Fletcher and Smoot To Meet With Redskins

Both MLB London Fletcher-Baker and CB Fred Smoot have meetings set up with Redskins coaches and front office. Both are need positions [not the only ones] and are a bit smart signings for a team that notoriously tosses money all over the place like Pacman Jones.

Both shouldn't break the bank, which is good since the Redskins currently are about $6M under the cap. However, signing Smoot would most likely mean that veteran cornerback Shawn Springs will be released or traded. Smoot has become Washington's #1 target after Dre Bly was dealt to the Broncos yesterday and Nate Clements figures to be out of the Skins' price range.

Fletcher is a perfect fit for a team looking for a leader at middle linebacker. He knows Gregg Williams well and probably won't command too high a price.

From the Washington Post:

Fletcher, who will be 32 in May, may hold more value to the Redskins than perhaps to the market in general. At last week's NFL scouting combine, various league scouts were perplexed that the Redskins were so enamored with Fletcher, pointing to his lack of size -- he is 5 feet 10 and 245 pounds; current middle linebacker Lemar Marshall is 6-2, 232 -- and his age. He led the Bills in tackles last season by a wide margin and is strong against the run and pass, but some scouts felt Fletcher has perhaps had a lot of wear and tear. But according to team sources, assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams sees Fletcher as the quarterback to his defense. Williams likes familiarity, and because of their time in Buffalo together, Fletcher understands Williams's system. Also, the free agent market is thin for middle linebackers and Williams traditionally has not been comfortable with playing a rookie at a key position that requires much communication with teammates.

Of course, Daniel Snyder is Daniel Snyder. The Redskins can cut off some fat [namely Springs, John Hall, Renaldo Wynn and Todd Collins] and go after some big name guys like Patrick Kearney or Michael Strahan. I know: shocker.

Previously at The Fanhouse: