Redskins Reality Checks: An offseason report card and prescription
By Tim Payne
Redskins checklist for the rest of the offseason
With the Reality Checks out of the way, here’s my checklist for how the Redskins can finish the offseason on a high note.
- Recognize the Redskins’ horizon for true Superbowl contention is the 2021-2023 seasons, and make all roster decisions with that horizon in mind.
- Go after a cheap EDGE on a long-term deal with low guarantees in free agency.
- Shop Josh Norman to a contender in return for some young developing assets and draft capital.
- Shop Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis both in return for young developing assets and draft capital.
- Fill remaining roster gaps with serviceable veterans on one to two-year deals, or young players with upside on three to four-year deals. Think T.J. Lang at guard for $8 million over two years, Tre Boston for one year at $5 million, and Michael Crabtree for two years at $6 million total.
- Extend Brandon Scherff for $90 million over eight years, with $45 million guaranteed; structured to frontload the cap hits into 2019 and 2020 to balance out the Landon Collins deal.
- Extend Tress Way through the end of the 2023 season.
- Draft Brian Burns (EDGE), Greedy Williams (CB), or T.J. Hockenson (TE) with the No. 15 pick.
- Top fifteen picks should be used on building blocks at premium positions. Quarterback, EDGE, offensive tackle, cornerback, and maybe the super-rare, do-everything tight end or defensive tackle. Since we’re currently set at offensive tackle and defensive tackle, and I don’t think a quarterback worthy of this pick will fall to us, I would take one of these three guys at No. 15. It’s highly doubtful that all three are gone before we’re on the clock.
- Draft the best player available of those three positions, wide receiver and safety, in the second round.
- Draft the best guard available in the third round,
- Draft pure best player available from the third round comp pick on, with an eye on ending the draft with: Quarterback, EDGE, tight end, cornerback, wide receiver, safety and guard all drafted.
- And finally, drop the prices of all concessions and parking at FedEx field. Give away tickets to schools, first responders, and youth programs. Create a true home-field advantage even if you lose money doing so. Dan Snyder’s gotten rich off this franchise. Now it’s time to do what it takes to build a winner from the ground up.
The Reality Is, if the Redskins were to do these things, Chief Zee and I would be proud. And they might convince me they have turned a corner from roster-building to franchise-building. Will they? You know I’ll be watching to find out.
Next. Re-ordering the Redskins draft needs after free agency. dark
Like my idea? Think I’m an idiot? Let me know @TheRealityIs__ In the mean time, #HTTR and enjoy your roster building.