2011 NFL Free "Age"ncy: Experienced and Youthful Options for the Redskins

After changing to a whole new offensive and defensive scheme in 2010, the 2011 Washington Redskins are in need of huge personnel needs on both sides of the ball.

Watching the Skins stumble through their first season in the Shanahan Era was painful, but a few things became evident:

1) The Washington Redskins are old.

2) The Washington Redskins have the wrong personnel in the right schemes.

3) The Washington Redskins need a long-term QB,

4) The Washington Redskins probably shouldn't have picked up Haynesworth.

Coach Shanahan made it clear in a recent press conference that he is aware of all the holes on the team, and this offseason when he looks to fill these holes, he will not just be targeting talented players but talented players with youth on their side.  

With Coach Shanahan's philosophy in mind, here are some free agents that I think would fill out some of those gaping holes while adding youth and talent. 

1: Aubrayo Franklin, Nose Tackle, 30 Years Old

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HERTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Franklin Aubrayo of San Francisco 49ers looks on during a training session at The Grove Hotel on October 27, 2010 in Hertford, England. The San Francisco 49ers will meet the Denver Broncos in the NFL International Series r

Ask any defensive coordinator that runs a 3-4 and they will tell you that the most important position, the one that anchors the whole scheme, is the nose tackle.

With Haynesworth exiting the building, this position becomes essentially vacant. Kemoeatue has shown he is no starting nose tackle, and while Anthony Bryant is, he is still a bit green.  Enter Aubrayo Franklin, while at 30, he may seem a bit old for this slideshow, he still has some good years of football in him.

Bryant has played in the 3-4 with the 49ers and could serve as a good mentor to the young Bryant as he is groomed for the starting role.  With a new regime in San Francisco, I'm sure there is a lot on their shopping list, and Franklin could likely remain a free agent. The combination of Franklin and Bryant instantly fills the Redskins question mark at nose tackle.  

2: Sidney Rice, Wide Receiver, 24 Years Old

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: Sidney Rice #18 of the Minnesota Vikings in action against Asante Samuel #22 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 28, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

One thing the Redskins have really missed in the past couple years in the wide receiver category is a deep ball and red zone specialist.

Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong have had their moments, but both should ideally be used as a slot receivers to cut up defensive interiors with their speed. Besides being freakishly talented, Sidney Rice is tall, five inches taller than Anthony Armstrong and six inches taller than Santana Moss.

By signing Rice the Redskins could have a wide receiver that reels in game changing catches and demands double coverage from defenses.  He's coming off a hip surgery, but with youth on his side, I'm sure he'll have a quick and full recovery. Once again, with a new regime in Minnesota, Rice may want out, and if he does, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Skins pay the man. 

3: Richie Incognito, Guard, 27 Years Old

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 3: Richie Incognito #62 of the Buffalo Bills lines up in position against the Indianapolis Colts during their NFL game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills defeated the Colts 30-7. (Ph

The Redskins interior line is Hurt McGurt.

In the 2010 season, the Redskins offensive line was ranked 28th overall and allowed more than 45 sacks. Neither Derrick Dockery nor Artis Hicks are starting material for the Redskins, and Kory Lichtensteiger needs to be permanently moved to center, where he has showed some serious ability.

Incognito is a young, but experienced guard who spent last season with the Dolphins leading for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. He could immediately come in as a starter for the Redskins in 2011 and provide some much needed solidity to the offensive line.  

4: Logan Mankins, Guard, 28 Years Old

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 20: Logan Mankins #70 of the New England Patriots against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium on September 20, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

As I said in the previous slide, Redskins Interior Line is Hurt McGurt.

Logan Mankins, just like Incognito, could instantly serve as a starting guard for the Skins, but it will be a little more difficult to pry him away from the Patriots. However, with the Patriots having 12 draft picks, Mankins may be viewed as replaceable.

If by some act of God, Mankins and Incognito were both picked up and Lichensteiger were moved to center, the Redskins would immediately shave 20 years off the total age of their interior three offensive linemen while increasing talent at the same time...I'll say my prayers. 

5: Tamba Hali, Outside Linebacker, 27 Years Old

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 05: Tamba Hali #91 of the Kansas City Chiefs sacks quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos during the game on December 5, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Tamba Hali is a beast. Over the regular season, he recorded 14.5 sacks, 52 tackles and four forced fumbles. 

Lorenzo Alexander and Andre Carter are not built for the 3-4 outside linebacker position.  Both are heavy footed, leading to trouble in open field tackling, and neither has the speed to take the edge on a rush. Hali, on the other hand, is built for the 3-4 and has experience in Kansas City. Hali and Orakpo manning each side of the Redskin defensive front sounds like a re-dic-u-lous combination.  

As of right now, the Chiefs have over 25 unsigned players on their roster including Hali. If the Chiefs do end up signing Hali, look for the Skins to possibly make a play on the Chiefs second leading pass rusher who is also unsigned, Wallace Gilberry, a 26-year-old defensive end, who recorded seven sacks and could also serve as a decent pass rush on the opposite side of Orakpo.  

6: Tanard Jackson, Free Safety, 25 Years Old

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NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 27: Tanard Jackson #36 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moves on the field during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on December 27, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Jackson is a bit of a gamble, but considering the current alternative is Kareem Moore, he is a good gamble.  

Jackson was suspended in the beginning of the 2010 season for violating the leagues substance abuse policy and is scheduled to be reinstated September 22, 2011.  

In his 2009 season, Jackson had five interceptions, two forced fumbles and two touchdowns on top of 60 tackles. Laron Landry is where he belongs, at strong safety defending the run. If Jackson were to work out, he could be the pass-coverage-game-changing-safety the Redskins have missed since Number 21, RIP.

7: Matt Leinart, Quarterback, 27 Years Old

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Matt Leinart #9 of the Houston Texans looks on before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 14, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Yea I said it; I can hear some of my fellow Skins followers booing at this slide right now, but let's be honest.  Donavan Mcnabb is leaving and Rex Grossman is coming back; this gives the Skins three options:

1- Draft a QB (Mallet,Newton,Locker,Gabbert) to compete with Grossman for starting job

2 - Sign a QB (Leinart,Smith,Bulger) to compete with Grossman for starting job

3 - Do neither and sign 2011 season over to....Rex Grossman

Leinart sat behind an established Quarterback in Kurt Warner for three years.  After following a fallout with Arizona coach Ken Wisenhunt, he was traded to the Texans, where they already had a good looking prospect in Matt Schaub.  

Leinart is primed and ready to be a starting Quarterback in the NFL and definitly brings some competition to Grossman.  He fits Shanahan's "pocket passer" profile and is looking to move to a new team.

What can I say? It feels like a good match.