Free agency: where should we spend Dan's money?

[riggofan]

Reading some reports today that the salary cap may be as high as $135m this year. That's $5m more than was being reported a few weeks ago. (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... 2-million/)

We obviously have a lot of players to re-sign and holes to fill. My question for you is: which position would you like to see the team "go big" on and spend to improve in free agency?

I'm not suggesting any Fat Albert deals. Just where would you like the team to be most aggressive in free agency and why?

[HEROHAMO]

I think the offensive line should be high priority. A RT and a guard L/R would help.
On the defense we could use a whole lot of help. MLB, SS , FS and another big defensive lineman hopefully a NT to help out. We have Cofield but I think he would be even more effective with another behemoth next to him or moving Cofield to DE.

I like our corners. Amerson should be fine with Hall on the other side. Saftey really, really needs some help. Doughty is good for depth. Our inside linebackers are terrible. We need help bad at the ILB position.

So yeah once again RT and a guard on Oline. NT, MLB, FS and SS for defense in order of priority. Starting at the front lines will always pay dividends. Then a MLB next Kalil Mack would do very nicely. FS and SS we could bring in a free agent to help.

[The Hogster]

Defense needs help. Fletcher is gone and Orakpo is one of the top OLB Free Agents this year. We need a lot of help on defense. LB, Safety & Corner. I hear that Josh Wilson may be let go.

Help along the O Line would be nice as well. I may be in the minority here, but I actually think we need Defensive Line help as well. Carriker has a cap number of 6.5M and I am not convinced that we can't do better than Stephen Bowen & Carriker. Jenkins should be back to 100 but we have to get better than Kedric Goldston, Doug Worthington et al.

[Irn-Bru]

Defense needs help. Fletcher is gone and Orakpo is one of the top OLB Free Agents this year. We need a lot of help on defense. LB, Safety & Corner. I hear that Josh Wilson may be let go.

Help along the O Line would be nice as well. I may be in the minority here, but I actually think we need Defensive Line help as well. Carriker has a cap number of 6.5M and I am not convinced that we can't do better than Stephen Bowen & Carriker. Jenkins should be back to 100 but we have to get better than Kedric Goldston, Doug Worthington et al.

Our defense is definitely due for an overhaul. I hoping we stick a franchise tag on Orakpo (it's not too late for that yet, is it?) and then focus on LB and safety. One decent vet corner to "replace" Amerson (with Amerson replacing Wilson) should give us a good enough CB corps for next year. Did I mention safety? Safety, safety, safety.

I agree that we should take the opportunity this offseason to shore up our defensive line. Agreed that we should probably part ways with both Bowen and Carriker. I don't mind the quality of our depth so much as the missing 1-2 players who will help make up the rotation.

It's a lot to ask, but we've got the cap room to do it. Our offense doesn't need as many pieces to compete.

[Deadskins]

Our inside linebackers are terrible. We need help bad at the ILB position.

Fletcher is gone, but why do you think Riley is terrible? I couldn't disagree more.

[riggofan]

I think the offensive line should be high priority. A RT and a guard L/R would help.

I don't disagree, but do you think these positions can really be addressed properly in free agency? What player would you spend a lot of money on to help the offensive line? I heard C00ley on the radio the other day, and he was pretty big on Alex Mack.

I've been looking at the top FA list, and I think CB and Safety are the positions where we could get a young, quality guy who would be an immediate upgrade. Safeties just seem like bigger injury risks to me, so I would put some money into trying to land one of the best CBs.

Anyway, we all know the numerous needs the team has. The question is: which ONE position would you spend big money on when FA starts?

[brad7686]

Defense needs help. Fletcher is gone and Orakpo is one of the top OLB Free Agents this year. We need a lot of help on defense. LB, Safety & Corner. I hear that Josh Wilson may be let go.

Help along the O Line would be nice as well. I may be in the minority here, but I actually think we need Defensive Line help as well. Carriker has a cap number of 6.5M and I am not convinced that we can't do better than Stephen Bowen & Carriker. Jenkins should be back to 100 but we have to get better than Kedric Goldston, Doug Worthington et al.

yea we def need d-line help. I think that's a lot of the reason we were so bad at the beginning of the year, cofield had that cast, jenkins still wasn't right. There hasn't been much there from a pass rush perspective since Carriker got hurt, and I don't see him staying healthy

[emoses14]

Our inside linebackers are terrible. We need help bad at the ILB position.

Fletcher is gone, but why do you think Riley is terrible? I couldn't disagree more.

Yeah I don't get this one either. I'm actually really happy with Riley's play and view the ILB we need to find as his replacement. He, Riley, is Fletcher's replacement, technically.

[riggofan]

Noted this comment in this WashPost article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/w ... -the-line/

Free agency will largely decide who the Redskins draft. But it’s hard to find starting veteran linemen on the market. In free agency, there are always decent receivers or corners available, but teams rarely let quality linemen depart because there aren’t enough around the league.

[blowwad]

Just saw that the Browns released D'Qwell Jackson over the idea of having to pay a $4 million workout bonus. 141 total tackles last year (75 tackles + 66 assists).

Keep Perry and pick up the veteran help at a decent price to shore up the ilb area maybe??

[The Hogster]

Defense needs help. Fletcher is gone and Orakpo is one of the top OLB Free Agents this year. We need a lot of help on defense. LB, Safety & Corner. I hear that Josh Wilson may be let go.

Help along the O Line would be nice as well. I may be in the minority here, but I actually think we need Defensive Line help as well. Carriker has a cap number of 6.5M and I am not convinced that we can't do better than Stephen Bowen & Carriker. Jenkins should be back to 100 but we have to get better than Kedric Goldston, Doug Worthington et al.

Our defense is definitely due for an overhaul. I hoping we stick a franchise tag on Orakpo (it's not too late for that yet, is it?) and then focus on LB and safety. One decent vet corner to "replace" Amerson (with Amerson replacing Wilson) should give us a good enough CB corps for next year. Did I mention safety? Safety, safety, safety.

I agree that we should take the opportunity this offseason to shore up our defensive line. Agreed that we should probably part ways with both Bowen and Carriker. I don't mind the quality of our depth so much as the missing 1-2 players who will help make up the rotation.

It's a lot to ask, but we've got the cap room to do it. Our offense doesn't need as many pieces to compete.

We have until March 3rd to franvchise a player.

[PAPDOG67]

Go get Aquib Talib!

[HEROHAMO]

Our inside linebackers are terrible. We need help bad at the ILB position.

Fletcher is gone, but why do you think Riley is terrible? I couldn't disagree more.

You may be right. I might be riding him too hard. But please make a case for him then. Because last year I can find many plays in which he blew it. To be fair he did play well the year before last.

[HEROHAMO]

Defense needs help. Fletcher is gone and Orakpo is one of the top OLB Free Agents this year. We need a lot of help on defense. LB, Safety & Corner. I hear that Josh Wilson may be let go.

Help along the O Line would be nice as well. I may be in the minority here, but I actually think we need Defensive Line help as well. Carriker has a cap number of 6.5M and I am not convinced that we can't do better than Stephen Bowen & Carriker. Jenkins should be back to 100 but we have to get better than Kedric Goldston, Doug Worthington et al.

Our defense is definitely due for an overhaul. I hoping we stick a franchise tag on Orakpo (it's not too late for that yet, is it?) and then focus on LB and safety. One decent vet corner to "replace" Amerson (with Amerson replacing Wilson) should give us a good enough CB corps for next year. Did I mention safety? Safety, safety, safety.

I agree that we should take the opportunity this offseason to shore up our defensive line. Agreed that we should probably part ways with both Bowen and Carriker. I don't mind the quality of our depth so much as the missing 1-2 players who will help make up the rotation.

It's a lot to ask, but we've got the cap room to do it. Our offense doesn't need as many pieces to compete.

I agree with all except I think Amerson can be a starter. We do need a nickel corner though.

[Irn-Bru]

I agree with all except I think Amerson can be a starter.

Me too. I think he's our #2 next year, replacing Wilson.

[riggofan]

Just saw that the Browns released D'Qwell Jackson over the idea of having to pay a $4 million workout bonus. 141 total tackles last year (75 tackles + 66 assists).

Keep Perry and pick up the veteran help at a decent price to shore up the ilb area maybe??

Who knows, but Keim thinks Jackson is a legit option/possibility for the Redskins.
http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-reds ... r-redskins

In Jackson’s case, though, he clearly provides something the Redskins need: A veteran presence at inside linebacker who can still play. They already have one defensive coach who knows what Jackson can, and can’t do, in outside linebackers coach Brian Baker. He served as Cleveland’s outside linebacker’s coach a year ago. Also, coach Jay Gruden had to scheme twice a year against Cleveland’s defense for the past three seasons.

I’d be surprised if the Redskins aren’t interested for these reasons (and if they’re not, that’s also telling). We already know they need at least one inside linebacker capable of starting. Seven teams reportedly contacted Jackson’s representatives after news of his release, with a visit set at one of them for Thursday. One Redskins source pointed out, however, that Jackson was not yet on the league’s transactions (that will occur Thursday) so admitting interest would be to admit tampering as well. But, yes, they’ve done their homework on him.

Either way, I think its pretty likely that we'll go after a veteran LB for Fletcher's spot.

[SCSkinsFan]

OL. ILB, and S

[riggofan]

I don't think this would be a "big money" deal, but rotoworld suggests Kenny Britt as a free agent fit for the Skins today:

Redskins: Wide receiver Kenny Britt -- New coach Jay Gruden likes his receivers to be able to block. Although Britt was benched multiple times for effort reasons in Tennessee, he once was a willing blocker and destroyed opposing defensive backs on occasion at Rutgers. Britt is a high-profile name. We know owner Dan Snyder likes those. Leonard Hankerson may not be ready for Week 1, and Josh Morgan is a free agent. It's still unclear if Britt will ever be the same player he showed flashes of being early in his career, but he's still just 25 and would be worth a prove-it one-year deal.

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/4 ... -fits?pg=2

[HEROHAMO]

I think the offensive line should be high priority. A RT and a guard L/R would help.

I don't disagree, but do you think these positions can really be addressed properly in free agency? What player would you spend a lot of money on to help the offensive line? I heard C00ley on the radio the other day, and he was pretty big on Alex Mack.

I've been looking at the top FA list, and I think CB and Safety are the positions where we could get a young, quality guy who would be an immediate upgrade. Safeties just seem like bigger injury risks to me, so I would put some money into trying to land one of the best CBs.

Anyway, we all know the numerous needs the team has. The question is: which ONE position would you spend big money on when FA starts?

No I dont think we can address all the holes through free agency. Its going to have to be free agency and hit on our draft picks.

Free agency is always expensive. So it is much better if we find gems in the draft. But definatley need to pick up some free agents. We still have to re sign Orakpo. I believe? I am not so sure I would do that if he asks for too much money.

If I had to spend the money I would bring in a proven defensive lineman and a saftey. Tackles can be expensive especially if they are quality. Then again most any quality starter whos a free agent will cost a pretty penny. So pretty much I prefer we hit on our draft picks. But there is no denying we should at least pick up two free agents to fill holes on both sides.

[HEROHAMO]

Our inside linebackers are terrible. We need help bad at the ILB position.

Fletcher is gone, but why do you think Riley is terrible? I couldn't disagree more.

Yeah I don't get this one either. I'm actually really happy with Riley's play and view the ILB we need to find as his replacement. He, Riley, is Fletcher's replacement, technically.

I didnt want to bring up painful memories. But Ill name just one play but I can name many others since I study the game films.

Green Bay game Riley gets toasted for a fifty yard TD. I dont want to spend too much time grilling him because he was put in bad position to begin with. But still he blew his assignment. Not saying he cant improve. Just thought he had a very bad year. So did Fletcher for that matter.

[Deadskins]

I didnt want to bring up painful memories. But Ill name just one play but I can name many others since I study the game films.

Green Bay game Riley gets toasted for a fifty yard TD. I dont want to spend too much time grilling him because he was put in bad position to begin with. But still he blew his assignment. Not saying he cant improve. Just thought he had a very bad year. So did Fletcher for that matter.

Every player has a bad play or three throughout an entire season, but I don't think it's possible for an ILB to be "toasted for a fifty yard TD." Safeties are the last line of defense. An ILB can get toasted for maybe 20 yards max, but there are other breakdowns that occur on a 50 yard play.

[Deadskins]

Also, there's this:

Fletcher said it was important for him to leave a legacy -- part of that, he said, was training fellow inside linebacker Perry Riley -- and felt like that had been accomplished.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10158 ... ely-retire

[HEROHAMO]

Hey I respect London. Nothing would make me happier to see Riley flourish on our defense.
I guess we will just agree to disagree.
I cant point my finger to just one guy with all the drama of last year. Also I liked how Riley Jr. played the year prior.

[riggofan]

MMQB suggests Linval Joseph as a possible Redskins target:

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/02/27/2014-free ... fl-top-50/

Interior DL, New York Giants (Age 25)

An emerging DT in a 4-3 scheme, Joseph also appeals to 3-4 teams looking for a nose or end to play both gaps. Joseph gives teams options, so he’ll be popular. Best fit: Redskins. You’d think the Giants will try to retain him, but if they don’t, Redskins could pounce.

[1niksder]

I think the Skins should make a run at ILB Vincent Rey...

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, the Bengals have tendered restricted free agents WR Andrew Hawkins, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, and LB Vincent Rey.
Per the rules regarding restricted free agents, the Bengals tendered all three players at the “low” level, which carries a $1.431 million salary for next season.
If another team signs one of these players to an offer sheet, and the Bengals decline to match, the Bengals would receive a draft pick in the round the player was originally drafted in.
All three players were signed as undrafted free agents, therefore Cincinnati would not receive any draft picks if they signed an offer sheet with another team and the Bengals declined to match.

Rey, 26, is coming off of his best season in the league in which he produced 57 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — a forced fumble and a recovery.

WR Andrew Hawkins might be a option too...