Washington Redskins Roster Room: Which Spots Are Left Unfilled?

O.J. Atogwe, Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, Josh Wilson, Chris Chester and Tim Hightower. Ryan Kerrigan, Jarvis Jenkins, Leonard Hankerson and Roy Helu.

This Redskins offseason has been one of the best in recent years. For Redskins fans who are so accustomed to watching the front office overspend and ignorantly throw their money around, this summer has come as a pleasant surprise.

For the first time in a long time, the Redskins front office has made legitimate moves to improve the overall talent of the football team as well as add depth, character and youth.

With the season quickly approaching, though, there are still a few holes along the Redskins roster that could be considered unfilled. Here are the top three positions of potential need for the 'Skins this season...

Cornerback

With the anticipated departure of Carlos Rogers, the Redskins were set to rely heavily on the play of DeAngelo Hall and third-year corner Kevin Barnes.

Although Barnes appeared in 10 games last season, he spent that time at two positions—corner and safety. Many were skeptical of having Barnes serve as the team's No. 2 corner alongside Hall and the team's front office realized the position as one of need.

Mike Shanahan wasted very little time signing free agent cornerback Josh Wilson to come in and start as the team's No. 2. With the addition of Wilson and his playmaking skills, the Redskins can move Barnes to the No. 3 cornerback slot—a position that is probably more fitting and more comfortable for him.

The Redskins also re-signed veteran corner Phillip Buchanon, adding depth and experience within the group.

Now, while the position may not appear to be one of need, the Redskins could still afford to add a guy or two to their secondary. Perhaps the team takes a look at someone like Kelvin Hayden, a 28-year-old veteran corner with valuable experience, but one who has been hit with the injury bug quite often.

The overall production of the cornerback unit could depend a lot on Barnes and his play at the assumed No. 3 spot. While the starting roles of Hall and Wilson are crucial, it's Barnes who will be called upon for help every game.

I'm excited to see what Barnes brings to the table this season.

Offensive Line

The offensive line was a major issue for the Redskins last season and the team has made strides this summer to try and help the situation.

After a shaky rookie season last year, Trent Williams has apparently come into camp in the best shape of his life. Reporters have described Williams' growth just over the course of one offseason and many are saying that we'll see, in 2011, why Shanahan made this guy his franchise left tackle.

Although unfortunate, the Redskins did what they needed to do in parting ways with long-time center Casey Rabach. After many dependable years in Washington, it was easy to see that Rabach was on the worst decline of his career.

With Williams at left tackle and Korey Lichtensteiger assumed to have earned his spot at left guard after last season, the Redskins still needed help on the right side.

Even through battled injuries, right tackle Jammal Brown played very well down the stretch last season. Fortunately for both parties, Brown re-signed with the Redskins and his effectiveness will depend solely on his ability to stay healthy.

Further addressing the right side, the Redskins signed former Baltimore Ravens lineman, Chris Chester. Chester provides youth along the line and his versatility allows for the Redskins to play him at guard or center.

At this point, it is assumed that former seventh-round pick Will Montgomery will start at center this season.

So while the position seems to be a crowded one, that's only the starters. Beyond the names mentioned above, the Redskins have very little experienced depth. Sure, the team has a load of sophomore and rookie linemen, but they lacked substance.

In order to address the issue, Shanahan signed free agent Sean Locklear, which is actually a better signing than most are giving him credit for. Locklear is an eight-year veteran with experience at both guard and tackle and his addition gives the Redskins a part of something they so desperately needed.

Having a coach like Mike Shanahan that makes the most out of his lineman, regardless of experience or talent, this Redskins offensive line could be better than anticipated. Personally, I feel as if the team still needs to add some depth to the position, but the market appears to have run shallow at this point.

Quarterback

This one shouldn't come as a shocker to anyone.

The quarterback situation for the Washington Redskins in 2011 has been an up and down one so far, and the ride is just beginning.

Whether the starter come Week 1 is John Beck or Rex Grossman, it doesn't take a student of the game to realize that the quarterback position is a huge hole on the Redskins roster.

In all fairness, we know what Rex Grossman can do. It's the unknown abilities, or lack thereof, from John Beck that make us all a little nervous.

If John Beck somehow comes in and lights it up, thus living up to the hype that seems to have surrounded his name all summer, then Shanahan looks like a mad genius and the Redskins are in good shape. If, however, Beck comes in and lives up to the bill of a guy that hasn't taken a regular season snap since 2007... well, then, we're in as deep as we thought we were.

As if I haven't preached it enough already, I think the Redskins will look for their quarterback of the future in the first round of next year's draft, regardless of the starter's play. The 2012 quarterback class is led by Stanford's Andrew Luck, but there's plenty to be had in the 20 or so picks following his likely No. 1 selection.

Even with all of the upgrades performed by front office this summer, the Redskins' 2011 season could live and die by the play of the quarterback.