Washington Team Needs Report

Offensive Tackle
Samuels has retired and there is now a huge hole on the left side. The bleeding was stopped temporarily by Levi Jones, who is at the moment an unrestricted free agent, but over a full season he is clearly not the answer. Heyer signed his free agent tender, but they need better on the right side as well. Moving to the zone blocking system will mean footwork and quickness will be coveted over size and power. Therefore a player like Oklahoma's Trent Williams is a better fit than Oklahoma State's Russell Okung assuming both are on the board when they pick at #4 overall.

Offensive Guard
In a surprising move to some, Rabach was given likely his final NFL contract (three years) to play center. Having also signed Lichtensteiger, formerly with the Broncos, and retained journeyman Montgomery it appears their line issues in the middle have been addressed for better or worse. Those two will see time at guard where Thomas (cut) is out of the picture as one of four players to fail on the right side last year. They kept reclamation project Mike Williams and signed Artis Hicks (Vikings) who can also be used at tackle. Both got three year deals. Perhaps this is enough attention on the interior and with need at both starting tackle spots and a low pick count (4) as I type this it might have to be.

Wide Receiver
Nothing improves a group of receivers like bringing in a better quarterback. The funny part about the trade is that Campbell actually had 65 more passing yards in 2009 and beat McNabb's completion percentage by 4.3%. Still, I don't think anyone believes this is not an upgrade. They cut Randle El, and now expect 2008 second round picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly to put up or shut up in their third season. Santana Moss will be on his best behavior in a contract year and should put up big numbers. If they are able to somehow acquire more picks in this draft another addition makes sense, but otherwise the 'Skins might have to count on McNabb making everyone better. Plus, at tight end if Cooley can stay healthy and Davis keeps getting better they should help absorb a chunk of Randle El's 50 receptions.

Free Safety
They have an interesting collection of cornerbacks to be sure. Bruce Allen might have a crush on Phillip Buchanon (Lions) who he drafted when he was with Oakland and had again in Tampa Bay. Seriously though, he provides a solid veteran presence with Smoot (cut) out the door. Rogers was tendered, but has certainly not lived up to his first round draft status. Hall has managed 9 interceptions in his last 28 games including his brief stint with the Raiders. The unit could benefit from an improvement at free safety where LaRon Landry has not performed like a guy chosen #6 overall. He does pile up tackles, many of which come after failing to prevent a complete pass.

Special Teams
Someone needs to assume their kickoff return duties. Including Cartwright's 39, the team is without the players who accounted for 43 of their returns last year. Devin Thomas had 20, but he will be taking on a bigger role in the offense and therefore likely taken off heavy special teams use. Cutting Randle El opens up 17 punt returns as well. At punter Hunter Smith had a pretty good first season with the team, but is an unrestricted free agent. Bruce Allen went with another ex-Buc, signing Josh Bidwell who missed 2009 with a hip injury, but prior to that he was solid for several years in Tampa Bay. At kicker Justin Medlock will be one of the possibilties after signing a free agent deal. As a fifth round pick for Kansas City in 2007 he attempted his only 2 career field goals, making one of them. They will be seeking more competition after dumping Suisham during the season. Finally, at long snapper Ethan Albright has seen quite a bit in a decade with the team. If the unrestricted free agent is retained he will be playing under his fifth head coach in D.C.

Quarterback
It is a certainty their depth chart is unsettled here, and I believe drafting a quarterback of the future is not out of the question either. Jason Campbell signed his free agent tender and is waiting at the airport with his bags packed. The blockbuster trade for McNabb (Eagles) settles the starter issue for at least the next two seasons. Would they risk rubbing him with sandpaper by selecting Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen at #4 overall? Having seen how much it bothered him when Philly took Kolb, I doubt it. Then again, at the expense of potentially landing a franchise left tackle it could set up their quarterback position for another decade. Teams rarely use this much foresight. Right now the priority is to get some sort of compensation for Campbell because he is the odd man out. Grossman (Texans) stays with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in the backup role. Colt Brennan is a feisty developmental option entering his third season and should be their third stringer now that Todd Collins has been cut.

Running Back
New general manager Bruce Allen must feel right at home with another coach who likes to collect talent at a certain position. In Tampa Bay with Jon Gruden it was quarterbacks. Now he has Mike Shanahan living in 2006 by signing Larry Johnson (Bengals) and Willie Parker (Steelers). Neither deal precludes them from adding another player in the draft's late rounds as Shanahan loved to do in Denver. Parker signed for one year and LJ's deal is heavy on incentives. Obviously some players had to go. Betts, Cartwright and Mason were all cut. Ganther (Seahawks) left in free agency after not drawing a tender from the team. That quartet combined for 214 rushes, but totaled just 764 yards (3.57) which explains the house cleaning. Late season pickup P.J. Hill, who was a rookie free agent, escaped the wreckage and of course leading rusher Clinton Portis reunites with his former head coach although he is coming off concussion issues. They might be short stacked at the moment, but don't rule out yet another move in the backfield on the final day of the draft.

Linebacker
I can understand Rocky McIntosh being unhappy with his contract. He has a history of knee injuries and is one awkward hit from being out of the league. These are the risks players take. He was tendered as a restricted free agent and is rumored on the trading block. If he stays it might be on the inside of the new 3-4. Defensive end Lorenzo Alexander was given a new deal and figures to now stand up at linebacker. The same holds true for Chris Wilson whose services were retained. Sooner or later London Fletcher's body figures to give out. As with the line, their personnel needs to be adjusted but there could be enough quality parts. If McIntosh is shipped out, or the team acquires more draft ammunition someone could be added in the draft.

Defensive Line
Switching to the 3-4 alignment has already had a dramatic impact - in a negative way. Albert Haynesworth has in 13 months with the team been paid enough to start up a new country. Now his resistance to play the nose has put him on the trading block. There is really no way for them to get fair compensation considering the money he has already pocketed, but the saying "throwing good money after bad" might apply here. They need to do something at the nose and seem to be trying everything in their power to move on as if Haynesworth is not in their plans. Golston signed his tender and started quite a bit last year due to injuries. He could be a candidate at the nose. Montgomery also put his name on his tender and while he didn't play much could also factor in. Then there is Anthony Bryant who has bounced around the league and barely seen the field. Perhaps Bruce Allen is trying to prove he didn't screw up when drafting him in the fifth round for Tampa Bay in 2005. Maake Kemoeatu (Panthers) is yet another new face factoring into the equation although he missed last season (Achilles). The departures on the line include cutting Griffin and Skolnitsky, while Wynn figures to be retiring. I almost forgot, Greg Peterson (Jaguars) also joins the fray having been used sparingly during three seasons as a pro. Phillip Daniels, retained as an unrestricted free agent, should have a role at end. Sorting through all of this, it is really just housekeeping. They will need new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to make all these pieces fit in his 3-4 one way or another.