Free agency is an inexact science. Perhaps no NFL franchise conveys this reality better than the Washington Redskins.
For every gem found in March, the Washington Redskins seem to find two busts via the free agency market. It’s been a staple (Is that the right word?) of Bruce Allen’s tenure in D.C.: Overpaying underwhelming players, from an insignificant reserve nose tackle like Stacy McGee, to a shiny, blockbuster signing like Albert Haynesworth.
The Redskins have had their fair share of bad luck in free agency, and every year, it seems to persist in different ways. But this recent history sheds only haze on the truth: The Redskins weren’t always so inconsistent with their signings.
In fact, there are enough Redskins free agent gems to make a list. While the lows have been very, very low, the high points of the Redskins’ endless free agent pursuit have given reason for optimism. It’s an inexact science. No one is going to get it right all the time. But when the Redskins get it right, what does it look like?