There has been some buzz about Jordan Howard being on the trading block this offseason. If that’s true, the Washington Redskins should definitely target him.
The Washington Redskins need to add some running back talent this offseason. They haven’t addressed the position yet, and it appears that they are going to target a replacement in the draft. That said, there’s an off chance that they could try to trade for a back instead.
In the past few days, there have been rumblings that the Chicago Bears may be moving on from Jordan Howard. This may come as a surprise to some, but it also makes some sense. After all, the team has Tarik Cohen who looked like an explosive playmaker as a rookie, and he could play a major role in the offense.
As WalterFootball.com’s Walter Cherepinsky reported in his NFL Trading Block notes, Howard has also given some signs that he might be leaving the team.
"Jordan Howard was the subject of trade rumors earlier in the offseason. Now, Howard has deleted all of his Bears pictures from his Instagram account. This could all mean nothing, but Howard is not a good fit for Matt Nagy’s offense, so it makes sense for Chicago to trade him."
Cherepinsky went on to mention that Howard might fetch a third or fourth round pick in a trade. That would be a solid value, and it’s something that the Redskins should definitely check in on.
If Howard is available on the trade market, the Redskins should call the Bears to ask what it will take to get him. Here’s why he would be a good fit in Washington.
Howard has talent
This is the most obvious part of the equation. There wouldn’t be a point to having this conversation if Howard wasn’t one of the better young running backs in the league.
Howard, 23, came into the league as a fifth round pick by the Bears in 2016. As a rookie, he was quickly able to earn the starting role for the Bears. In his rookie year, Howard toted the rock 252 times and racked up 1,313 yards with six touchdowns. In addition to his ability as a runner, he caught 29 passes for 298 yards and a score. He truly looked like the next workhorse back, but he regressed a bit in his sophomore campaign.
In 2017, Howard still ran well, but he didn’t seem as explosive as he was in his rookie year. He was wildly inconsistent, putting up massive performances one week and then disappearing the next. As a receiver, Howard didn’t perform as well, and didn’t look like a natural route runner. He looked like more of a two-down bruiser with the ability to break big plays occasionally. But, he didn’t look as much like a three-down back.
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Despite the inconsistent 2017 performance, Howard still has talent and great size. He has a 6-foot-1, 225 pound frame and he is a great between-the-tackles runner. That is something that the Redskins have lacked since Alfred Morris‘ early years in Washington. Howard could provide them with that.
It’s also worth noting that Howard is a proven thing. Though the 2018 NFL Draft is very strong at the running back position, none of the the players are guaranteed to be successful. So, if presented with the opportunity to add a sure thing at a low cost, the Redskins should consider doing it.
Howard’s mix of youth, strength, and proven production will make him an attractive target to the Redskins. In the event that Howard is on the block, the Redskins could represent something of a perfect fit for him. So, bringing him in would be a smart move.
Howard pairs well with Chris Thompson
One of the best offensive players for the Redskins last season was Chris Thompson. In his fifth season, Thompson emerged as an amazing pass catching back and earned that role for the foreseeable future.
Thompson totaled a career-high 510 receiving yards on 39 catches, and he would have been even better if he didn’t suffer a broken leg against the Saints midway through the year. He was an explosive playmaker and though his 5-foot-8 frame will prevent him from being an every down back, he will continue to be one of the best third down backs in the league.
Still, it’s pretty much proven that the Redskins won’t be able to get by with either Rob Kelley or Samaje Perine as the lead back. Both are solid rotational guys, but neither can be a really good starter. Perine has potential as a high-end backup, but the team needs a really strong between the tackles guy to pair with Thompson.
That’s exactly what Howard is. He can grind out yardage on seemingly any run, but at the same time, he can break off huge runs as well. Effectively, he is an upgraded version of Kelley with more explosive speed. Howard could give the Redskins what they were hoping when they went into 2017 with Kelley as the starter, and he wouldn’t take much work away from Thompson. That would be great, especially if it only costs the team a fourth round pick.
It would allow the Redskins to fill their other needs in the first two rounds
In the event that the Redskins are able to trade for Howard, whether it’s for a fourth-round pick or some other combination of future assets, they will no longer have a need at running back. Howard would be the logical lead back while Thompson would slot in as the third down back and Samaje Perine would serve as the backup. That committee would work very well for the team, so they wouldn’t need to add more talent at running back.
Right now, the Redskins still have three major needs to fill on their roster. One is obviously running back. The other two are nose tackle and guard. The team needs starters desperately at those two positions, and in the first two rounds of the draft, they will have a shot at landing both of those positions.
In Round 1, it seems probable that either Vita Vea or Da’Ron Payne will be available with their pick. Either would be an upgrade, but Payne has a lot more athletic upside than Vea and projects as an excellent complement next to Jonathan Allen, as they played well together in college. Unless a guy like Minkah Fitzpatrick slides to the No. 13 pick, which is a possibility, the team will probably choose to take a nose tackle. And it is probably going to be Payne.
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In the second round, their options are a bit more open. If they do need a running back on draft day, the second round would be the ideal time to take one, as Nick Chubb, Kerryon Johnson, and Ronald Jones are all likely to be available. However, if the team was able to land Howard, they would be able to use that second round pick on one of the best players available, which well could be a guard.
The Redskins are looking into some late-first to early-second round guards, and they are set to work out Billy Price, a solid interior lineman from Ohio State. In addition to Price, Auburn’s Braden Smith and Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow would be terrific options to take over as a starter at the guard position. And, Price and Ragnow would have positional versatility, so they could play center and allow Chase Roullier to move to guard.
In short, getting Howard would allow the team to get a better interior lineman to complete their strong offensive line. Waiting until Day 3 to get a lineman wouldn’t necessarily be the worst thing for the team, getting a potential falling first rounder like Price or a more versatile player like Ragnow would undoubtedly be beneficial for the team.
Overall
There aren’t a lot of drawbacks to landing a player like Howard. He hasn’t dealt with an major injury issues during his career and has two, 1,000 yard seasons under his belt. He’s a really good between the tackles runner, and that’s what the Redskins need the most.
The big questions regarding a potential move like this are, what will it take to get Howard? And, will the Bears actually be willing to trade Howard?
In terms of value it will take to get Howard, I think Cherepinsky’s suggestion of a third or fourth rounder makes sense. Jay Ajayi was shipped to the Eagles for a fourth rounder last season, and he’s a similar player to Howard. Plus, the strength of the running back class may devalue Howard a bit, as teams would be able to land a comparable player with a mid-round pick. So, a fourth round pick might be the most sensible option.
As for whether or not the Bears will move Howard, it’s impossible to know. Before the draft, anything is possible. But Howard deleting all of his Bears-related pictures from Instagram and his questionable fit in Matt Nagy’s offense makes it seem like a strong possibility.
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If Howard becomes a Redskin, that would be great news for the team. For now though, this is just an idea. Keep an eye on Howard as the offseason goes along, as he could end up wearing a different uniform in 2018 regardless.