Three Potential Free Agent Targets for Redskins

By Staff Writer John Manuel:

Here are potential free agent targets the Redskins should explore next week:

1- Sebastian Vollmer, New England:

Obviously a lot will depend on how much space the Redskins can clear before March 12 due to the cap penalties imposed by the NFL, but Vollmer should be their 12:01am target.  If the Redskins have the ability to spend big money on one player this free agent period I believe Vollmer should get that consideration.  With Ryan Clady and Braden Albert off the free agency board, Vollmer will be in high demand.

Tyler Polumbus has gone out and given everything he has for two seasons now but it is time to solidify the offensive line now that we know Trent Williams on the left side is legit.  I think it would be a mistake not to add a right tackle in this free agency period due to the talent that is out there this off season.

In a perfect world it would be great to draft a young one and work him into the position but having your early pick late in the second round makes that risky.  And it could leave Washington looking at Polumbus or another risky right tackle blocking for Robert Griffin III who is coming off a serious injury.

2- Adam Jones, Cincinnati:

Another position that the Redskins need help in is at corner.  Josh Wilson is fine on one side but they will need someone on the opposite side of him.  DeAngelo Hall is open to restructuring his high 2013 base salary to stay but that doesn’t exactly mean he is willing to take a pay cut.  DeAngelo is probably looking to move money around is my guess so I think in the end he will be cut.

Then the Skins need to bring in someone for sure and once again it may be hard to add a higher priced corner so Adam Jones could be a fit.  Jones finally may be reaching the level that many expected when he was drafted.  He is 29 now but I think he can help this team for a few years and his troubled past will probably keep him in a modest price range.  I know the thought of Jones will scare many Skins fans because of his past, but can he show worse antics than Hall did last season?  It would be an upgrade in my book to swap the two.

3- Reggie Bush, Miami:

Here is a long shot call but I think the Redskins should keep an eye on what happens with Bush.  If the market for Bush doesn’t play out like he is hoping than I think he could really help this team.  His versatility and big play potential would make the Redskins offense very scary to defenses.  Washington needs a compliment to Alfred Morris and someone who they can put in the back field with Griffin who can break big plays.

I haven’t given up on Roy Helu but we don’t know where he stands coming off a season missing injury.  Shanahan should not break the bank on Bush but say it is a week in on free agency and he is still out there I think they should talk.  He is going to 29 and most teams are afraid of running backs getting close to 30, but I think Bush is a different story here.  I would expect Shanahan once again to look mid to late rounds of the draft for another running back gem if they don’t use free agency to add one.

I looked at two players who would fill positions of need in Vollmer and Jones but did not address two potential others, safety and tight end.  As for safeties I think that the possibilities are there but guys will get over paid like Dashon Golston and William Moore and will be out of the Skins budget.  Ed Reed is obviously out there and could fill the desperate need the Skins have a centerfielder type, but he may look elsewhere if he doesn’t remain in Baltimore.  Washington has a history of misses on big money safeties like Stanley Richard, James Washington, Adam Archuleta and Mark Carrier in the way past.  The draft seems to be high on safety talent and waiting until late April may be the better play for Shanahan.

As for tight end I expect the team to attempt to work a deal out with Fred Davis to return.  Seems like the Shanahans like Davis and he likes playing here, so the possibility for his return seems good.  It is a tough call on what he is worth especially coming off a serious injury so we could see a tough negotiation.  If Davis goes elsewhere I think Washington would once again rely on Logan Paulson and maybe someone in the draft over signing a Martellus Bennett or Delanie Walker in free agency.

What do you think? Who should Redskins target starting March 12?

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