Rumors: Washington Redskins Center John Sullivan Visiting Los Angeles Rams

The Washington Redskins appeared to fix some of their issues at the center position last year thanks to Spencer Long. However, the team may have to look for a new backup as John Sullivan could leave town.

Early in the course of the 2016 NFL season, the Washington Redskins brought John Sullivan to their team. The lifelong Minnesota Viking had been cut midway through the preseason, and the 31-year-old had languished on the market for about a month. After the Redskins signed him, Sullivan provided the team with excellent depth and made a spot start for Spencer Long late in the season. He proved that he still has what it takes to be a quality NFL player.

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Since Sullivan had only agreed to a one year pact with the Redskins, he was set to become a free agent after the season. Until now, no team had really showed any interest in Sullivan, leading some to believe that he could re-sign with the Redskins. However, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, Sullivan is visiting the Los Angeles Rams and could be in position to land a job there.

The interest from the Rams makes perfect sense for a couple of reasons. The first is the glaring hole that the Rams have at the center position. Tim Barnes was the starter for the team last year, but he was released as a cap casualty after a mediocre year. He is best served as a backup.

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Without Barnes, the current top option on the team’s depth chart, per Ourlads.com, is Demetrius Rhaney, a former seventh round pick out of Tennessee State. Needless to say, Sullivan would be an upgrade and would also provide the team with a savvy veteran who could help Jared Goff adjust to making calls at the line.

The second reason for Sullivan to join the Rams is the fact that Sean McVay is their head coach. McVay spent the past couple of years as the Redskins offensive coordinator, so he worked with Sullivan in 2016. Sullivan probably knows how to make line calls for McVay’s offense, and he would be an excellent two to three year stopgap option for the Rams. It would take him little time to adjust to his new role and he could thrive with the young team.

Of course, in the event that Sullivan leaves, the Redskins will have to add backup center to their laundry list of needs. Long is a good enough starter to get by with, but the team needs depth. They could opt to draft a guy like Jon Toth on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, or they could scour the free agent market for a serviceable depth guy.

Unfortunately, there are not many backup options left on the free agent market. Perhaps they could sign another former Viking, Joe Berger, and move Long to the left guard position. The only concern would be Berger’s age (35).

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No matter what, Sullivan’s potential departure would leave the Redskins with a hole to fill. They will try to do so, but it may be easier said than done.

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