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Redskins Cuts: Will Blackmon still has talent, but couldn’t fit on roster

By Jacob Camenker

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Will Blackmon #41 of the Washington Redskins carries the football on the sidelines after intercepting against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Washington Redskins defeated the Chicago Bears 41-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Will Blackmon #41 of the Washington Redskins carries the football on the sidelines after intercepting against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Washington Redskins defeated the Chicago Bears 41-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The NFL isn’t always a fair business, and the Washington Redskins made a difficult cut on Friday. They parted ways with veteran safety Will Blackmon due to a logjam at the position.

The cuts to the 53-man roster in 2017 is upon us. After months of training camp and the preseason, the Washington Redskins need to cut 37 men before 4:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. In a span of just over a day, they have to make critical decisions about their roster. On Friday, they made a move that will shape the future of their safety position. They parted ways with Will Blackmon, a veteran of 10 NFL seasons. This was a difficult decision for the organization to make, but it may end up serving them well.

The Redskins were facing a situation where they simply had a logjam at safety. They brought in two new starters. D.J. Swearinger came via free agency while Su’a Cravens was converted from the middle linebacker position. Behind them, they had veteran Deshazor Everett who was able to win the No. 3 safety job this preseason. Blackmon could have had a space on the roster, but a couple of young talents got in his way.

Rookies Montae Nicholson and Fish Smithson are the guys that likely pushed Blackmon off the roster. Nicholson was a fourth round pick out of Michigan State in the 2017 NFL Draft. He is considered to be a raw talent who flashed a bit after playing late in the preseason. He missed time early in training camp due to his recovery from a torn labrum that he had surgery on prior to the draft.

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Meanwhile, Smithson was an undrafted free agent out of Kansas who has greatly impressed throughout the preseason. Smithson has demonstrated great coverage skills and excellent tackling ability throughout each contest and actually was one of the team’s best looking rookies. While Smithson is not a lock to make the roster, as carrying five safeties may be difficult, he will definitely be a practice squad candidate. But due to his special teams ability, he may have a chance to make the final roster.

Despite all of this, it is still sad to see Blackmon leave the Redskins in such a way. The veteran was widely considered to be a class act and a great leader. In 2016, he converted to the safety position from corner to help fill a major need in the secondary. He was one of the team’s most consistent players at the position even after being forced to start at a position he wasn’t familiar with.

Make no mistake. Blackmon still has strong coverage skills and will have a chance to latch on with a team as a backup safety somewhere. Blackmon is a solid kick returner as well, and that will help his cause. The Redskins just didn’t have room for him because of their young talent. Perhaps one his former teams like the Green Bay Packers or the New York Giants will take a chance on adding him. If not, another playoff bound team like the Houston Texans or Denver Broncos could take a chance on him.

Next: Redskins live roster cut tracker 2017

While this may have been the right decision for the Redskins, it is definitely not an easy one to make. The young players have upside, but they don’t quite have the same presence that the venerable veteran Blackmon does. The leader will certainly be missed by the team.

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