If you talk to most Redskins fans you will hear them talk of adding a top receiver should be a top priority for the Redskins and that it will help fix their offensive woes. In fact before the McNabb benching debacle, most fans hoped that a big play receiver would be the top draft or free agent priority. The problem with that line of thinking is it ignores the truth about where the Redskins really stand, and what is most important for building a team.

The simple fact is a receiver doesn’t rank in the Redskins top 5 among offensive needs (RT, C, RG, LG, QB for those scoring at home) currently. Now it might be a bit more pressing if Santana Moss leaves via free agency, but even if that is the case the Redskins don’t need to spend $10 million a year on a free agent or the 10th overall pick in the draft. While elite receivers are fun to watch and great to reminisce about, they don’t equal winning.

Look around the league and most of the top receivers had their seasons end in Week 17 (obviously a few notable exceptions):

Steve Smith (Panthers): Sure age is catching up to Smith, but his age wasn’t the factor into why he posted his worst offensive numbers and the Panthers ended up with the leagues worst record.

Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals): Fitzgerald actually had a good season, but one man can not carry an offense. Bad O-line, QB, and RB play doomed this team.

Andre Johnson (Texans): Well you really can’t blame the offense and Johnson, Foster and Schaub did everything in their power to make the Texans contenders, their defense collapsed though.

Calvin Johnson (Lions): Johnson did well, and made three quarterbacks look great, unfortunately the offensive line was so bad that they couldn’t keep any QB healthy enough to make a run.

Miles Austin/Dez Bryant/Roy Williams (Cowboys): Austin is the true star, but it’s worth noting that even with Williams, and Bryant (not to mention great backs and Jason Witten), they weren’t able to overcome the inefficiencies of their offensive line and defense. Bryant could be a star in the making, but not taking a tackle or CB last year meant the Cowboys watched the Super Bowl in their own home town, from the stands and at home.

Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens (Bengals): Now dysfunction had something to do with this, but the point is despite adding these extra weapons (including using a couple high draft picks) the Bengals passing offense (entire offense) was a joke.

Brandon Lloyd (Broncos): Lloyd isn’t in the star category as Redskins fans well know, but it is worth mentioning that the Broncos woes had nothing to do with the loss of Brandon Marshall (them not capitalizing on some of the trade return is another story).

Michael Crabtree (49ers): Crabtree has basically been as good as advertised (though not an elite receiver just yet), but the play of the 49ers quarterbacks (as well as the implosion of the team) meant that they will be picking 7th this April.

Kenny Britt (And part of Randy Moss) (Titans): Britt is quickly becoming a star receiver (not fully there yet), that would have been well over 1,000 yards had he not missed 4 plus weeks with injury. The thing is though they added Randy Moss during that time and he did absolutely nothing. The Titans also have a good 2nd (or 3rd when Moss was there) option in Nate Washington, a good offensive line, and the best back in the league.

Percy Harvin/Sidney Rice (part of the season)/Randy Moss (part of the season): Now Moss was no doubt a cancer this past year, but even with Harvin and 1/3 a year of Rice this team wasn’t a contending team. Too many institutional issues, not to mention quarterback play and the weak offensive line led to the Vikings downfall.

Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd: Now Jackson really only played the last 4 weeks of the season and Floyd missed a number of weeks, but the fact of the matter is not having star receivers for a good chunk of the year didn’t set the Chargers back. Jackson and Floyd weren’t the only players missing as, Gates missed significant time as did some of the replacement receivers, through it all Phillip Rivers threw for over 4,700 yards. While the Chargers might have made the playoffs if all their receivers were healthy (and Jackson didn’t hold out, the real issue with this team was their running game, and offensive line. And for those who say well the Chargers went 3-1 during those last 4 weeks with Vincent Jackson, just take one look at who they were playing. They beat the Chiefs, who were without Matt Cassel, the 49ers who were in complete disarray at that point, and the Broncos who were led by a rookie quarterback and a brand new head coach. They also lost to the Bengals in that stretch, which shows that Chargers maybe weren’t as good as people gave them credit for. San Diego should have won those games if they picked fans out of the stands to run routes for Rivers, so I have a hard time really saying that Jackson had some momentous impact at the end of the season.

Analysis:

It might be fun to think about drafting Julio Jones or Jonathan Baldwin and/or signing Vincent Jackson, Santonio Holmes, or Sidney Rice, but any one of those players (even two of them) aren’t going to make the Redskins contenders. Washington has way to many needs to spend a big chunk of their offseason resources (money and picks) on receivers. Now I don’t think they shouldn’t address the position, guys like Mike Sims Walker, Steve Breaston, etc. could be good values (depending on their price tag). No the Redskins might not get that true number 1 wideout, but they can improve their corps, and with a better all around team, they will be closer to competing.

Where Will Tate Forcier End Up?: Former Michigan quarterback, Tate Forcier is finalizing his transfer options, but his choices seem to be all over the place. He has a mix of Division I schools as well as a few I-AA choices. While most of Forcier’s Division I choices are second tier schools, (New Mexico, San Diego State, Middle Tennessee), he does have Miami and Washington on his list. He has about zero chance of ever starting at either one of those schools, and might not even be the third string quarterback at Miami. If Forcier goes to any Division I school he will have to redshirt for a year, making the I-AA options a bit more appealing. While a Montana might not be on the same level as a Michigan or a Miami, it basically is on the same level as a New Mexico or San Diego State. And if you can get a pretty solid guarantee at the starting job and you don’t have to sit out a year, that makes a lot of sense for Forcier. Regardless this has been a long road for Forcier, from Michigan’s starter two years ago to now almost an after thought. I would recommend that Forcier not sit out a year and rededicate himself to football. Forcier can’t afford to become irrelevant. And the best way to do that is to start next season.

Paea Suffers A Big Injury At The Senior Bowl: Defensive tackle Stephen Paea suffered a damaged lateral meniscus in his right knee during his first practice on Monday at the Senior Bowl. Paea will have surgery to repair the damage, but it could have serious implications for his draft stock. The recovery time for this type of surgery is at least 5 weeks, which means it is almost a given that he can’t workout at the Combine next month. And he also likely won’t be up to full strength for an individual workout as well. Paea is ranked as a 1st round defensive tackle right now, but could slide into the 2nd round or later depending on how he heals. Even if he is 100% for a workout in April, missing out on the Senior Bowl and Combine will be hard to overcome.

Notre Dame Knocks Off Pitt at Home: It is never easy to beat the Pitt Panthers, and at home it is next to impossible, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish refused to get overwhelmed, and did just that. The Irish just out shot the Panthers, particularly from the 3-point line, where they went an impressive 9-18. The Panthers had a small lead at halftime, but couldn’t keep up in the 2nd half with Notre Dame’s shooting. Pitt’s star guard Ashton Gibbs had a cold night, going just 4-13 from the field, including 1-5 from 3-point land. Gibbs who is automatic from the charity stripe never made it to the line, which led to some poor free throw shooting for the Panthers. Outside of forward Gilbert Brown who was 6-6, the Panthers made a pitiful 3 of 10 from the rest of the team combined. The Irish were led by Ben Hansbrough, who had 19 points and 7 assists. Hansbrough was 1 for 6 from behind the 3-point line, but an incredible 7 of 8 inside the arch. Hansbrough and company were too much for the Panthers to handle, and should make a nice jump in the rankings next week.

Redskins Officials Meet With Some Interesting Names At The Senior Bowl: Now just to be clear the Redskins will end up meeting with just about every player this week, but it is still interested to see who they are meeting with and when. Jake Locker has long been rumored to have the team’s interest and it makes sense from a need perspective, but not in the top 10. Locker very well could be the best quarterback from this draft class 5 years from now, but I don’t think he is top 10 material. Especially on a team with multiple other needs. I’d love to see Locker groomed by the Skins, but as a 2nd round pick and after the Skins trade back for more picks. As for some of the other guys they were seen meeting with Schilling and Brewer are both offensive linemen and make perfect sense for the Skins. Jones and Matthews are inside linebackers, which should be a need with McIntosh likely moving on. The one real surprise would be Lance Kendricks, who is a mid-round, tight end prospect. While this could mean Fred Davis is on the trade block, Kendricks is likely to be well off the board by the time the Redskins pick in the 5th round (he is projected as a 3rd-4th round guy, which are two rounds where the Skins don’t have picks). Even if the Redskins acquire extra picks in the mid-rounds, tight end doesn’t rank high enough on the need list to use a pick on. Brewer and Matthews are two of my favorite players at the Senior Bowl this week and two guys who should be able to start right away for the Skins, if they have the draft picks to add them.

Here are the top needs for each team in the NFL in reverse draft order:

1. Carolina Panthers:

-Defensive Tackle: The Panthers get very good play from their defensive ends, but receive no internal penetration from their tackles. Nick Fairley makes a lot of sense at the top of the draft.

-Guard: The Panthers have solid tackles when Jeff Otah is healthy, but have very little in the way of talent at guard. An upgrade could be in order in either the 3rd or the 4th round (maybe both).

-Tight End: Carolina has not had a pass catching tight end in years, but hopefully the new coaching staff will look to upgrade Jeff King. If the Panthers had their top pick in the 2nd round, they would reunite Clausen, with Kyle Rudolph his college tight end. Look for a potential trade, or a free agent signing to fill this need.

-Wide Receiver: The Panthers lack a top notch receiver to go along with Steve Smith, and it does hinder their offensive ability. While A.J. Green is in the mix for the top spot, the Panthers have invested a lot of draft picks of late into the position, so my guess is they will take a pass. I could see them adding a receiver via free agency.

-Quarterback: While I believe the Panthers should give Jimmy Clausen a fair look this season, they need to bring in a veteran backup in case he falters or gets injured. I think Clausen will be fine, if they can just improve around him enough.

-Corner back: Richard Marshall is a free agent this season, and he is coming off his worst year as a starter, so I don’t see the Panthers resigning him. That will mean Carolina needs to address the corner back position this offseason, likely through free agency.

-*Defensive End: The Panthers top sack leader, Charles Johnson, is primed to become a free agent. If the Panthers can’t work out an agreement, this need shoots up the list. As it stands now, this is only a need for depth purposes.

Denver Broncos:

-Corner back: Champ Bailey is a free agent this offseason, and even if they resign him, it is an area of weakness as the Broncos have nothing at the opposite corner. If Bailey does leave I think Denver will draft either Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara with the 2nd pick in the draft. And if they do resign Bailey, they could still look to address their need early.

-Defensive End: While it isn’t 100% clear whether or not the Broncos will run a 3-4 (like they have been doing) or a 4-3 (which is Coach Fox’s preference), the Broncos need big time help at defensive end. If they go back to the 4-3 both Da’Quan Bowers and Robert Quinn will be targets. If they stay with the 3-4 Nick Fairley or Marcel Dareus could be the pick.

-Defensive Tackle: Again this is dependent on what system they run, but defensive tackle is a serious need for Denver. If they stay in the 3-4 a Nose Tackle in the 3rd or 4th round would make sense, and if they go 4-3 Fairley and Dareus are in play for the 2nd overall pick, this time for the inside.

-Safety: It really is hard to say what is a bigger priority, strong or free safety as they both need to be addressed. I typically lean to adding a free safety first, but Denver should look at both positions.

-Right Tackle: Ryan Harris is a free agent, and even if they do resign him he has been pretty injury prone these last few years. If he isn’t retained a starter is needed, if he is signed a good backup is a priority.

Buffalo Bills:

-Offensive Tackles: The Bills need to add a pair of  tackles this offseason after completely ignoring it last year. At this point it doesn’t matter who lines up under center, as they have no chance without a massive upgrade at the tackle spots. There isn’t any franchise tackles in this draft, so baring a trade down the Bills should consider the Free agent route. On the right side they could look at using their 2nd or 3rd round pick on bringing in an upgrade.

-Rush Linebacker: The Bills were unable to put any consistent pressure on the quarterback and it cost them dearly. If they want to run the 3-4 they need to bring in guys who can get to the quarterback. Robert Quinn should be a serious option for them at number 3 overall.

-Defensive End: The Bills need to get more push from their defensive line, so adding a talented 3-4 end like Dareus or Fairley makes a lot of sense at number 3. They could wait until the 2nd round, but it would be hard to pass up those top guys.

-Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick is a solid starter, but he’s likely not franchise material. While I don’t see the Bills grabbing a QB in round one, a 2nd or 3rd round pick could be invested into the position.

Cincinnati Bengals:

-Wide Receiver: Terrell Owens is on his way out, and it seems likely that Chad OchoCinco is about to follow him. The Bengals need to add a top flight receiver, so if A.J. Green is still on the board he won’t fall any farther in the draft.

-Defensive End: Antwan Odom has been a force at end, but over the last two seasons he his missed the majority of his games. Without him that pass rush struggles, despite the emergence of rookie Carlos Dunlap. The Bengals should consider Bowers at number 4 if Green is off the board.

-Strong Safety: The Bengals have excellent corners, but Roy Williams has been a major liability in coverage for Cincinnati and they have to find an improvement. If they can’t sign a free agent a 3rd round pick should do the trick.

-Running Back: Cedric Benson really struggled this past year, and while some of that blame is on the offensive line a lot falls on his shoulders as well. The Bengals need to address their running back need either in free agency or the draft, but it is pretty clear they will have to look outside the organization to do so.

-Quarterback: Carson Palmer had a resurgence at the end of last season, but before that he looked like he was completely done. He might have a year or two left in the tank, so the Bengals need to start looking for a replacement.

Arizona Cardinals:

-Rush Linebacker: The Cardinals had one of the most ineffective pass rushes last season and it left their secondary out high and dry. Arizona needs to look long and hard at Quinn and  Von Miller with their 5th pick if they want to improve.

-Offensive Tackle: The Cards offensive line needs a complete overhaul and that should start with the tackle position. There aren’t any great options for the top 5 in the draft, so I’m guessing they look to free agency to fill this need. For the right side a mid-round pick could suffice (and probably even start this year).

-Guard: Arizona needs to keep rebuilding their line if they want to have an effective offense again, and adding a guard in the mid-rounds (or through free agency) is a smart choice.

-Corner back: Arizona’s corners got beat quite a bit last season, that it wouldn’t be shocking to see them target a top corner at number 5. Overall I think they could just look at adding better depth and focus on improving their pass rush which should, help their corner back play.

-Quarterback: There is little doubt that Arizona needs to add a quarterback, but I think it is more for a short term fix than a long term issue (don’t right John Skelton off just yet). Look for Arizona to add a veteran as they look to get at least average production from their signal caller.

I’ve heard a lot of talk in the media, amongst fans and by draftniks of late how all four quarterbacks left in the playoffs are first round picks, and that for some reason therefore first round quarterbacks equal overall team success. For me, nothing is more flat wrong than that presumption, especially when you look at the quarterbacks left. Now I could see how some people could come to that conclusion if the matchups were Manning-Roethlisberger and Ryan-Rodgers, but when you try to use Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez to prove a point about investing in first round quarterbacks it should be as a cautionary tale, not evidence of success.

The fact that Manning, Ryan, Vick and Flacco, all superior first rounders to Cutler/Sanchez, didn’t make it deep in the postseason should tell you right then and there that elite quarterbacks do not guarantee postseason success. Also, proving the point is the fact that Drew Brees and Tom Brady didn’t win a playoff game despite being better than any quarterback in the postseason sans Peyton Manning (and yes that includes Aaron Rodgers). What is proven by the playoff results, is that the best teams win playoff games, not the best quarterbacks.

Now when I say best teams, I don’t necessarily mean the most talented, or those with the best record, but the best team on the field (including coaches) on that given Sunday (or Saturday). And it frankly doesn’t matter whether a quarterback was drafted 1st overall, or undrafted, it matters how good he is, and how great his supporting cast is.

While I respect what Jay Cutler has done with the Bears and in Mike Martz system this season, I’m not going to label him as ‘elite’ or a ‘franchise’ quarterback. While it is now evident that the Bears won the Jay Cutler trade, much of that has to do with the fact that Denver was completely inept in the draft and wasted the draft picks they received from Chicago. While its apparent that Cutler is better than Kyle Orton, whom the Bears gave up on, and that the fifth round pick they received (Johnny Knox) has been an incredible find, it ignores what they could have taken had they kept the picks.

While Cutler and Knox have been good for the Bears, I don’t know if they are better than Orton, and the draft picks. Had they kept the 1st and 3rd round picks, the Bears could have taken Michael Oher and Mike Wallace in those spots (Denver traded that 3rd round pick with another pick to the Steelers to move up into the 2nd round). And in 2010 they would have had the 11th overall pick and either had their choice of players including a number of guards and OT’s they needed or traded back and stockpiled picks like Denver did (though they then subsequently wasted those picks). Either way, Chicago would be in a pretty healthy position right now with those extra draft picks. And Kyle Orton plus those picks (executed properly) is just as likely to have the Bears in the Championship game as Cutler and Knox.

Mark Sanchez is even a bigger cautionary tale as his numbers through two seasons have been less than stellar. Yes the Jets have been successful, but that is due in large part to the fact that they have a great defense, offensive line, running game, and receivers. Mark Sanchez had a nice 2nd half against the Patriots, but he is hardly the reason for the Jets overall success. His numbers have been well below average, and more often than not the Jets win in spite of him. It is also worth noting that the Jets traded up for Sanchez, from a pick where they could have taken Josh Freeman.

Now I’m not totally discounting Cutler and Sanchez here, just making the point that their team’s success isn’t solely because of them. And had their teams gone a different way (Bears with Orton and Jets with Freeman) the draft picks and players they could have saved would have put them in a more favorable longterm position. There are 1st round success stories out there among quarterbacks, but it usually comes down to the team around them. Cutler and Sanchez benefit from good teams and coaching around them, but they themselves aren’t at the ‘franchise’ level just yet. Both are still young and could (and should) get better, but right now they have not reached the potential and talent befitting what Chicago and New York expect of them.

Wide Receivers Declare For The NFL Draft: In the coming weeks a number of junior receivers are expected to enter the NFL Draft to perhaps make it the strongest receiver draft class in its history. Yesterday a pair of quality receivers put their name into the ring, and while neither are expected to be first round picks their presence helps give teams viable 2nd and 3rd round options as well. Torrey Smith of Maryland has been rumored to go for a little while, and was all but assured of leaving with the coaching change for the Terps. He isn’t a very big and tall receiver, but he has very good size to go along with his top speed. He should hear his name called in the early 2nd round. DeAndre Brown from Southern Mississippi is a bit more of a surprise, considering he is coming off a weak injury filled year. At 6’6″ 240 lbs, he profiles as the big receiver every team is looking for. Despite his poor numbers he should still hear his name called by the end of the 3rd round. Given the low profile of his school and marginal talent around him, he may have thought his draft stock wouldn’t improve too much with another season.

Maryland Could Be Zeroing In On Malzahn: With Maryland’s bowl game over their coaching search is expected to ramp up this week and a new coach could be in place by the new year. While multiple reports have them targeting Mike Leach, a couple reports have them in on Gus Malzahn who is currently Auburn’s offensive coordinator. While Leach would be a solid option, I really believe Malzahn would be the man who could turn this program into something special. He has two stints as an offensive coordinator in the SEC, which will give him plenty of credibility with recruits down south. Also, he brings an innovative offensive system that has worked in the SEC and could have a huge advantage in a weaker ACC Conference. If Maryland can land Malzahn, this program will be headed in the right direction for years to come.

Newton and Fairley Haven’t Thought About the NFL Draft: Now I realize it is for the best for them to not acknowledge their status for the NFL Draft just yet, but who do they really think they are kidding. Both players are expected to enter the draft and be early picks, so this is more of a non-story than anything else. I just wanted to make sure I nipped it in the bud before people started wondering what their draft status was. While Newton gets all the hype and prestige, it is actually Fairley who is the better player and likely higher draft pick. Fairley should hear his name called within the first five selections, and profiles to be one of the top penetrating defensive tackles in the game. For those fans who want your team to grab either Newton or Fairley, have no fear as they will both have their names called this April.