Should the Washington Redskins re-sign offensive guard Tony Bergstrom?

The Washington Redskins will be in the market for depth on the offensive interior this offseason. But could they have a piece already on the roster?

Regarding the starting lineup, the Washington Redskins’ offensive line is almost set. Trent Williams and Morgan Moses are the mainstays at tackle, while Brandon Scherff is a reliable mauler in the middle.

The team seems to have confidence in young Wyoming product Chase Roullier at the center position, and they should. Roullier played very well in Spencer Long’s absence in 2017, and with another year to learn from offensive line coach Bill Callahan, he should only get better.

With Shaun Lauvao set to leave, however, the Washington Redskins have a void to fill at left guard, and behind those starters, depth is an issue. When injuries took hold of the unit in 2017, their consistency suffered a great deal. Arie Kouandjio and Tyler Catalina are not starters in this league, and last year’s performance showed that they have room to grow as mere depth players as well.

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The same can be said for the backup tackles, T.J. Clemmings and Ty Nsekhe. Clemmings is likely to be released at the start of free agency, and Nsekhe isn’t getting any younger. The Washington Redskins are severely lacking in the depth department. How can they fix this? Bringing back reserve interior lineman Tony Bergstrom is a good place to start.

Unlike Kouandjio and Catalina, or any option acquired in the NFL Draft, Bergstrom, 31, has a wealth of NFL experience. He’s played at both center and guard in his career, and in the wake of injuries last year, he went from free agent to key contributor for the Washington Redskins. His impact has flown under the radar, due to the overall struggles of the line, but Bergstrom was fairly solid. In three starts at center, Bergstrom didn’t allow a single sack.

For an interior offensive line that largely lacks experience and versatility, Bergstrom could be an asset in the latter years of his career. He showed last year that he can still play, and perform admirably at a moment’s notice. His play isn’t perfect; otherwise, teams would be clamoring to get him. But he’s an experienced, multipurpose lineman who could be of great value to a team desperate for depth at that position.

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Nearing the age of 32 in a crowded guard market, Bergstrom is likely to fly under the radar this offseason, and therefore, he could come cheap for the Redskins. Bringing him back wouldn’t complete the offensive line. But it would help the team better respond to injuries, were they to occur again.

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