Honestly, being a Redskins fan for, well, as long as I can remember, has been pretty tough. The Washington Redskins haven't had a season with more wins than losses since 2007, and since 1990 less than half of their seasons have been winning seasons. However, this season it seems the Redskins are finally looking toward the future and making moves to start making the team more of a contender. Recently, the Redskins traded this season's first round pick with the Rams, as well as two future first round picks and a second round pick so they could get the second pick in this year's draft. They did all this in hopes to get Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
At first, the Redskins had been looking to scout Peyton Manning; however, Manning showed no interest in joining the roster, so the team thought it was time to take slightly more aggressive steps to get a franchise quarterback.
Robert Griffin III is an All-American Heismanwinning quarterback from Baylor University. He decided to enter the draft this year after having a terrific year and taking the university to a fantastic 10-3 season in the Big 12 conference. This season, Griffin threw for 4,239 yards and 37 touchdowns, both of which are career highs for the twenty-22-year-old Baylor junior.
If everything pans out the way the Redskins plan for it to, Griffin will be a great addition to the team. Veteran quarterback Rex Grossman has even resigned with the Redskins, knowing he very well may be replaced as a starter, so he can help train Robert Griffin III for the NFL.
Along with their hopes of drafting Robert Griffin III, the Redskins have been making some pretty smart choices in the free agent pool. They have been picking up players for a variety of positions to hopefully fill the spots that needed some improvement last season. One of the teams more prominent acquisitions has been Pierre Garcon, formerly an Indianapolis Colts receiver. In his last four seasons, all with the Colts, Garcon has 2,519 yards off of 188 passes, and 16 touchdowns.
Garcon has been a solid receiver since he was drafted in 2008 but had his best season in 2011- 2012 with Peyton Manning on the bench due to injuries requiring many invasive neck surgeries. Garcon is will make a good addition to the Redskins receiving core, especially with the loss of Santana Moss.
Joining Garcon as a Redskins receiver will be Josh Morgan from the San Francisco 49ers. Morgan, while not having quite the numbers Garcon has coming to the Redskins, should be just as much of an asset as Garcon will be. He is a hard worker and is willing to do what he needs to in order to help his team win; whether that is catching the ball, blocking or opening up the field for another receiver, Morgan will do it to the fullest without complaint.
On the defensive side of the Redskins roster, they are signing five-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowl pick Brandon Meriweather. In his career, Meriweather has 293 tackles, two sacks and 12 interceptions. The Redskins are going to need someone with the experience Meriweather will bring since they have lost LaRon Landry, their premiere backfield player until now to the New York Jets.
Another defensive asset the Redskins have picked up in the offseason is that of Cedric Griffin, who until now has played with the Minnesota Vikings. Griffin will be filling a spot as either a cornerback or safety while he is in Washington since he is very skilled at both positions. But with the addition of Meriweather to the roster, it will more likely be as a cornerback.
Along with all of the new talent the Redskins are adding to their roster for the 2012-2013 season, there are some returning players people should be on the lookout for. Tight end Fred Davis has signed a one-year franchise tender that will most likely be extended into a multi-year contract. Last season Davis had 796 yard season, which is the fourth highest for tight ends in franchise history. None of these players can guarantee that the Redskins will win the Super Bowl this year, or even make it to the playoffs. With all of the youth on the team now, it may well take another couple of seasons for the Redskins to begin to grow into the team they can become.
However, with all of the talented young players on the roster and hopefully the drafting of a quarterback that the team can build a franchise about, it's not unbelievable that after a few seasons together that the Redskins can become serious contenders in the National Football League for the first time in years
