The Washington Redskins are set to be one of the busier teams in the NFL over the coming weeks. They have a lot of decisions to make in free agency, and they are rumored to have some interest in some big name free agents.
NFL free agency is just about to get into full swing. With the legal tampering period now open for teams, players have been able to negotiate contracts with their own players and top targets. Among them have been the Washington Redskins.
The team started by working to secure a few of their own guys. They overpaid a bit to keep tight end Vernon Davis in the fold, while they also opted to tender a couple of their restricted free agents. The trio of moves was a big deal for the team, but they still have not scratched the surface for what their potential moves will be this offseason.
With rumors flying around the league at a torrid pace, there was inevitably going to be some surrounding the Redskins. With that in mind, here are some of the biggest storylines that we have been hearing in regards to the Redskins on day two of the tampering period.
Pierre Garcon Likely Gone
When Kyle Shanahan got the head coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers, the team was always likely to target some former Redskins. One of the top names associated with Shanahan was quarterback Kirk Cousins, but wide receiver Pierre Garcon was expected to be a target too. The logic was that the favorite target of the franchise quarterback could make San Francisco a more desirable location for Cousins in the event that he looks to sign a long term deal there.
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Garcon projects to be a good fit in San Francisco as a route running receiver, and reports have surfaced that he will be signing there in 2017. Via Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Garcon will sign there and is likely to make a whopping $16 million in the first season alone. That is a monstrous number for a receiver that is about to turn 31.
There is no doubt that Garcon will be an upgrade over what the 49ers had at the receiver position before. That said, if the contract is indeed that lucrative, it could be an irresponsible overpay by the 49ers. Garcon is a talented player, but even the most talent receivers can regress as they climb higher into their 30s. The 49ers are taking a huge risk that may not pay off.
For that reason, the Redskins were likely smart not to re-sign Garcon. They will have to fill a hole at receiver, but frankly, Garcon is not worth that much to them. If the 49ers had less cap space, it is doubtful that he would get that kind of deal from them as well.
Redskins Interested In Dontari Poe
It is no secret that the Washington Redskins have a need at the nose tackle position. They had one of the worst rush defenses in the league during the 2016 season, and they had to upgrade it in 2017. According to Jason La Canfora of CBS, the Redskins have some serious interest in Dontari Poe of the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Poe is one of the better defensive tackles on the market this offseason. The former first round pick out of Memphis is a talented player who can stuff the run with the best of them. However, he also has unique pass rushing ability that is not often seen from nose tackles. Poe did struggle a bit in 2016 due to a back injury, but at the very least, he could be an elite run stuffer. That could have a Damon “Snacks” Harrison like effect on the defense.
Of course, Poe will not come cheap, but it seems like the Redskins could be willing to pay up for his services. He seems like a candidate to land a $9-$10 million per year contract if he gets teams engaged in a bidding war. However, if any are scared off by his injury, his value could go down a bit. Or, he could be forced to sign a one year deal.
Regardless of what happens, the Redskins should be willing to pay Poe. Upgrading the nose tackle position would be huge for the team and should positively impact the defense moving forward.
Barry Church A Target For Redskins
In addition to their interest in Poe, Jason La Canfora also confirmed that the Skins would have some interest in Barry Church, via his Twitter account:
Skins will be in on Dontari Poe, a top target. Also in the safety market, with Barry Church, a target for JAX as well, in their sights
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 8, 2017
Church has been a member of the Dallas Cowboys for the past seven seasons, but he has enjoyed some of the best years of his career recently. Church was solid in coverage in 2016 and really helped to strengthen the back end of the Dallas defense. Considering the issues that the Redskins have had at the safety position, Church could be a good fit with the team.
However, the fact that the Jaguars are interested could be problematic for the Redskins. The Jaguars always seem to have a lot of cap space and are often able to overpay to get top flight free agents. If the two teams get into a bidding war, Washington would likely not be able to keep pace. Still, that is just a hypothetical for now.
No matter what, Church would be a good fit with the team. He could play next to Su’a Cravens and that would help to greatly improve the secondary.
We will keep you updated on all the latest happenings in NFL free agency. Keep it right here at Riggo’s Rag for up to the minute news on the Washington Redskins!