Offensive starters head to free agency

Four players who were starters on Washington's offense -- that ranked 13th in yards and 21st in scoring in its second season under coach Mike Shanahan and his son/coordinator Kyle Shanahan -- when healthy in 2011 are due to be free agents on March 13, but they're far from all in the same boat.

Let's take them one by one:

Tight end Fred Davis: Washington's top offensive performer through 12 games with 59 catches, 796 yards and three touchdowns, the 26-year-old Davis was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the final four games after a trio of failed drug tests.

Davis, who might well have been headed to his first Pro Bowl if he hadn't screwed up, was likely looking at a lucrative multiyear deal from the Redskins or one of their rivals after a second fine season in the past three.

But now, he's one failed drug test from a year-long NFL suspension, making signing him a much bigger gamble.

Mike Shanahan doesn't seem that worried about Davis messing up again.

"I do feel very good about Fred as a person," said Shanahan, whose second season in Washington ended with a 5-11 record despite Davis' performance. "I liked the way he worked. I like his development ... since I've been here. Hopefully the mistake won't happen again."

That's a tempting thought even though Davis was also disciplined for minor incidents at Southern Cal and during his rookie minicamp. After all, if Davis had maintained his production over the final four games, he would have finished with a franchise tight end record of 1,063 yards which would have ranked third in the league behind only the totals of New England's Rob Gronkowski and New Orleans' Jimmy Graham. And Davis' projected 79 catches would have tied for fifth among NFL tight ends behind only the totals of Gronkowski, Graham, Detroit's Brandon Pettigrew and Atlanta Hall of Fame lock Tony Gonzalez.

The Redskins can hope that two-time Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley - who turns 30 in July -- can stay healthy after missing most of 2009 and 2011 with injuries or try to replace Davis with a draft pick or a free agent such as Green Bay's Jermichael Finley.

But it seems smarter to franchise Davis at an estimated $5.4 million (the actual figure won't be known until early March). That gives them a year to see if he stays clean, plays just as well or better in 2012, and what happens with Cooley.

If Davis makes Coooley an afterthought and puts his off-the-field troubles definitely in the rear-view mirror, then he'll be due the big-time, long-term contract he wants now before hitting the market next March.

Quarterback Rex Grossman: After starting 13 games in 2011 - two more than he had over the previous four years - Grossman doesn't want to return to being a backup. However, his 25 turnovers will make him just that. Since Grossman knows coordinator Kyle Shanahan's offense well, he should be back but as the No. 2.

Aside from the rumors that they're pursuing Peyton Manning and the possibility that they might sign a free agent like Kyle Orton or Green Bay backup Matt Flynn, the Redskins need to draft their quarterback of the future after first-rounders Patrick Ramsey (2002) and Jason Campbell (2005) didn't work out as well as expected. If Washington fails to land Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor, Texas A&M's Ryan Taneyhill or Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden would be strong alternatives to another year with Grossman under center.

"I really enjoy it here, this offensive system and what they're building, so I'd love for this to be the place where I end up," said the 31-year-old Grossman. "I hope this is the best opportunity. There's definitely things I've put on tape to show that I'm fully capable of playing well."

Running back Tim Hightower: After returning to his native Washington area in an August trade with Arizona, Hightower was having a second big game in five starts when he tore his left ACL. He wants to re-sign and a one-year deal makes sense so the Redskins can see how his knee responds and Hightower can discover how much the late-season emergence of rookie backs Roy Helu and Evan Royster affects his role in 2012. Not that Hightower, who'll be 26 in May, is worried.

"I'm not concerned," Hightower said. "I'm not Evan. I'm not Roy and they're not me. I say that with no disrespect. They've done an excellent job. But I know my capabilities and what I bring to the football team."

Center Will Montgomery: Another Northern Virginia native, Montgomery moved from guard to replace departed longtime starter Casey Rabach this year and did an adequate job, especially late in the season when he was the anchor of a unit that had usually had three very inexperienced linemen. Unless the Redskins are unexpectedly going to devote more money to the position when they have bigger needs, versatile Montgomery, 29, should return.

However, Washington needs to draft a quality tackle who can play both sides since right tackle Jammal Brown has been a disappointment during his two seasons with the Redskins and will be 31 next month, and since left tackle Trent Williams joined Davis in being suspended for the final four games of 2011 after a third failed drug test and is also one more away from a year-long suspension. Rookie free agent Willie Smith, who replaced Williams, seems more like a backup than a starter.

Left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, who'll be 27 next month, is expected to be fully recovered by training camp from the ACL he tore in Week 6. Rookie Maurice Hurt, a seventh-round selection, finished the year as the starter at that spot and was adequate.

And although the Redskins carried eight receivers for most of the season, they could really use a big-time playmaker such as Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon. Jabar Gaffney, 31, led Washington with 64 catches and a career-high 947 yards but scored just five touchdowns. Longtime No. 1 receiver Santana Moss missed four games with a broken hand and was subpar when he played with just 46 catches and 58 yards. Third-rounder Leonard Hankerson flashed potential with 106 yards on eight catches in his second start before suffering a season-ending hip injury. Veteran Donte Stallworth came on late but, at 31, might not be re-signed. Anthony Armstrong, a revelation in 2010 when he finished third in the league with 19.8 yards per catch as a 27-year-old NFL neophyte, crashed to seven catches for 103 yards last season. His dropoff and that of Moss, who'll be 33 in June, are major reasons why the Redskins need a Blackmon type.

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