Redskins work out former Eagles, Cowboys CB Nolan Carroll

The Redskins are wasting no time planning for the possible absence of both their top cornerbacks. They’ve already hosted a veteran to a visit.

Coming into Sunday’s game, the Redskins were already thin at the cornerback position, missing their best player at the position, Josh Norman, to a rib injury. Coming out of the game, their situation only got worse. Bashaud Breeland went down in the second half with an apparent knee injury, and he did not return.

The Redskins are still awaiting a diagnosis on Breeland’s injury. The young cornerback out of Clemson is optimistic, but the team will still plan for his possible leave well ahead of time. Per Ian Rapoport, their search for a temporary replacement started with 30-year old Nolan Carroll.

Carroll is no stranger to the NFC East. The former fifth round pick has resided in that division since he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. He stayed with the bleeding green until 2017, when he hit free agency, and was ultimately signed by their division rivals, the Cowboys. The Cowboys didn’t keep him long, however. The veteran was released just a few weeks into the season on October 11th.

It’s hard to argue with the fact that Carroll wouldn’t be an upgrade at the position. His best year came with the Dolphins back in 2013, when he gathered three interceptions, two sacks, and 12 pass deflections. The eight-year pro has bounced around the league, and he’s never earned a Pro Bowl berth. His most attractive trait is his sheer volume of games played. Out of a possible 124 career games, Carroll has played in 113.

One additional reason the Redskins might want to sign Carroll is the fact that he is a native of the area. He went to college at Maryland, where he was a standout in the secondary. The Redskins have had recent success when signing D.C. locals. Vernon Davis has seen his career resurrected with the Redskins, while Phil Taylor was well on his way to becoming a dominant nose tackle before his unfortunate preseason injury. Perhaps the Redskins think a trip home could bode well for Nolan Carroll.

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The Redskins would be making a smart move by signing Carroll. He offers experience to a cornerback unit that is very young without Breeland and Norman. The only question hovering around Carroll’s signing is whose place on the roster he would take. That’s yet to be seen, but one thing is for certain. The Redskins would be hurting if Breeland and Norman are both out next week. The least they could do is sign a cornerback who offers knowledge and experience. Carroll is that kind of cornerback.