The NFL season hasn’t yet ended and already Redskins free agency talk has begun.
Carolina offensive tackle Jordan Gross and Tennessee defensive end Albert Haynesworth are reportedly on the Redskins wish list come free agency’s Feb. 27 start. They’re two high-priced linemen who fit Washington’s usual scenario of headline-grabbing, salary-cap busting offseason moves.
They’re both long shots, but owner Dan Snyder is known as a great recruiter whose eight-figure checks prove quite persuasive. Haynesworth is the bigger long shot. Tennessee won’t likely let him go. Impact players tend to shop around before staying put, increasing market price enough to squeeze their current team into submission.
But Gross is intriguing for his ripple effect along the Redskins line. Gross is a left tackle who can play the right side that the Redskins are desperate to fill. But, Gross wants left tackle money with several expected suitors. Paying left tackle money for a right tackle is like hiring Tom Cruise to star in “Is He Dead” at Olney Theatre.
Interest in Gross brings two questions, though. Is aging left tackle Chris Samuels still in the team’s long-term plans? Sure Samuels made his fifth Pro Bowl, but it wasn’t a good year thanks to injuries. He’ll be 32 years old entering his 10th season come fall. The Redskins should gain a couple more years from him, but that’s probably it.
The Redskins’ pursuit of Gross also shows doubt over tackle Stephon Heyer as a starter. Certainly, there was grumbling among teammates over Heyer turning the wrong way on blocking assignments, which was shown by the team’s left-handed style when the former Maryland star was the right tackle early in the season. The Redskins explanation of the one-sided attack — they were running behind their Pro Bowl tackle. Sure, and I’ve got two tickets down front to the inaugural swearing-in free to the first five callers.
So, does Washington convince Gross it’s a short-term move to the right where he’ll still make top-dollar before eventually returning to the left? It certainly would resolve the Redskins’ woes. Nothing beats bookend tackles. The Redskins enjoyed them for many years when Jon Jansen and Samuels were healthy. Jansen looks to return as a backup, but injuries have diminished his pass blocking that coach Jim Zorn greatly values.
Free agency is six weeks away. Sadly, it’s the Redskins best time of year.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
