Buyer Beware: Why the Redskins Should Stay Off Revis Island

Luckily for Redskins fans the 2012 offense was as good as the defense was bad. Whether it was Victor Cruz scoring a last minute game winning touchdown after RG3 had just delivered the death blow to the Giants, or Dez Bryant scorching the secondary in a second half Thanksgiving Day rally that fell just short; one thing is for sure – the defense needs to be better.

While it is true the post-bye week version of the Redskins defensive unit was far improved over the abomination that was the collection of eleven men that called themselves a defense earlier in the year, this defense needs some upgrading in the personnel department. The front seven seems to be pretty well set, especially with the return of Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker from injury. Add in the assumed return of free agent linebacker Rob Jackson and the front seven should boast depth and diversity.

Sadly the secondary for most of 2012 was in a word – awful. If the Redskins want to get past the one and done playoff hump they are going to have to improve dramatically.

But who are the targets? What will they cost? Most importantly, how will year two of the John Mara led Cap Gate situation affect the Redskins ability to plug the holes?

As attention turns from what will be remembered as a magical seven game run to capture the NFC East Championship, names have already begun emerging as possible future Redskins when the new league year starts in March. While the 2012 free agent class doesn’t look particularly impressive at D-Back, some are suggesting the Redskins make a splash and somehow land New York Jets’ superstar corner Darrelle Revis.

On the surface Revis looks like a perfect fit for what Mike Shanahan is looking for on his defense. At 27 Revis is still well under Shanahan’s assumed free agent age limit (30). With sub 4.4 speed Revis also possesses one of the things Mike Shanahn covets most in a corner – pure blazing speed.

It is no wonder that Redskins fans after witnessing Deangelo Hall get roasted once or twice are already pre-ordering the shiny new burgundy #24 jersey, but not so fast my friends, Revis wreaks of a Vinny Cerrato lead acquisition.

To the casual fan a lot of Cerrato’s moves made a lot of sense. Big name guys who you can brag to your water coworkers at the water cooler about or a guy that you can look forward to using in the latest edition of Madden.

The problem here is that to build a legitimate NFL roster you have to have a deeper understanding of football than what you can learn with a videogame controller in your hand. Let’s get past the name and the past accolades and take a deeper look at relocating Revis Island to the Nation’s Capitol.

When healthy Revis is considered to be one of the best (if not THE best) corner in the game, the problem here is that no one knows how healthy Revis is after his season ending ACL injury.

What is the Range of motion he will have and will he still have that extra gear that makes him elite? Truthfully we just don’t know nor will anyone know until Revis is able to get back on the field and go through an actual practice. Pulling the trigger on a trade for a guy that could just as easily spend 2013 playing video games with his knee on ice as he would on the field is reckless  and reckless isn’t how this regime does business.

Look, I don’t even want to hear the Adrian Peterson argument Redskins fans. That recovery is one of the best in history and it is ludicrous to assume that every player who tears their ACL will end up being better than ever.

Besides you are already using that line on RG3’s recovery, right?

Secondly, even though Woody Johnson seems open to trading Revis how would the Redskins even acquire him? The Jets are in some sort of weird transition with their roster that requires a degree of rebuilding and they are going to want value to add talent. Just because Johnson is “open to trading” his best player (injured or not) that doesn’t mean he is going to give him away.

After the RG3 acquisition the Redskins aren’t exactly in a position to throw the type of draft picks it would take to land Revis at New York. Sure the Jets need a quarterback after the nightmare that was Mark Sanchez and the legend of the butt fumble, but there is ZERO chance that any GM in his right mind would do a Kirk Cousins for Revis straight up deal.

For this next part let’s just assume the Redskins have the trade ammo and Revis has a miraculous recovery with no setbacks from injury.

Finally, can the Redskins afford to take the six million dollar hit that Revis is due in 2013?

If the NFL overturns Cap Gate and the Redskins have money back in their pocket sure this isn’t really an issue, but that situation still looks bleak and I get the feeling the Mara’s aren’t backing down after losing the division to the team they stole from.

We could spend weeks ironing out scenarios in which the Redskins find a way to afford a guy like Revis but none of them would be remotely close to realistic.

To fans who want to see Revis in DC I have to break the bad news. It seems highly unlikely as there are too many variables, to many “ifs” too many “maybes”.

The fact is even though the Redskins are in desperate need of corner help Revis most likely isn’t the guy. Trades like this have found a way to bite the Redskins for years and staying away from him will show that this is an organization that no longer chases superstars out of desperation but has matured into the type of organization that finds a way to groom their own.

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One Comment

1. 

   Allaine

   January 25, 2013 at 12:44 pm

   Maybe Revis had Dr. Andrews too.

   Reply