ProFootballWeekly.com
asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in
football.
Redskins sign ex-Jaguars DL Renaldo Wynn
Washington added to a strong defense by signing Wynn to a six-year, $21 million deal
with a signing bonus of more than $3.5 million. Wynn, 27, started 16 games last season and
had a career-high five sacks. He is known as a solid run stopper. Wynn, 27, played his
first five years in Jacksonville.
Buchsbaum: In Wynn, the Redskins are getting a solid defensive lineman who has improved
every year since coming into the league as a first-round pick out of Notre Dame. However,
he will never be a great one. As an end, Wynn has good strength and has improved, but he
doesn’t have the great edge quickness to be a top pass rusher. As a tackle, he’s
quicker than most and a good athlete but doesn’t have the bulk strength to be an
overpowering player. However, with a power player like Dan Wilkinson next to him, Wynn
could play tackle. On the other hand, his best position probably is right defensive end in
a 4-3 defense.
Saints sign ex-Patriots LB Bryan Cox
New Orleans signed the veteran to a one-year, $750,000 deal to bring much-needed
leadership and linebacker depth to the Saints. Cox, 34, was a backup on the Super Bowl
champion Patriots last season. He started early in the season before suffering a broken
leg in midseason. He came back much more quickly than expected and served as an
inspiration to his Patriots teammates as they made their improbable run to the title.
Buchsbaum: In Bryan Cox, the Saints are, quite frankly, getting a washed-up player but
a helluva leader who could be a very positive influence in his own clubhouse if he wants
to be. Cox has had an up-and-down career filled with controversy, but the bottom line on
him is most years he made his teammates better players and inspired them to reach heights
they hadn’t reached before.
The Patriots may miss Cox for that reason, but after signing Ted Johnson to go with
Tedy Bruschi at middle linebacker, they really had no room for him.
Browns sign ex-Titans WR Chris Sanders
After spending seven seasons with Tennessee, Sanders agreed to terms with Cleveland to
challenge for one of their receiver spots. He will sign a one-year contract. Sanders, 29,
played just five games last season due to a leg injury.
Buchsbaum: The Browns took a shot in the dark by signing Titans WR Chris Sanders.
Sanders had a pretty good career at Ohio State, where he was known more as a sprinter than
a football player. He really seemed to pick it up his rookie year with Tennessee, but
instead of building on that, once teams developed a book on him and took away the deep
route from him, he became a timid underneath receiver and never really panned out. Maybe
with a second chance going back to Ohio he will finally realize the potential he showed
his first year in the NFL.
Bengals re-sign DE Reinard Wilson
The Bengals reached an agreement with Wilson, one of their top pass rushers, on a
three-year, $4.5 million deal. Wilson, 28, had a career-best nine sacks and 41 tackles
last season as a pass-rushing end.
Buchsbaum: The Bengals did a good job re-signing Wilson. No, he isn’t a starter,
but the former first-round pick still has developed into a very good pass rusher. It
really helps to have two pass rushers, which means that Justin Smith won’t be
double-teamed as much at the other end spot. |
