarterback next season and beyond. Why waste money on a player who would make light of the already apparent issues with the team?
Nnamdi Asomugha, Cornerback, Oakland Raiders
10 of 10
Nnamdi Asomugha is a terrific corner entering the prime of his career, and would be the perfect addition to the Redskins defense in need of a shutdown corner. Of course, with the billing of "elite corner" comes the need to be paid as such, and Asomugha is out for a shiny new contract to compensate his abilities. Washington needs a quality corner, but shouldn't have to pay out the nose for one like Asomugha.
Consider that he has just three interceptions in the last four years, which is fewer than Carlos Rogers has in the same span.
Asomugha has plenty of good years in front of him, but he has lost his knack for getting the ball. He recorded eight interceptions in 2006, but has turned his focus towards coverage over interceptions the last few years. It would make sense to bring in a player like Asomugha, who would be the shutdown corner to DeAngelo Hall's risk-taking style of play.
The Raiders tried a Hall/Asomugha tandem in 2008, and it landed Hall in Washington after he failed to cover much of anyone.
Both men are different players than they were in 2008, but would the experiment be worth the money Asomugha will want? Washington needs to be diligent in its signings and splurging on a corner with some question marks is not wise. Asomugha has also stated that he isn't looking toward free agency, and could very well return to Oakland despite the odd way his contract situation came about in the first place.
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