Washington Redskins pre-2018 NFL Draft roster analysis
By Ian Cummings
Linebacker
Starters: Zach Brown, Mason Foster
Reserves: Zach Vigil, Martrell Spaight, Josh Harvey-Clemons
Before the offseason, the position of linebacker was a great need for the Washington Redskins. But after the re-signing of Zach Brown, the level of need has gone down. It still lingers, but picking a linebacker is far from a necessity.
Zach Brown and Mason Foster are locked in as the starters for 2018, barring some unforeseen acquisition. And behind them, there is suitable depth at the position. Zach Vigil played very well in relief last year. One of our Unheralded Players of 2017, Vigil signed back with the Redskins late in the 2017 season and performed admirably as a spot starter. He should have the third spot locked down moving forward.
Behind Vigil, there is Martrell Spaight, an inconsistent thumper who will likely be playing out his last year in Ashburn in 2018. And behind Spaight, there is Josh Harvey-Clemons, a lengthy hybrid with enticing potential.
This linebacking group is fairly solid. Unless a player like Roquan Smith or Tremaine Edmunds drops to the Washington Redskins, they should avoid picking a linebacker early. With several needs to balance, linebacker can safely be separated through the sieve. On Day 3, the Washington Redskins could add another player to the core, and for depth purposes, it couldn’t hurt. But they’re in a good spot as it is.