A few thoughts about the trade prospects for DeAngelo Hall while serving a two-hour sentence/layover at Chicago Midway Airport:
*Hall is a pain in the butt for a coaching staff and management and flaps his gums constantly on and off the field. But he is a top cover corner and those are hard to come by in the NFL, sort of like game-breaking receivers and franchise quarterbacks. So if he's on the block, any team needing a No. 1 corner, willing to pay the tariff (it starts with a first-round draft pick) and possessor of enough cap space to give Hall a new contract (think Nate Clements money -- $22 million guaranteed) should give Atlanta a call.
*That said, part I: The Redskins probably don't have enough salary cap space this year or for seasons onward to afford that kind of contract at this kind of time for this kind of player. They have three cornerbacks on the roster -- Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot, Carlos Rogers -- making No. 1-type money and acquiring Hall and giving him more money than all of them wouldn’t be good for secondary-meeting-room chemistry. If the Redskins had a glaring need at the position -- if Springs was going to get cut and if Smoot struggled throughout 2007, then a move might make sense. But the Redskins need a No. 3 or 4 corner to hold down the fort while Rogers recovers from injury.
*That said, part II: The Redskins can't afford to trade first-round draft choices. They're too precious. They traded their 2006 pick but that was to get Jason Campbell a year earlier – it was worth it. Just like Cleveland thinks trading out of this year's first round to get Brady Quinn last year and San Francisco thinks trading out of this year's first round (a top 10 pick) to get Joe Staley was worth it. The Redskins don't have a lot of holes in their starting 22. Their starting 11 offense is pretty much set. On defense, plugging Smoot for Rogers at No. 2 corner and Reed Doughty as the full-time starting strong safety leaves only Rocky McIntosh's linebacker spot vacated. The Redskins are at a point with their roster where they need to add role players through free agency and young players through the draft, not players like Hall.
*BUT, these are still The Dan Snyder Redskins. A couple of reporters floated the Redskins as a possible suitor for Hall during the weekend. After I double-checked with them to make sure they heard the same things I was hearing (they weren't in the hunt just yet), they said it was almost knee-jerk to speculate the Redskins as a foil for the Falcons. Even though the even hand of Coach Joe is now in North Carolina, I have to believe a spontaneous move like trading for Hall is beyond Danny and Vinny at this point. BUT if The Danny is determined to get rid of Springs, then Hall could be in play.
*Final verdict: Although I've been wrong about every single thing about the Redskins this calendar year (Joe was coming back, Gregg was getting the job, Spagnuolo would pursue the opening, etc.), I feel confident in saying the Redskins won't pursue Hall.
Comments (10)
Ro, I just have some comments to Mr. Snyder. Use your draft choices to find your teams needs. Start stock piling young talent and developing them. Your team is starting to age in key positions. Save your money to keep what young talent you have, and prove to the rest of league you finally know what your doing.. You don't need other teams cast offs... Also, you keep looking for a taller receiver. You have one on your roster by the name of Mix that also played at Auburn. Take some time and really give him a chance. It could save you allot of money that your don't really have looking for one. Start solving your salary cap problems now, so, later on when you need just one or two players who will make that difference, you'll have it. John
Posted by John M | February 25, 2008 7:40 AM
John M,
Great advice.
You can get some very decent players at bargain prices if you are patient and wait for salary cap cuts. Like the man said, the team needs reserves and younger guys, not cap busting malcontents.
Posted by AAA | February 25, 2008 10:46 AM
John: I agree with your thoughts on the need to draft young talent and develop them. Some salary decisions will need to be made in the coming years on players who are still effective but aging. ... On the matter of Anthony Mix, I'd give him a shot but he's unproven -- I'd also draft a receiver with size.
AAA: I, too, agree with your take that patience can result in getting some good players at reasonable prices. Even if the Redskins make a few moves in the opening 72 hours of free agency, they might not be at astronomical prices (see March 2005).
Posted by Ryan O'Halloran | February 25, 2008 4:06 PM
I agee w/ the majority. Its time Snyder stopped playing fantasy football like he's done in the past & started using the draft more wisely. Use free agency for the role players, maybe it would not hurt to sign a Floyd Womack or someone who can play both guard & tackle since Kendalls knees are a concern if you can get him @ a good price. Why give away the farm to bring in a player who is obviously not about the team concept.
Posted by Todd | February 26, 2008 12:08 AM
Ro, I was very surprised at all the great responses to my comments yesterday. I just wish that the Snydermen would take heed. Too me, there is no other way to go. I, like other great Redskins Fans, can only hope that this team can rise too the top once again. Also, I'd like to mention, that I agree with these responses. Thanks! I just wish we had some control over them.. ( Ro, I wish I could fine that water fountain at Redskins Park, and start whispering all these good ideas into someone ears. And hope they listen.)
Thanks! John M
Posted by John M | February 26, 2008 7:46 AM
They definitely don't need the loud-mouthed Hall. I say, keep their draft picks and sign some low level free agents to provide depth. DJ Hackett may be a good signing (who would know better than Zorn) if the price is reasonable enough.
Posted by Jason | February 26, 2008 8:20 AM
Let's be very honest here. The Redskins success this year will not be determined by the draft or free agency. It will depend on whether or not Campbell can be an effective QB. He had his moments last year, but overall was one of the league's weaker QBs. He turned the ball over and didn't lead at critical points. If he hadn't been hurt, I seriously doubt they would have made the playoffs. Campbell does not look like a promising candidate to run the west coast offense to me. He is slow to get rid of the ball and his decisionmaking is suspect. Surely Zorn can see all this, which may account for his desire to retain Collins. Campbell seems to be a good guy and I would love to see him succeed, but I am afraid Snyder has put him in a difficult situation.
Posted by AAA | February 26, 2008 11:42 AM
Hellooo, is this thing on?! In my next life I'm going to come back as either a weatherman or a Redskins GM. Because both jobs pay six figures and you are only accurate maybe 40% of the time (at best). The Redskins needs on the field are too numerous to list. But their salary cap problems shouldn't be. Cut Brunell, Portis, and (if he drops as much as a towel on the sideline in preseason) cut Moss too. There isn't a team out there that will pay them equal or more than they are making now. The Redskins don't need fancy picks like Hall, they just need players to perform up to their paychecks (period) and management making the right decisions (eg. you can't call two consecutive timeouts).
We have way too many "Mill and Chill" players on that team. Those are players who sign for mega millions and then chill(out) on the field to become only half as productive as they were when they got the pay raise in the first place. I can start my GM duties as soon as I complete this software release. HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!
Posted by JeffC - Seattle | February 26, 2008 3:47 PM
Get rid of the salary cap.....Let Danny Boy write checks until his hand cramps.
Posted by Leslie M. Sanders | February 26, 2008 5:15 PM
I really dont understand the addition of Clinton Portis as a possible cut. Portis has continued to provide big time play and ability not to mention a team 1st approach. Sure Betts had a great year when Portis was hurt but to be honest the production Betts got was his maximum where Portis would have topped somewhere near or above his Denver days. I do deem it necessary to make some cuts and continue to restructure some contracts. Moss struggled last year with some drops but, when it counted most he was there. Consider that Campbell and Randle El had worked together considering neither were starters there-fore they had chemistry and understanding of each other. The Draft has long been disregarded in Washington and a change of philosphy in that area was long overdue. In house development and a little restraint will prove more economical and in the long run a better investment than high priced free agents, contract players unsatisfied with not winning. The best and only way to build a house it to build it from the ground up. As a former player the most beneficial and smart thing is to have strong lines that will enable the skill players to be most productive. Athletic defensive linemen, strong pass rush and strong run defensive linement that enable line backers to do what they do best. Strong line play improves the secondary altogether.
Posted by Howard | February 27, 2008 3:01 PM