Hard Decisions: The solution to the $18MM offseason puzzle

I agree with most of what everyone is saying with the exception of Schneed. If griff needs sometime To start the year I believe it does matter. I want Cousins to play just phenomenally to play us into a really nice couple of draft picks. :)

CB59,

Nice plan! I would be very comfortable with that.

Kory's a very good run blocker, I'd keep him if doable at $2.5M. Wouldn't pay more than that, though. In general, my preference is to hang onto what we have as much as possible and forgo free agent signings. This is the final year of the cap penalty, I'd like us to keep going with what we have, let Griffin continue to develop and the team overall continue to gel, and then leap into action next year with free agency when we can afford to do it.

Another smart draft and just getting a lot of key players healthy puts us on a path to 11-5, IMO. As long as Griffin can get back. And that's even more reason not to delve into FA too much; if Griffin doesn't recover well it almost doesn't matter who else is on our roster.

Id rather not bring back Kory L or Tyler Polumbus. Sign Ryan Harris for 900K to compete with Compton and another late round Tackle draft pick for starting the RT spot and let McRibeus, Gettis and Hurt compete for the start at LG.

Id say lets see what the young guys have for this season and then evaluate if a jump in FA is what the Oline needs in 2014.

2nd round tender on Jackson, original round tender on Paulsen and on Young. No tender on Banks or Baker. Used $5.1 million in cap space.

Fletcher waived/retired, Hall waived/released, Carriker waived/released, Meriweather waived/released. Saves $15.5 million in cap.

Josh Morgan released with a June 1st designation, saving $3.3 million on the cap.

Lichtensteiger re-signed five years, $21 million, $5.5 million guaranteed for skill, cap, and injury. Five year deal with a player void option after year 3. (Cap number $1.9 million)

Adam Jones signed, 2 yrs/$8 million, with $3.5 million guaranteed for skill, and cap, but two full years for injury. Five year deal with a player void option after two years (cap number: $2.5 million)

Greg Toler signed, 5 yrs/$28 million, with $9.75 million guaranteed for injury, skill, and cap, and an additional $3 million for injury. (Cap number: $3.25 million).

Claim Rolando McClain off waivers from Oakland and immediately restructure contact, converting base salary in 2013 to a signing bonus amortized over five years (but voiding after year two) (Cap number: $2.1 million).

Fred Davis re-signed for 1 year/$2.25 million.

Total pre draft cap savings: $18.8 million
Total pre draft cap savings: $16.85 million

Note that there would still be contract restructuring in order to stay under the cap, with having to add in the ballpark of 12 contracts to the payroll through the draft etc. But these moves fix most of the issues, leaving only safety for the draft.

I'm more interested in seeing what people are willing to spend this offseason. Matty's plan requires us to open about $12 mil in cap room, but mine requires almost $17 million.

On McClain, the market for 3-4 inside backers is a huge sellers market this year. Huge. The fact that there is a 24 year old one who will hit the market at some point this year and can (but wont be) be claimed is really helpful to a team like the Redskins, who can just free up cap space and plug and play. His cap number is higher than Fletcher's but the difference is you can restrcture his contract easy, fletcher is too tricky to restructure because of the retirement card.

The only thing I can guarantee, is that no matter we all say we should do on this thread or what we throw out there, we always do a move or two of complete shock.

How many of us predicted we'd sign Garcon at this point last year. My memories kind of faded, but I don't remember SS saying we'd get him or we were even interested in him at this point last year.

Kentwan Balmer: Let Go- what did he do here?

Is this guy still on our Reserve List? If so, why? He left the team last off-season.

I dunno. I think the tendency for us Redskins fans over the years has become 'what changes can we make to get better'. That made sense when we weren't very good, but that's not the case now. I think we're not used to it.

With the character of this team and the leader we have in RG3, personnel moves are not the #1 way to get better, in my opinion. It's just the opposite, it's keeping them together, and letting Griffin continue to inspire them through work and effort and grit to get better.

We complain about our line and sure there are ways it can improve, but we were one of the top offenses in the league this year. Our biggest problem was pass defense, and just by allowing Meriweather and Orakpo to get healthy, we immediately take some pressure off that problem.

Continuity, continuity, continuity. Change for its own sake is not the answer for me. We were 10-6, and if the season were longer I don't think our loss total would have changed. There's something about this mix of players we have, it just worked. I wouldn't be eager to let Kory L go, he was integral in a new franchise rushing record.

We can improve just by letting Griffin grow. Let's keep a long term view and keep the financial flexibility. Remember, in three years Griffin is going to command a contract in the Manning, Rodgers, Flacco tier.

2nd round tender on Jackson, original round tender on Paulsen and on Young. No tender on Banks or Baker. Used $5.1 million in cap space.

Fletcher waived/retired, Hall waived/released, Carriker waived/released, Meriweather waived/released. Saves $15.5 million in cap.

Josh Morgan released with a June 1st designation, saving $3.3 million on the cap.

Lichtensteiger re-signed five years, $21 million, $5.5 million guaranteed for skill, cap, and injury. Five year deal with a player void option after year 3. (Cap number $1.9 million)

Adam Jones signed, 2 yrs/$8 million, with $3.5 million guaranteed for skill, and cap, but two full years for injury. Five year deal with a player void option after two years (cap number: $2.5 million)

Greg Toler signed, 5 yrs/$28 million, with $9.75 million guaranteed for injury, skill, and cap, and an additional $3 million for injury. (Cap number: $3.25 million).

Claim Rolando McClain off waivers from Oakland and immediately restructure contact, converting base salary in 2013 to a signing bonus amortized over five years (but voiding after year two) (Cap number: $2.1 million).

Fred Davis re-signed for 1 year/$2.25 million.

Total pre draft cap savings: $18.8 million
Total pre draft cap savings: $16.85 million

Note that there would still be contract restructuring in order to stay under the cap, with having to add in the ballpark of 12 contracts to the payroll through the draft etc. But these moves fix most of the issues, leaving only safety for the draft.

Are you rolling with Hankerson as your #2?

Jones is interesting but I'm not sure I trust him. It probably makes the most sense for him and the Bengals if he stays there.

Toler is on our radar from what I've heard.

Not sure I like McClain's off the field drama.