It’s Bargain Hunting Season in the NFL

March 20, 2019

By Eric Hill

The first week of NFL free agency is like Black Friday. Teams look at the coming free agent market much like we peruse Thanksgiving newspaper with 36 pounds of coupons. They jockey for position to get the guy they want in to their facilities much like we pitch a tent outside of Wal-Mart after bailing on Thanksgiving dinner before the egg nog kicks in and grandma starts hitting people with her hollow leg. Then, when the time comes, teams throw money at the player they think will make them a contender just like we throw forearms into the single mother standing between us and the last Xbox. Teams are happy to get their guy and they will worry about how he fits in when the season starts. We’re happy to get our industrial microwave and we’ll worry about radiation poisoning when our teeth start falling out.

If the first week is like Black Friday, the second week is like early December. We realize that we spent way too much on little Johnny’s MacBook and there’s going to be a lot of empty space under the tree. We rush out to TJ Max and rummage through piles of picked over merchandise trying to convince ourselves that Johnny’s little brother will be happy with a Chia Pet. Our teams do basically the same thing after all of the marquee players have found new homes. They bring in guys who are past their prime, coming off injuries or flamed out with their first teams. They try to convince themselves that a former first round pick who has been cut by two teams just needs the right situation.

This is where the Redskins are. The first wave of free agency is behind us and while the Redskins didn’t go all 2009 like some idiot up here predicted  (click here to read), they did make some waves. They got their fancy home theater system by luring Pro-Bowl safety Landon Collins away from the New York Giants, so now it’s time to head to Marshall’s and pick through the return bin to address other holes on the roster.

Oh, and holes there are.  Here are the remaining team needs to be addressed this off season, in order of importance.

Left Guard

Left guard has been a weakness since 2016. Starter Shawn Lauvao has not been able to stay healthy and Arie Kouandjo, has already been cut after underwhelming and was also hurt the entire season. The Redskins “addressed” the guard spot this week by signing a parking cone named Ereck Flowers, who has been nothing but terrible at tackle since the Giants picked him in 2015. Maybe moving him to guard will work out, and maybe BetaMax will make a comeback. The pickins are slim elsewhere as top free agents Roger Saffold and Ramon Foster have already been signed (and they were both over 30 anyway).  It’s time to get young and athletic at left guard. Ereck Flowers isn’t the answer and this spot should be addressed through the draft.

Wide Receiver

I wrestled with putting wide receiver as the top need, but it doesn’t matter who your quarterback is throwing to if he’s being hurled into the stands consistently. The Redskins lost their best (albeit overrated) wideout as Jamison Crowder signed with the New York Jets. Josh Doctson is serviceable at best and Mr. Irrelevant Trey Quinn was only healthy for a game and a half last season.  The Redskins could kick the tires on aging receivers like Michael Crabtree or Jordy Nelson, or possibly could have grabbed 29-year-old Randall Cobb before he went to Dallas. This is another spot that should be addressed in the Draft.

Edge Rusher

With Preston Smith getting way too much money from the Packers and Ryan Anderson yet to show he’s ready for prime time, the Redskins need to get someone to help on the other side of Ryan Kerrigan.

The draft is loaded with pass rushers, but if the team chooses to address guard and wide receiver in the early rounds, free agency has some interesting players to consider. Justin Houston has been in decline in recent years but may have something left in the tank, especially if used as a rotational pass rusher, as could Bruce Irvin or Jaime Collins. Then there is Shane Ray, who has been a disappointment in Denver and probably would be here as well, but he’s a former first round pick and only 26.

Free Safety

The loss of Ha-Ha (you thought I would tackle someone) Clinton-Dix to da Bears, leaves a hole at the back end of the secondary. Montae Nicholson regressed last season even before his Street Fighter III audition tape leaked. Troy Apke was a head scratcher pick in 2018 and spent most of last season hurt. New addition Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could potentially play Free Safety but his best years are behind him and he’s no lock to even make the team.

There are some decent options still available on the free agent market.  Tre Boston is a very good coverage safety and, at 27, is in his prime. The Redskins would be wise to pursue him. Eric Berry’s play has slipped in recent years on a bad Chiefs defense but he is only 30 and he has already beaten cancer, so I wouldn’t count him out of anything. Cheaper (and less good) options can be had in players like Kenny Vaccaro, Jahleel Addae and Clayton Geathers.

Inside Linebacker

This spot is lower because there are serviceable players in place but very little depth. Ruben Foster facing a suspension to start the season and Zach Brown released to clear salary cap space. Mason “F this fan base” Foster and youngster Shawn Dion Hamilton are in place to start the season at inside linebacker.  The team can probably get by with this duo until Rueben Foster returns but any injuries could be catastrophic. Hamilton is full of potential but short on experience while Mason Foster has plenty of experience but you could use a sun dial to time his 40.

27-year-old Deone Buchannon is a former first round pick that had a rough 2018 after the Cardinals switched to a 4-3 defense.  Moving back to a 3-4 could help him regain some of his swagger. Manti Te’o might consider joining if we send him a DM and say we’re the Cowboys.  What I’m saying here is that there are options.

There are plenty of other needs to address as well.  Left tackle Trent Williams isn’t getting any younger, there’s a lot of youth outside of Josh Norman at cornerback and we still have the Colt and Case show at quarterback.  There are a lot of moves to be made and it’s time to start bargain shopping.