Redskins’ Offseason Plans: Drafting Needs & Saying Goodbye

Once again, it looks like it’s going to be another tough offseason in Washington. That’s because, as is their custom, the Redskins are long on needs and short on draft picks. The team also has plenty of unproductive salary and old weight dragging on its roster. But for a team that’s been as poorly-managed as the ‘Skins have for the last decade, that’s par for the course. So no more stalling; here’s what the Redskins need to do this offseason to keep them on the path to contention.

First, the team needs to say goodbye to some of its longest-tenured players. The prime candidates here are RB Clinton Portis and C Casey Rabach. Rabach is 33 and has struggled mightily with larger defensive lineman in recent years. And the way that his contract is structured, there will be no cap hit to the Redskins if they cut him after this season. That‘s an easy decision in my book. As for Portis, the team needs to start talking “pay cut”. Portis is due a salary of nearly $8.3 million (none of it guaranteed) in 2011, and even though he remains one of the best pass-blocking backs in football, he’s missed 19 of the team’s last 32 games. That’s not worth $8 million and if Portis won’t take a pay cut, the ‘Skins need to cut the cord.

Second, the Redskins need to scour their roster for legitimate trade bait. This is a team in desperate need of draft picks. As of now, they have just 6 picks in the 2011 draft: 1 first-rounder, 1 second-rounder, 1 fifth-rounder, 1 sixth-rounder, 1 seventh-rounder, and a pick from the Saints that could either be a fifth- or a sixth-rounder depending on which pick gets sent to Philadelphia for the McNabb trade. That’s not a lot of capital, so the team needs to find a way to get more picks—especially in the higher rounds. My idea: Drop the asking price on Haynesworth to a third-round pick or a fourth-round pick plus a lower-round selection and see who bites. Haynesworth is a perfect example of a starter-quality player who isn’t utilizing his potential nearly enough with the ‘Skins, making it best to cut ties with him in exchange for a draft pick. The same goes for Derrick Dockery, who—though getting older—is still a starter-quality player that should demand at least a lower-round pick in a trade. Better to have draft picks than players who would be better served elsewhere.

Third, the ‘Skins need to get their priorities straight. The list of needs is long: interior offensive line, RT, RB, WR, nose tackle, DE, LB, and possibly CB. Obviously, it’s not possible to fill those spots with just 6 draft picks, so the team is going to have to prioritize what it wants to do. Here’s my recommendation: 1) Put interior offensive line (especially center) at the top of the list—Rabach needs to be replaced, and a young prospect that can give the ‘Skins good protection in the passing game and good push in the running game will improve the offense by leap and bounds; 2) Get a nose tackle next—a player like this would help anchor the Redskins’ base 3-4 defensive package and would keep them from getting gashed up the middle on running plays; and 3) grab at least two linebackers, a free safety, and a DE in the later rounds—the defense needs pass-rushers and is also short on linebackers of the 3-4 variety, plus the only real free safety on the roster is Kareem Moore (and the jury is still out on him). Receivers and running backs can wait until next year.

Finally, the Redskins need to use free agency sparingly. There’s been talk about the Redskins pursuing New England guard Logan Mankins or San Diego wideout Vincent Jackson. I’m fine with bringing in free agents to supplement a roster, but here’s why I don’t think these guys should be primary offseason targets: 1) Jackson is one strike away from a suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and 2) Mankins is 28 years old, meaning that by the time the ‘Skins are really contending, he’ll be old. Free agency is the peas and carrots to the filet mignon of the draft. And the Redskins have been eating far too many peas and carrots recently.

Now, you may disagree with my strategy. I realize that there’s a good portion of Redskins Nation that want a young receiver or a top-shelf RB for the offense next year, whether via draft or free agency. That’s all well and good, but I think it’s vastly more important to have sound fundamentals before you have flashy playmakers. I think it’s juvenile to think that the addition of one receiver or one tailback will make an entire defense load the box or drop back into coverage when it faces the Redskins. Washington still has a makeshift and aging offensive line and an old defensive line without a true 3-4 lane-clogging nose tackle. I’d rather get the lines settled and then put players into skill positions.

And honestly, any Redskins fan that thinks this team is a running back or a wide receiver away from contending is kidding themselves.