Redskins: Why a Chris Baker return could be in the cards for 2018

Chris Baker left the Washington Redskins as a free agent during the 2017 offseason. Could he come back to the team if he’s released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

When Chris Baker left the Redskins during the 2017 offseason, many fans were upset. After all, Baker was essentially the only defensive lineman that had an above average performance during the 2016 season. However, the team didn’t want to keep him and instead elected to let him walk. He signed a three year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that was worth nearly $16 million over three years. It was expected he would be an impact player for the team.

Unfortunately for the Bucs, that hasn’t been the case. In the team’s 4-3 defense, Baker has struggled to adapt to the scheme. While he has still be good against the run, his interior rushing skills didn’t carry over with him. And even worse for the team, he hasn’t fit in well in the locker room.

Most recently, Baker caused a stir after the team’s loss to the Carolina Panthers. Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Baker’s lackadaisical attitude after a penalty he committed late in the game to shorten the length of a fourth-and-3 inside the five yard line angered many of his teammates. Stroud said that, “several Bucs players took issue with Baker smiling and lack-of-remorse attitude following the game” and a shouting match ensued that Jameis Winston and Lavonte David got involved in, and Kwon Alexander eventually took a swing at Baker.

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This attitude seems like a completely different Baker than the Washington fans know. In Washington, Baker usually brought an intensity and swagger to the field when he was on it. Hence the nickname “Swaggy.” Perhaps he just doesn’t fit in with Tampa, or perhaps the transition was a lot for him after spending his most of his career with the Redskins. Whatever it is, it’s clear that Baker will need an attitude adjustment this offseason if he wants to remain a Buccaneer. However, some think that ship may have sailed.

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NBC Sports Washington’s Rich Tandler tweeted that there’s some buzz that the Bucs will part ways with Baker after this disappointing season. This would be sensible given his issues in the locker room, his merely decent on field performance, and the fact that they can part ways with him because there’s virtually no money guaranteed after 2017. Why keep a player that doesn’t want to be there and isn’t helping your squad?

Should Baker hit the open market, the Redskins should definitely have interest in him. He was so productive in the two seasons before his departure from D.C., and he would be a great rotational player for the team’s line. Given how disappointing Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain have been, Baker could come in and maybe start across from Jonathan Allen. That would allow Ziggy Hood and Matt Ioannidis to be the primary backups and it could push the disappointing players further down the depth chart.

The other option would be to try and unload either McClain or McGee in a salary dump. Those trades are rare in the NFL, but perhaps a team that either needs a draft pick or likes either McGee or McClain would take one on.

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At the end of the day, even if they don’t shed any salary, bringing back Baker on a short term and team-friendly deal should interest the Redskins. Baker could be a strong contributor and Washington is his most natural fit on the market.

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