No team in the NFL has made more of a splash this offseason than the Washington Redskins. Thanks to a ton of cap space and a slew of early picks, the Skins are in position to make a run for NFL supremacy. But at what cost, and who really gets the credit? Did new owner Dan Snyder solely turn this franchise around this quickly, as so many people are claiming? This observer sees a ton of evidence that says otherwise.
The Washington Redskin turnaround began before the draft in April of 1998. That was the time that Dom Capers, than head coach and GM of the Carolina Panthers, decided that 2 #1 picks and a $45 million contract was a fair price to pay for DT Sean Gilbert, who sat out the previous season in a contract dispute with Washington. That was a deal that former Redskin GM Charley Casserly was thrilled to take. Carolina went into the next season with high hopes, only to suffer a disappointing season because of injuries, poor performances (Gilbert among them), and an awful coaching job. Suddenly, the Skins had the #5 pick in the 1999 NFL draft. Before the draft, Casserly annoyed Skin fans when he decided to trade the Skins 1999 1st round (11th overall) for oft-injured Minnesota QB Brad Johnson. Some media outlets reported that new owner-in-waiting, Dan Snyder, was absolutely furious with the trade.
As Draft Day 1999 approached, Casserly was presented with an interesting situation. Going into the draft, former New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka proclaimed that he would surrender his entire 1999 draft and 2000 picks (including their #1 that year) to any team that could deliver him Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. The teams holding the top three picks in that draft, expansion Cleveland, Philadelphia, and might-as-well-be expansion Cinncinati, all took QBs. That left Indianapolis, who was figured to gleefully add Ricky Williams to team with Peyton Manning. Than something strange happened. To the surprise of just about everyone, Colts GM Bill Polian decided to pass on Williams and take Miami RB Edgerrin James. Suddenly, Williams was available at #5. Done deal. The Skins landed all of New Orleans 1999 picks and a #1 in 2000. (and some other later picks that year). Now, Washington was sitting at #12. At this point, Casserly decided to get real aggressive. He gave Chicago a call. It was no secret that the Bears needed a franchise QB. Casserly and Bears coach Dick Jauron figured out that UCLA lefty Cade McNown would be available at #12. So Washington sent that pick, along with several others, to Chicago for the #7 overall pick. With that pick, Washington landed Georgia CB Champ Bailey, the player they wanted all along. Suddenly, the Skins had 3 1st round picks in the 2000 draft. (their own, Carolina, and New Orleans). In the 2nd round, Casserly picked Michigan RT Jon Jansen, a pick that was an afterthought at that point.
While all this was going on, Casserly was careful with the contracts that he gave out in an effort to open up a ton of cap space for the future. It worked. As the 1999 season progressed, Washington, behind the Pro Bowl performance of QB Brad Johnson, made the playoffs for the first time since George Bush sat in the Oval Office. Some other key contributors in that run were star RB Stephen Davis (1999 Pro Bowler), WRs Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell, OG Tre Johnson (1999 Pro Bowler), RT Jon Jansen, CBs Champ Bailey and Darrell Green, TE Stephen Alexander and FB Larry Centers. With the exception of Darrell Green, all these men were either drafted or signed via free agency by Charley Casserly. What thanks did Casserly get? A pink slip from owner Dan Snyder. As a result of the Skins successful season, they landed the #24 overall pick in the draft. But what about the other picks?
New Orleans was terrible in 1999. In fact, that may be complimenting just how bad they were. Quick! Name a WR on the Saints last year! I can’t either. Williams did not have the desired impact, and the lack of anything resembling consistency on both sides of the ball meant a disastrous season. Their draft position, which belonged to Washington, was #2 overall. Carolina missed the playoffs by one game. That meant the Skins also had the #12 pick in the draft. Thanks to the great cap position that Casserly left the Skins in, they used to sign Bruce Smith, Mark Carrier, and Deion Sanders. (which happened this week) Before the draft hit, the Skins took advantage of an awful 49er cap situation and gleefully took the #3 overall pick for the #12 and #24 in a trade that any team with the cap space and picks would have done in a heartbeat. The cap space and picks were both courtesy of Charley Casserly. They sat at #2 and took PSU LB Lavar Arrington, after Cleveland made a massive mistake when they took DE Courtney Brown over PSU’s star LB. Then, they took Alabama OT Chris Samuels at #3. Suddenly, Dan Snyder was lauded as a hero in Washington, and gleefully took all the credit without giving a hint of credit to Casserly.
Even so, Snyder has to get credit for his willingness to dish out large bonuses to players in an effort to win now. The problem is, Snyder is using the 49er mentality of “big bonuses, backloaded deals” when signing players. When all is said and done this offseason, Snyder will have dished out around $55 million in signing bonuses alone. And next year, he gets to deal with the Brad Johnson and Albert Connell negotiations. That all adds up to massive cap problems in 2-3 offseasons. If the Skins win at least one Super Bowl before the problems hit, than it’ll be worth it. If they don’t win, then they will have failed.