The 6 Million Dollar Shopping Spree

[GTripp0012]

It's the eve of Free Agency, so I thought we should preview the FA season with a list of what you'd do with as the Redskins GM. Key is, you are on a limited budget (because you are the Redskins GM), and you have to offer players a fair market value contract to come play here. Here's my Washington Redskins shopping list:

1. D.J. Hackett, WR
Contract Offered: 7 years, 5 mil SB in 2008, 5 mil SB in 2009, total value of 29 million. 2008 Cap Number: 1.5 million (0.78 base + .7 SB allocation)
Hackett is the number one guy on my list, so he gets the longest deal of any of my free agent targets. Hackett is two years younger than Randle El and Moss, so the hope is that he's the team's No. 1 receiver if not by the middle of the season, then no later than 2010.

2. Jeff Faine, C
Contract Offered: 6 years, 4 mil SB in 2008, 4 mil SB in 2009, total value of 21 million. 2008 Cap Number: 1.45 million (0.78 base + 0.667 SB allocation)
Faine is a 27 year old center (NFL starter since his rookie year) who could start for us right away if he could beat out Rabach in camp. Either way, he would be the interior staple of the OL of the future which would include a 2008 draft pick at guard, and Heyer at RT to compliment Samuels and Thomas.

3. Kris Wilson, TE
Contract Offered: 5 years, 6 million SB, total value of 17 million. 2008 Cap Number: 2.0 million (.78 base + 1.2 mil SB allocation)
Wilson would come right in as the 2nd TE for us, and would see a lot of playing time in the WCO. He would be a staple on special teams, and would force a camp battle between Todd Yoder and Tyler Ecker to make the team as the 3rd TE. Wilson is a good blocker who also is a threat to catch the ball (what a concept!).

4. Brian Kelly, CB/S
Contract Offered: 3 years, 4 million SB, total value of 11 million.
2008 Cap Number: 2.1 million (.78 base + 1.33 SB allocation)
Kelly would fill not only the role of the ever important nickel position while Rogers misses time, but also play as the third safety once Rogers returns. Kelly would likely only play one year here before we release him, but the 3 year deal gives contract flexibility.

5. Mark Brunell, QB
Contract Offered: $950,000 total value, no signing bonus.
2008 Cap Number: $950,000
Brunell would come in as the 2nd QB, but would have to compete for the job. If he gets cut, he gets no money.

These moves would allow the team to add depth for this season, with players who would progress into bigger roles in the future when their contract value skyrockets (another great concept!). The total value of those contracts would only be 6.4 ish million once the rule of 51 is accounted for. To achieve this, the Redskins simply have to restructure Betts and Portis, and then they will still have enough money for the rookie pool to fill all other holes on the team.

Post your shopping spree if you wish.

[Dirtbag59]

Is this your opinion or an article? Either way its well done. Also if we can't get Hacket I would like to see the team make a run at Jabar Gaffney. However if thats the case then the chance of taking a WR goes up and personally that scares me.

[Tha Posse]

wow, thats all i can say.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Is this your opinion or an article? Either way its well done. Also if we can't get Hacket I would like to see the team make a run at Jabar Gaffney. However if thats the case then the chance of taking a WR goes up and personally that scares me.

This is just me.

Hackett has the potential to grow into our No. 1 receiver, but if we can't land him at this price (i.e. the exact same contract we gave to Brandon Lloyd...but this market is way more expensive), then I would not be opposed to bringing back Caldwell as the 3rd WR.

[Dirtyskin21]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

This is just me.

Hackett has the potential to grow into our No. 1 receiver, but if we can't land him at this price (i.e. the exact same contract we gave to Brandon Lloyd...but this market is way more expensive), then I would not be opposed to bringing back Caldwell as the 3rd WR.

The team has already reached out to Caldwell, and I see him as a very strong canidate to come back and be our number 4 guy.. That would be a decent WR core..

He just has to accept our offer

[wilsowilso]

1-4 seem like very strong choices.

[Dirtyskin21]

I was actually listening to an update that said what teams are interested in who, and I didn't near our name come up for Hackett at all..

I did finally see Ernest Wilford get some hype today, finally. If we dont get hackett we should grab this dude up quick.
Actually, even if we do get hackett we should still get Wilford.

[Coff]

Originally Posted by Dirtyskin21

I was actually listening to an update that said what teams are interested in who, and I didn't near our name come up for Hackett at all..

I did finally see Ernest Wilford get some hype today, finally. If we dont get hackett we should grab this dude up quick.
Actually, even if we do get hackett we should still get Wilford.

You're right, no one is connecting Hackett to the Skins, but there's still a chance. There hasn't been much buzz about the Skins at all, but the thing is we don't need to go fishing for any of these guys this year. In other words, teams have ways of making it clear that they are interested in a particular free agent before he even becomes one, and that's what sets up the hype. Skins haven't been doing that this year, but any agent worth his salt would know to contact Snyder, if for no other reason than to say he has spoken to Snyder and thereby driving up the price. By virtue of our past spending, we become major players in the choices of free agents without even making a move. So I would consider Hackett a possibility, especially since he worked with Zorn.

Personally, I like him. WR is a critical position for us. At any point, we are a Santana Moss injury away from having Randle El as our #1 receiver, and considering how often Santana gets boo-boos, this is a big, big problem. Hackett's no superstar, but he fits perfectly with the new cautious approach that the Skins have adopted.

[GTripp0012]

Well Faine (#1 Center) has already been signed along with Justin Smiley (#4 Guard).

[Bozzy]

What's all this talk about needing a WR? We have plenty. You can have the four best WRs in the league, but if you QB doesn't have the time to get them the ball then it doesn't matter.

We need to bolster in the Offensive line. It seems like every off season the OL is always overlooked, and every season it sucks.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Bozzy

What's all this talk about needing a WR? We have plenty. You can have the four best WRs in the league, but if you QB doesn't have the time to get them the ball then it doesn't matter.

We need to bolster in the Offensive line. It seems like every off season the OL is always overlooked, and every season it sucks.

When your Tight End leads the team in catches and TDs it typically means you need to add to your WR corps. I mean I like Cooley and all, but we could use a good WR. True, the O-Line needs help (read the other threads) and so does the D-Line...but the WRs as well.

[Bozzy]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

When your Tight End leads the team in catches and TDs it typically means you need to add to your WR corps. I mean I like Cooley and all, but we could use a good WR. True, the O-Line needs help (read the other threads) and so does the D-Line...but the WRs as well.

No, Cooley lead the team because it doesnt take as long for a TE to run his routes. It takes longer for a WR to go up the field.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Bozzy

No, Cooley lead the team because it doesnt take as long for a TE to run his routes. It takes longer for a WR to go up the field.

That's one of the more original explanations I've ever seen

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Bozzy

What's all this talk about needing a WR? We have plenty. You can have the four best WRs in the league, but if you QB doesn't have the time to get them the ball then it doesn't matter.

We need to bolster in the Offensive line. It seems like every off season the OL is always overlooked, and every season it sucks.

Thank You! Gracias! Merci! Irigoto?!

I think people don't realize that the reasons the Chiefs Offense was so good was not because of Al Saunders, but rather an excellent Offensive Line. Right now we have a good offensive line but we can make it great by adding a guy like Brandon Albert, Carl Nicks, or Chilo from USC.

Also how did we win 3 Super Bowls? Why the Hogs of course!

Think about it we won 3 Super Bowls with 3 different QB's and 3 different RB's. Our best WR had to practically beg to be in the Hall of Fame (no disprespect intended to the Great Art Monk). Great Offensive Lines can make good RB's great, as well as good WR's since their QB will have more time to throw.

Screw signing a premadonna to make one or two big plays a game. Build me a foundation where I can end up getting those plays from the guy in the third row who won the halftime promotion. I'm SO over WR's. Build the OL, one way or another. Lets scare the crap out of people with 5 big guys up front, not some guy thats going to be doing the river dance in the end zone.

[That Guy]

um, faine is the highest paid center in the league now. mike flynn is good and available, but he's 33 now (former raven, they ditched rabach and kept flynn a few years back).

Ben Troupe is a better much TE, and he's only 25. wilson really isn't an upgrade or a threat to catch anything.

hackett's numbers sound right.

i know you love brian kelly, but i really rather have dyson, who's cheaper, at CB and draft a safety in the 3rd... dyson has more years left too. i mean, 5mill for 1 year from a db seems excessive.