Last night (this morning if you want to be technical), the St. Louis Rams lost their right of first refusal in signing (un)restricted free agent O.J. Atogwe. Just last offseason Atogwe was the team’s franchise player, but an injury shortened season left the team hesitant to pay him. Now he is free to sign with any team, and should garner some significant interest. Before the injury he was establishing himself as one of the better free safeties in the league.

Atogwe has become an excellent ball hawk, with a good understanding of reading opposing quarterbacks and breaking on the ball at the right time. He always seems to be around the football, and has good closing speed. While not an elite hitter, Atogwe is a pretty sure tackler, and takes pretty good angles to the ball carrier. Atogwe might not be considered an elite free safety, but he is on the borderline Pro Bowl level.

In addition to his skill set, Atogwe will be just 29 at the start of next season, and played for new Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett when he was with the Rams. Since Washington is looking to move LaRon Landry to strong safety, and the team has little in the way of talent at the free safety spot, one would logically assume that Washington is one of Atogwe’s biggest suitors. But according to every source out there from ESPN, Rotoworld, NFL.com or even the Washington Post, there is no mention of the Redskins pursuing Atogwe. This doesn’t make any sense to me, and while hopefully the Redskins are just waiting in the tall grass to strike, I have little faith at this point.

In addition to still needing help along the offensive line and at nose tackle, the Redskins have a serious void at free safety. LaRon Landry was obviously miscast at the position, but the team doesn’t have any other good options for the FS spot. Right now Reed Doughty is penciled in as the starter, but he isn’t exactly what you’d call a good fit. He has started a lot at SS, and has shown an aptitude as a stout run defender, but has always been a risk in coverage. Giving him the responsibility of centerfield is going to get the Skins burned next season. Kareem Moore played some free safety last year, but has not shown the consistency to be a starter. Chris Horton will likely be given an opportunity as well, but he has always been viewed as more of a strong safety, and could get exposed at the free safety spot. Yet despite the obvious need (and connection to Atogwe) there doesn’t seem to be any interest, why?

Now some might say Atogwe isn’t worth the monetary risk since he is coming off a shoulder surgery, but I don’t see how the Redskins lose here. They have a major need at the position and just so happen to be in an uncapped year. Now I don’t think they should give him a blank check, but use this uncapped year to pay him more upfront money, so if you did have to release him next season, it wouldn’t affect the salary cap (if there is one). Now I’ve been a big supporter in pursuing Atogwe all along, but at this point there is NO downside. All the free agents have already signed and the draft has come and gone, so it isn’t as though signing Atogwe will make you miss out on another option that doesn’t carry the injury risk. If the Redskins sign him and he gets seriously injured, then they are in no worse shape then they are right now (i.e. Doughty/Moore/Horton). But if they sign him and he reverts back to his previous form, the Redskins get a MAJOR upgrade over their current trio of candidates. If Washington wants to actually challenge for the NFC East, then signing Atogwe should be a priority (adding a John Henderson and another OT would help as well).