The Washington Redskins, in a fashion not accustomed to them over the past decade or so, have been making great moves throughout the offseason.
Moves that not only make sense for them this season, but in coming seasons. And they’ve done it all without overpaying.
First they hired Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen. Then Shanahan and Allen turned around and traded for a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback in Donovan McNabb. And a couple months later, they turn around and trade for an All-Pro left tackle, all without breaking the bank or loaning away their entire draft.
But for the ‘Skins, they still need one move before they can be considered contenders: Vincent Jackson.
As it stands right now, the ‘Skins lack a legitimate target for McNabb. Santana Moss is always a pretty decent receiver, and it looks like the light might start to go on for Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, but currently their best, and only, weapons are their tight ends in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis.
Davis played well while Cooley sat the season out, but two tight end sets are disappearing from the league and it’s likely the two of them won’t see the field at the same time for more than a couple plays per game — usually run plays.
So now that they’ve got the defense, they’ve got the coach, they’ve got the quarterback, and they have the left tackle, now they just need the target.
Jackson fits that perfectly. He’s 6’5″ and can run like hell. He’s a nightmare for cornerbacks and, given McNabb’s affinity for throwing the long ball, it would make sense to either have a guy who’s faster than everyone else, or a guy who’s bigger than everyone else.
Jackson, obviously, fits the latter.
It would likely take the same amount of compensation it took for the Dolphins to get Brandon Marshall away from the Denver Broncos (two second-round picks and a deal worth nearly $10 million per season), but it would certainly be worth it for the ‘Skins to get the most out of an aging McNabb while they have him.
McNabb still has a few good years in him, but at 34 years old he’s certainly not getting any younger. If they want to win with him, they’re going to have to do it now and if that means giving up a couple picks to get him a big target, then that’s what they need to do.
Jackson, by the way, is the newest addition to McNabb’s annual workouts at his home in Arizona. Coincidence?
It’s going to be a down year for the NFC East with the Eagles taking a step back (due in large part to the McNabb trade) and the Giants not looking much better than the .500 team they were last season, so 2010 would be a great year for the ‘Skins to get back on track and start winning again.
Of course, they will have to deal with an improved Dallas Cowboys team, but the NFC has at least one wild card spot that is absolutely up for grabs (assuming Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans, and 49ers are division winners, and Packers take five seed), and it’s not out of the question that, with the addition of Jackson, the Redskins could take it.