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Redskins: Jerrell Freeman could be a good contingency plan for Zach Brown

By Jacob Camenker

GREENBAY, WI - OCTOBER 20: Tight end Richard Rodgers
GREENBAY, WI - OCTOBER 20: Tight end Richard Rodgers /
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The Chicago Bears cut inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman on Tuesday afternoon. In the event that the Washington Redskins can’t re-sign Zach Brown, Freeman would be a good short-term option.

The Redskins have a lot of needs to fill this offseason, but the inside linebacker position isn’t supposed to be a big problem for the team. Early in the offseason, the team made sure to retain Mason Foster as one of their starters, and they were widely expected to do the same with Zach Brown.

Brown, the former Buffalo Bill and Tennessee Titan, had inked a one-year deal in free agency, and he ended up becoming one of the better tackling linebackers in the league. He finished the year with 127 tackles in 13 games and helped to energize the Redskins defense under Greg Manusky. His strong fundamentals rubbed off on other members of the team and while he was merely decent in coverage, he was still one of the better defensive players for the team in 2018.

However, the Redskins have let talented players walk in the past if the price isn’t right. In the event that Brown is looking for top caliber money at the inside linebacker position, the team may end up letting him walk. That wouldn’t necessarily be a smart move, but it’s definitely an option. If Brown does end up leaving, the team would only be armed with the trio of Zach Vigil, Josh Harvey-Clemons, and Martrell Spaight to take over for him. That doesn’t inspire a lot of hope, though Vigil and Harvey-Clemons flashed last year, so adding another inside linebacker will be something that the team has to do, especially if Brown walks.

In the event that they are looking for a cheap, veteran option, Jerrell Freeman could fit. The former Chicago Bear was released on Tuesday afternoon, but he should still generate some interest on the open market on a short-term deal.

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Freeman, 32, was one of the better linebackers in the NFL during the first four years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. Freeman was a high-volume tackler and was able to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks despite playing the middle in a 3-4 alignment. He was a do-it-all type player, and had few weaknesses.

However, during his time with the Bears, Freeman has put up two completely different seasons. In his first year, Freeman recorded 110 tackles and was a force in the Bears defense next to Danny Trevathan. However, he was suspended for violating the league’s PED policy and missed four games. In 2017, Freeman was limited to just a single game due to a torn pectoral, a concussion, and another suspension for violating the PED policy. That’s what prompted the Bears to release him.

While Freeman is skating on thin ice, the Redskins could benefit from adding him. If they lose Brown in free agency, Freeman could be a plug-and-play option for the team, though they would need to ensure he’s healthy first. Freeman could then hold down the fort until a younger player is ready to take over, whether it’s one on the roster or it’s a man that they select in the 2018 NFL Draft. And all this wouldn’t be likely to cost them much. Freeman was only making $4 million annually before he was cut and given the concerns with him, he would probably be worth at most, half of that.

Next: Why Samaje Perine is best suited as a top backup

Freeman isn’t a perfect option, but he could end up being a good contingency plan. Provided that all the related factors check out, he could start for a year or two and plug the potential hole the Redskins would have in the middle of their defense if Brown departs. They should still make every effort to re-sign Brown, but if that fails, Freeman could be a good consolation prize.

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