Washington Redskins: Three under-the-radar free agents to watch

The big names get all the buzz in free agency each year, but often, it’s the little-known names that mean the most. The Washington Redskins must take note of that.

The Redskins made some splashes in free agency last year, signing players like D.J. Swearinger, Zach Brown, Stacy McGee, Terrell McClain, and Terrelle Pryor. From that batch, they received mixed results. Swearinger and Brown were top-notch contributors for much of the season, with Brown leading the league in tackles and Swearinger contributing greatly to an improving culture.

However, beyond those two players, the positives end rather quickly. Stacy McGee was an inconsistent player. His size helped in some situations, but he ultimately was relegated to a reserve role, as was Terrell McClain, whose play didn’t amount to half of his current salary. Terrelle Pryor, hailed by some as the banner player of the free agency class, didn’t last for half the season before being placed on injured reserve. In good health, he was inconsistent, and his hands were about as effective as bricks.

Overall, the Redskins got a lot out of their 2017 free agency class, but there was too much room for improvement. This year, depending on how the Kirk Cousins situation plays out, they’ll again be in the mix for some high profile players. But are those the players you should really be watching?

The Redskins don’t just need impact players. They need depth. They need to keep a close eye on the lesser known players in free agency. The players whose situations may have been detrimental to their output. The players who may just be at the beginning of long, illustrious careers. And veterans who could fit very nicely into the Redskins’ scheme. In the next few slides, we’ll take a look at three such players. Who might be a free agency steal at a position of need for the Washington Redskins?