Report: Washington Redskins re-sign standout linebacker Zach Brown

The Washington Redskins are taking care of their own. Zach Brown is staying in D.C.

After signing former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson to a deal, the Washington Redskins fell off the radar for a couple days. They peppered in some small moves here and there, re-signing Brian Quick and locking down a competition punter in Sam Irwin-Hill.

The silence on the negotiations front has given way to elation, as the Washington Redskins have reportedly struck a deal with linebacker Zach Brown.

Brown, set to turn 29 years old later this year, played for the Washington Redskins on a one-year deal in 2017. In that season, he proved to be an essential piece for the team on the second level, providing a presence as a heat seeking tackling machine. He struggled a bit in coverage, but with him on the team, the defense, when healthy, was faster, more physical, and a stronger matchup for opposing offenses. He logged 127 total tackles in 2017, remedying a costly deficiency for the Redskins in recent years.

With Brown now locked up along with Mason Foster, the position of inside linebacker has gone from a glaring weakness to a strength for the Washington Redskins’ defense. They already had adequate depth at the position with players like Martrell Spaight and Zach Vigil. All they needed was a starter to fill in the gap beside Mason Foster. With Brown coming back, that’s what they get.

Brown and the Washington Redskins had mutual interest in each other. Brown enjoyed his time in Washington, and the Redskins had a clear need for his services. With the rest of his prime years now due to be played in the nation’s capital, the Washington Redskins are guaranteed to keep his speed around at least until 2021.

Contract Details

Per Ian Rapoport, Brown’s deal is a three-year contract worth up to $24 million with incentives. The move brings good value for the Washington Redskins. By locking down Brown for a value slightly lower than the market rate, they have around $14 million to spend on lower-tier free agents and work toward finding the depth they desperately need at other positions.

National Reaction

As you can see, Redskins nation is a little excited about this move.

https://twitter.com/Domo_LXXXVI/status/974390891346644996

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Grade

With Brown and Foster officially manning the middle for another year, the Washington Redskins have continuity. That will be important in a young, improving defense. They managed to keep Brown at a reasonable price, and now they can use the draft on other needs. While Brown isn’t the perfect player, and he isn’t as young as he used to be, he’s a known quantity; an energetic, impactful player who is sure to keep the Washington Redskins’ defense respectable.

Grade: B+