Here is my wish list:
O-line:
(I love the way Nicks plays, but he wants to have the top salary at guard, I would pass). I really want the top two here. Zuttah plus Rachal would give us a good starting rotation with quality depth in Lichtensteiger and Chester. There are slim pickings at tackle. Really need to hope one of our own steps up and takes control of the tackle position.
1) Jeremy Zuttah (25) – Bucs are trying to resign him, if they do not, might be a nice Skin. I am sure Morris has some inside info on him.
2) Chilo Rachal (25) –Pro Football Focus’s top rated run blocking guard in 2010. Removed weight last year and subsequently lost his starting job. The lighter faster Rachal is more ideal for the ZBS.
3) Samson Satele (27) – Versatile, can play both Center and Guard. Has a hard time with huge NTs, no worries in the East. Last year he was rated as a top 5 run blocking center according to Pro Football Focus. Move him to guard.
4) Mike Briesel (28) – Comes from the Texans. Well versed in our offensive philosophy already, maybe a nice quiet pickup.
DB: Really need someone besides Hall and Wilson. With the spread sets that the NFL is using these days, 3 quality corners is a must IMO. Hall is not really starting material anyway.
1) Brandon Carr (25) – If the Chiefs do not re-sign him, I really hope he becomes a Skin. Young and worth the small fortune he will demand. One of the few I do not mind over paying for.
2) Richard Marshall (27) – Praised for his play by Wisenhunt last year. Excellent in run support and can move to safety in a pinch. A nice versatile player that the Skins could use.
3) Thomas DeCoud (26) – We need serious help at safety. This guy is a top priority if he does not re-sign with the Falcons. Atogwe has been and always will be overrated by the fans. This guy is the perfect replacement. Make Atogwe earn his roster spot!!!
4) Reggie Nelson (28) – If we swing and miss on DeCoud, I think Nelson can fill the spot admirably. Hopefully, Gomes can play safety a lot better in his sophomore season.
LB: We are really shallow here, especially if Fletcher leaves. Lofton is a popular pick here, but Nolan plans to pull him from nickel packages this upcoming season because of his ineptitude. He wants to be paid like David Harris.
1) Stephen Tulloch (27) – Really a 4-3 guy, but so was Fletch. He played well last year on a one year prove it deal by the Lions. Well, he proved it but the Lions may not be able to afford him. With 120+ tackles in each of the last three seasons, I think the Skins have to look. Good leader as well.
2) Jameel McClain (26) – May want a guaranteed starting job, but he may be great for depth in case Fletch leaves. If Fletch leaves, we better hope that Riley is up for a challenge. Baltimore may not be able to afford to keep him.
3) Kamerion Wembley (28) – O.K. so we have a couple of outside pass rushers in Orakpo and Kerrigan. Well IMO Orakpo is expendable. Blasphemy you say? Wembley can easily match Orakpo’s production and probably at the fraction of the cost. Wembley will probably be cut by Oakland. I could see us trading Orakpo in a package for a certain QB at the top of the draft. In Orakpo’s three years as a Skin, he has sacked a NFC East QB 3.5 times. That is not enough for a supposed elite pass rusher.
4) Erin Henderson (25) – Not yet re-signed by Minnesota. Not saying he is starter material, but he did grade out as one of the top run defending linebackers according to Pro Football Focus. Not only can he stop the run, but he is not afraid to play special teams either.
DL: With Carriker probably leaving, we may need a little help here.
1) Red Bryant (27) – Remember how great the Seattle defense was last year, especially against the run? Well this is a guy we need to look at. Excellent run stopper and he is huge at 6’4” and 323 pounds. Even though DL is not looked at as a sign of weakness, I think Bryant should be a priority. Played DE for Seattle.
2) Paul Soliai (28) – One huge caveat with this guy, DO NOT BREAK THE BANK FOR HIM!!! Huge questions about his motor, but when he is on, he is on. Sound familiar???
WR: How do you decide if your receivers are good enough when you have crap at QB? I don’t know the answer to that question either. Here is what I think. Colston is going to cost someone big, hopefully not the Skins. He was moved to the slot last year and does not stretch the field anymore, well, we have plenty of that. Bowe is going to remain a Chief. Lloyd and Manningham? No thank you!!
1) Pierre Garcon (25) – 70 rec with 13.5 YPC without Peyton Manning. We need a guy that can stretch the field. Armstrong is not that guy, Garcon is. He turned down a huge offer from the Colts because of the Manning situation. Is our QB situation better? No, but maybe it will be competitive. Garcon is my top choice at receiver.
2) Robert Meachem (27) – Now I would like this pickup especially if it is paired with Pierre Garcon. That would be special. Forget VJ. Meachem is on an offense that spreads the ball around. You never know when it will be his turn, but when it is, you definitely realize it. Averaging 15.5 YPC on his career. He is not Calvin or Andre Johnson, but he will make a difference.
3) Vincent Jackson (29) – Like a couple of our other players, one strike and he is done for. Plus he has injury concerns. I would sign Jackson to an incentive laden deal. Bruce Allen is usually on the winning side of these deals. If he comes to Washington, I believe we would be able to get out of his contract fairly easily.
QB – The most dreaded and glorious position.
1) Kyle Orton- UGHHH!!!!! I cannot stand the guy, but have you seen the other QBs available? This guy had good numbers while McDaniels was coaching him, but did you see how poor his vision was? Honestly, the Broncos should have put up 80 points per game, however Kyle couldn’t find the open receivers.
2) Alex Smith – I threw his name out there last off season. No one bit. He led his team to the Championship game and was close to winning. This guy is not a game changer, but he is a good spot holder, way better than Grossman or Beck. At least he does not turn the ball over…..
3) Jason Campbell – speaking of not turning the ball over. I think we would have had a better record if JC was our QB instead of Grossman, but fear not fellow Skins fans, he will not be coming back. So wipe the spit off your computer screen and hope we get RG III or Manning.
RB – I am one of the few that does not think our RB situation is solved. I think we need a bruiser and I am not particularly fond of how Hightower played last year. I think we could do better. Of course, keep Helu, Young, and Royster. We need one of these guys:
1) Peyton Hillis (26) – Bad year last year, but I think he will rebound once he is in a place he enjoys. Who enjoys playing in Cleveland? He will be just as good and 'maybe’ cheaper than Mike Tolbert. Versatile enough to catch the ball and big enough to be a bruiser when needed.
2) Mike Tolbert (26) – Still young, but needs to be in a committee. Perfect for the Skins. We need a bruiser that is versatile enough to catch out of the back field as well as pick up the short yardage. He is the missing piece in our running game. Honestly, it is a toss up between him and Hillis.
2) Michael Bush (28) – Last option IMO and the most expensive one. He will demand more money than Hillis and Tolbert because he is more of a lead back, but not by much. We are not desperate for him, but we do need toughness in the ground game. I think he will go to Bengals, Chiefs, Bucs, Jets or Chargers before us, but he could be a last ditch option for the Skins.