Washington Redskins 2017: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Washington Redskins must decide which players to keep and seek to improve their 8-7-1 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Redskins roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and reference during the combine.

Perhaps the biggest adjustment will be replacing offensive coordinator Sean McVay, who was hired as head coach of the Rams. New offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh is hopeful that quarterback Kirk Cousins will return along with at least one of their free agent receivers, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon.

Upgrading the pass rush will also be a priority.

THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 3rd in NFC East (8-7-1)

2016 STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 403.4 (3rd)

RUSHING: 106.0 (21st)

PASSING: 297.4 (2nd)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 377.9 (28th)

RUSHING: 119.8 (24th)

PASSING: 258.1 (25th)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

&=Released

TOP THREE NEEDS

SAFETY

Age is an issue here with DeAngelo Hall, Will Blackmon and Donte Whitner all over 30. Youth has to be a priority at this position.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Eric Berry, Kansas City (29 in December, $10.8M)

Barry Church, Dallas (29, $2.2M)

T.J. McDonald, L.A. Rams (26, $732K)

Chris Conte, Tampa Bay (28, $3M)

Quintin Demps, Houston (32 in June, $1.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht, Wt., Proj. Rd.)

1/4 Malik Hooker, Ohio State, 6-2, 205, 4.47, 1 (underclassman)

2/6 Jamal Adams (SS), LSU, 6-0, 211, 4.54, 1 (underclassman)

3/13 Jabrill Peppers (SS), Michigan, 6-0, 205, 4.52, 1 (underclassman)

4/43 Budda Baker, Washington, 5-10, 192, 4.52, 2 (underclassman)

5/55 Obi Melifonwu (SS), Connecticut, 6-4, 219, 4.58, 2

DEFENSIVE END

Washington still hasn't invested enough at this position. The pass rush could use more help with an impact player at defensive end.

Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants (28, $10M)

Calais Campbell, Arizona (DT; 31 in September, $11M)

Jabaal Sheard, New England (28 in May, $5.5M)

&Mario Williams, Miami (32, $8.5M)

Charles Johnson, Carolina (31 in July, $3M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)

1/1 Myles Garrett, Texas AM, 6-4, 268, 4.57, 1 (underclassman)

2/3 Solomon Thomas, Stanford, 6-2, 275, 4.84, 1 (underclassman)

3/17 Derek Barnett, Tennessee, 6-3, 265, 4.76, 1 (underclassman)

4/28 Taco Charlton, Michigan, 6-5, 272, 4.87, 1

5/32 Charles Harris, Missouri, 6-3, 255, 4.74, 1-2 (underclassman)

6/39 Carl Lawson, Auburn, 6-2, 253, 4.67, 1-2 (underclassman)

WIDE RECEIVER

Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson are both free agents. Rookie Josh Doctson still has health concerns. That leaves just Jamison Crowder.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)

Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)

Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota (26 in March, $1.8M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)

1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 4.50, 1 (underclassman)

2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 4.48, 1

3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 4.35, 1 (underclassman)

4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 4.48, 1-2 (underclassman)

5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 4.39, 2

UFA KEEPERS

QB Kirk Cousins (29 in August, $19.95M)

WR DeSean Jackson (31 in December, $6M)

WR Pierre Garcon (31 in August, $8.5M)

ROSTER REVIEW

MAJOR COACHING CHANGES

--OC Sean McVay leaves to be Rams head coach

--DC Joe Barry fired

--QB coach Matt Cavanaugh promoted to OC

--OLB coach Greg Manusky promoted to DC

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Kirk Cousins (UFA). Backups -- Colt McCoy, Nate Sudfeld.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- Rob Kelley. Backups -- Matt Jones, Chris Thompson, Mack Brown, *Keith Marshall.

TIGHT ENDS: Starters -- Jordan Reed. Backups -- Vernon Davis (UFA), Derek Carrier, *Niles Paul.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- DeSean Jackson (UFA), Pierre Garcon (UFA). Backups -- Jamison Crowder, Ryan Grant, Maurice Harris, *Josh Doctson, *Reggie Diggs.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Trent Williams, LG Shawn Lauvao, C Spencer Long, RG Brandon Scherff, RT Morgan Moses. Backups -- C Kory Lichtensteiger (retired), C John Sullivan, LT Ty Nskeke, LG Arie Kouandjio, RT Vinston Painter, *Kevin Bowen.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LDE Chris Baker (UFA), NT Ziggy Hood (UFA), DE Ricky Jean Francois. Backups -- NT Matt Ioannidis, DE Cullen Jenkins (UFA), *NT Kedric Golston (UFA), *DE Anthony Lanier.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Ryan Kerrigan, ILB Will Compton, ILB Mason Foster, SLB Preston Smith. Backups -- ILB Su'a Cravens, ILB Martrell Spaight, OLB Trent Murphy, OLB Lynden Trail, ILB Terence Garvin, ILB Zach Vigil, *SLB Junior Galette (UFA), *WLB Houston Bates, *ILB Steven Daniels.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Josh Norman, RCB Bashaud Breeland, SS Duke Ihenacho, FS Will Blackmon. Backups -- RCB Quinton Dunbar, LCB Greg Toler, SS Deshazor Everett, FS Josh Evans, Slot CB Kendall Fuller, Slot CB Dashaun Phillips, *SS DeAngelo Hall, *SS Donte Whitner.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Dustin Hopkins, KOR Chris Thompson, PR Jamison Crowder, LS Nick Sundberg.