The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

It took almost two weeks, but the Redskins finally welcomed a prospective signee to Washington when Seattle receiver D.J. Hackett visited on March 12 and 13.

Ironically, it was Hackett who caught the 20-yard touchdown pass that put the Seahawks ahead to stay, 20-14 with 6:07 left, in the teams' wild card playoff game on Jan. 5 in what would prove to be the final game of Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs' career with the Redskins.

Hackett, of course, knows Gibbs' replacement, Jim Zorn, having worked with him the past four years in Seattle. Hackett's career-highs are a modest 45 catches, 610 yards and four touchdowns.

But Hackett caught 29 passes for 377 yards and four touchdowns in five games he played after returning from a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for six games early last season. And Hackett had six catches for 101 yards and that touchdown against the Redskins.

"D.J.'s looking to play for a playoff team with a good quarterback," said Hackett's agent, Kevin Robinson. "He has a great deal of respect for Coach Zorn and (new running backs coach) Stump Mitchell and of course he knows the offense."

At 6-feet-3 and 208 pounds, Hackett also seems like the right fit for an offense that Zorn admitted needs a taller receiver to team with undersized starters Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El.

But while fellow young, big receiver Bernard Berrian (71 catches, 951 yards, five touchdowns in 16 games for Chicago last season) signed a six-year, $42 million deal with $16 million guaranteed with Minnesota almost as soon as the market opened, Washington will be Hackett's first free-agent visit.

Robinson blamed the lack of interest on Hackett's pair of ankle injuries that limited him to just six games last season. Hackett spent his entire rookie year, 2004, on injured reserve with a hip pointer and he missed the 2005 NFC Championship Game with another ankle injury.

With Brandon Lloyd cut and Reche Caldwell and Keenan McCardell unsigned, the Redskins only have veterans James Thrash and Billy McMullen (signed in January) and youngsters Anthony Mix, Mike Espy, Burl Toler, Maurice Mann and Steven Harris (three career catches between them, all by Mix last season) behind Moss and Randle El.

NOTES, QUOTES

— After finding no takers for his services as a 5-foot-7 running back, kick returner Rock Cartwright re-signed on March 7.

"I never wanted to leave," said Cartwright, a seventh-round pick in the 2002 draft who's tied for fourth in seniority on the roster. "I just wanted the opportunity to play more. I know I can play running back in this league."

Cartwright broke Brian Mitchell's team records for kick returns and kick returns yards in 2006. His 25.8-yard average in 2007 was tops in the NFC for a returner with more than 20 returns and was the second-highest by a Redskin in 26 years.

"Rock is one of our strong leaders on the field and in the locker room and we're very glad that he's back with the team," said Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato.

Cartwright's three-year, $3.550 million deal included $300,000 up front.

— The Redskins re-signed defensive lineman Ryan Boschetti on March 12. Boschetti made the practice squad as a rookie free agent in 2004, wound up starting a game that year but got into just one game in 2007 despite being on the active roster all season.

— Punter Derrick Frost, receiver Reche Caldwell and offensive lineman Mike Pucillo are the only remaining unrestricted free agents who played for the Redskins last season who might be back. Offensive lineman Jason Fabini, linebacker Randall Godfrey, safety Pierson Prioleau and receivers Keenan McCardell are all at least 30.

— Offensive tackle Stephon Heyer and quarterback Sam Hollenbach, both rookies last season, attended Maryland's Pro Day on March 12 to watch their former Terps teammates go through the same drills they did a year ago.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I definitely have more of a chip on my shoulder than I did when I was drafted. Thirty one teams passed on me then and those same 31 teams passed on me again." — Kick returner Rock Cartwright after re-signing with the Redskins

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The Redskins have been uncharacteristically very quiet this month. Through Mar. 12, they were one of just three teams not to add a player as opposed to their usual free agent signing frenzy in March.

Washington has about $7 million in cap space, but with all 22 projected starters under contract also hasn't moved to re-sign any of its own free agents other than backup quarterback Todd Collins, kick returner Rock Cartwright and kicker Shaun Suisham, who was an exclusive rights player.

For a change, the draft will be a major priority at Redskin Park even though the Redskins only have the 21st pick. If they receive a first-day compensatory pick for losing guard Derrick Dockery to Buffalo last March, they'll have four first-day choices, equaling their total from the previous three years.


1. Defensive line: The line overachieved last season, but left end
Phillip Daniels is 35 and left tackle Cornelius Griffin is beginning to wear down at 30. They need a pass rusher to complement right end Andre Carter. Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston have each started a year at right tackle with mixed results. Situational pass rusher Chris Wilson is swift but skinny.

2. Receiver: Santana Moss, a 2005 Pro Bowl pick, suffers from recurring muscle pulls. He and fellow 5-10 receiver Antwaan Randle El combined for just four touchdowns in 2007. New coach Jim Zorn would like a bigger target for quarterback Jason Campbell to throw to in the West Coast offense.

3. Guard: Cornerback Carlos Rogers won't be ready for the start of the season and the Redskins need a capable backup outside linebacker, but this is a bigger need since left guard Pete Kendall will be 35 this year and right guard Randy Thomas, 32, finished 2005 and 2007 on injured reserve. The top backup is Lorenzo Alexander, a defensive tackle until he began playing both ways in 2007.

MEDICAL WATCH: CB Carlos Rogers continues to rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. Rogers, who tore an ACL and an MCL last Oct. 28 at New England, isn't due back until after the start of the season.

—WLB Rocky McIntosh, who tore an ACL in the Dec. 16 victory over the New York Giants, is expected back in July.

—QB Jason Campbell (knee), ROT Jon Jansen (leg) and RG Randy Thomas (triceps), all of whom finished last season on injured reserve, have been fully cleared to resume workouts when the Redskins begin their offseason workouts on March 17.