The Redskins New Pipeline

Last week, I discussed the importance of building "down-the-middle" and growing your own talent. Scot McCloughan comes from a tree that strongly believes in building through the draft; something that has sorely been lacking for the Washington Redskins. Unfortunately, with only seven picks (I expect McCloughan to turn seven into more during the draft) and a myriad of needs, staying out of free agency is not a luxury the Redskins will likely be able to afford. During his introductory press conference, McCloughan said he's a little more aggressive than some of the people that he learned his trade from and that even further hints that he'll dip into free agency.

The difference between the Redskins in free agency and the Redskins w/ Scot McCloughan in free agency will be player type/size of contract. I expect McCloughan to sit back and let the first wave of players sign and then start bargain shopping from the leftovers. This worked for him in Seattle when the Seahawks were able to pick up Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett in the same free agency period for cheap. Both players have since signed extensions for bigger money after proving they could succeed in their system. Of course, this isn't always the case. As the Redskins know all too well, good players are not necessarily good players in your system. One way to negate this issue is to bring in players your coaches have worked with in previous stops. It may not technically be "growing your own," but this extension of the theory helps alleviate most issues associated with unfamiliarity. The Redskins have added a slew of new coaches to the staff so I thought I'd take the time to connect some new dots that Washington will have in this year's free agency.

QB Coach: Matt Cavanaugh

QB Jimmy Clausen 28 (CHI)

QB Josh McCown 36 (CHI)

QB Mark Sanchez 28 (NYJ)

OL Coach: Bill Callahan

OT Doug Free 31 (DAL)

OT Jeremy Parnell 29 (DAL)

OT Tony Mills 31 (DAL)

DL Coach: Robb Akey

3-4 DE Tom Johnson 30 (MIN)

DB Coach: Perry Fewell

CB Aaron Ross 33 (BAL)

CB Zachary Bowman 31 (NYG)

CB Chykie Brown 29 (NYG)

CB Mike Harris 26 (NYG)

CB Walter Thurmond 28 (NYG) *Thurmond actually double dips on this list. Even though he had his only season with Fewell cut short by injury, he was also a draft pick of the Seahawks while McCloughan was on board.

S Will Hill 25 (BAL)

S Stevie Brown 28 (NYG)

S Antrel Rolle 33 (NYG)

S Quintin Demps 30 (NYG)

S George Wilson 34 (TEN)

DC: Joe Barry

3-4 DE Ricardo Matthews 28 (SD)

3-4 DE Lawrence Guy 25 (BAL)

3-4 OLB Dwight Freeney 35 (SD)

3-4 OLB Shaun Phillips 34 (SD)

ILB Andrew Gachkar 27 (SD)

CB Antoine Cason 29 (CAR)

CB Brandon Flowers 29 (SD)

CB Shareece Wright 28 (SD)

S Marcus Gilchrist 27 (SD)

GM: Scot McCloughan

QB Tavaris Jackson 32 (SEA)

RB Frank Gore 32 (SF)

WR Michael Crabtree 28 (SF)

TE Anthony McCoy 28 (SEA)

TE Zach Miller 31 (SEA)

OG Paul Fanaika 29 (ARI)

OG Paul McQuistan 32 (SEA)

OG Adam Snyder 33 (NYG)

OG James Carpenter 26 (SEA)

3-4 DE Ray McDonald 31 (SF)

3-4 OLB O'Brien Schofield 28 (SEA)

CB Byron Maxwell 27 (SEA)

CB Tarell Brown 30 (SF)

CB Perrish Cox 28 (SF)

S Mike Adams 34 (IND)

S Jeron Johnson 27 (SEA)

(I'll ignore the fact he drafted WR Josh Morgan)

(I didn't list LBs Malcolm Smith or Heath Farwell)

And not a new coach but certainly still trying to install his offense.....

HC: Jay Gruden

RB Benjarvis Green-Ellis 30 (CIN)

RB Cedric Peerman 29 (CIN)

WR Dane Sanzenbacher 27 (CIN)

WR Brandon Tate 28 (CIN)

TE Jermaine Gresham 27 (CIN)

TE Alex Smith 33 (CIN)

OG Clint Boling 26 (CIN)

The Redskins won't sign everyone on this list and they'll sign players who aren't on the list. This is just an outlier to show connections between current staff and players who may be available when the start of the new league year begins. This is an avenue worth traveling. You can also use it as a guide next time you use Steve Shoup's "Manage The Cap" simulator HERE. It's combine week so we'll be able to talk at length about draft prospects but this is also when coaches, GMs and player agents get in the same room where things may or may not be discussed and plans start going into motion.