Washington Redskins: Target Matt Forte in free agency

Matt Forte will be one of the best free agents on the open market, and the Washington Redskins need to make him one of their targets.

The Washington Redskins have made it abundantly clear that they are not overly interested in the idea of bringing back Alfred Morris for a fifth season with the team. It appears as if Matt Jones and Chris Thompson are the players with the most to gain in this situation, but that may not be true, especially if the Redskins elect to target a veteran running back in free agency – in my opinion, bringing in a veteran runner to help guide Jones and Thompson is vital to the future success at the position.

With that being said, there will likely be a solid number of options for the Redskins to choose from on the open market. While there’s a chance that talented runners like Chris Ivory, Doug Martin, and Lamar Miller can be lured away from their current situations, I believe that free agent running back Matt Forte is the best candidate for the job in Washington.

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Adding a playmaker of Matt Forte’s caliber to the backfield would make sense for the Washington Redskins, as the well-versed running back would likely sign a team friendly deal given the fact that he has now entered his thirties. However, even though Forte is now considered old for a player at the running back position, I still believe that he is capable of making a big difference.

There’s no questioning that Forte’s ability in the passing-game would be an instant upgrade over that of Thompson’s, as the former Bear has never registered less than 44 receptions in a season and has caught as many as 102 passes in a single season. His ability to make plays as a receiving halfback is impressive, and I believe that, if anything, Thompson would actually benefit from Forte’s knowledge of the position.

Being able to properly diagnose what an opposing defender is doing is extremely important, even more so when you’re a halfback that is expected to double as a viable receiving option. Over the years, Forte has become unbelievably good at slipping past defenders on passing routes, a skill that has allowed him to thrive in the passing game. I believe that Jones and Thompson would both benefit from the presence and knowledge of Forte, as he would be able to teach the young runners about the nuances of the position.

I believe that Forte would be a good fit in Washington, as a veteran leader and a playmaker. His skill set lines up very well with Jay Gruden’s offense, and I can easily see him becoming one of Kirk Cousins‘ favorite weapons in an offense that threw the ball 56 percent of the time in 2015.

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Matt Jones has shown the ability to deal damage in the passing game, mostly in the form of screen passes. Chris Thompson has also flashed potential as a receiver, as he recorded 35 receptions on the year. While both players have shown that they have the potential to be legitimate weapons in the passing game, Forte would be an upgrade over both players.

He may only have a few good seasons left, but I believe that Washington would benefit from his presence. He can help Thompson and Jones develop into reliable receiving halfbacks, and can do so while posting solid numbers. There will likely be an opening in the backfield, why not fill the spot with a savvy veteran?