Washington Redskins post-NFL Draft 53-man roster projection

Linebacker

Roster Projection: Zach Brown, Mason Foster, Zach Vigil, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Josh Harvey-Clemons

Roster Locks: Zach Brown, Mason Foster

Offseason Sleepers: Pete Robertson, Jerod Fernandez

The Washington Redskins saved their linebacker situation by re-signing Zach Brown to a three-year deal in free agency. Brown isn’t perfect, but he’s a very solid run defender, and he has speed and coverage ability as well, even though he was inconsistent in coverage last year.

Beside Brown, Mason Foster figures to be a key cog of the defense as well. Foster can call the defensive adjustments, and he has the speed and tenacity to keep up with the hectic nature of the game. He’s been a starter for the Washington Redskins for over three seasons now, and in the prime of his career, he’s providing solid play.

Behind those two, Zach Vigil should be able to earn the first backup spot. One of our 2017 Unheralded Players, Vigil was first released by the Washington Redskins at the end of preseason. He went on to sign to the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Midway through the season, the Redskins brought him back, and he played astoundingly well in relief of Foster and Brown, especially considering how little time he had to prepare. He was stout in run support, and he displayed a reliability as a tackler that the Washington Redskins should value greatly.

Vigil should have the inside lane over Martrell Spaight, and one player who could also send Spigot packing is Shaun Dion Hamilton. Dion Hamilton, a former Alabama linebacker, is a bit undersized at 6-foot-0, 228. However, Dion Hamilton has the speed and mental awareness to be a fixture on a defense, as well as a replacement for Spaight, who was a special teams captain last year. Dion Hamilton simply has more upside, and although he has had injury issues in the past, those issues are far enough removed where the team can take a deep breath and measure these two players on a level playing field.

Josh Harvey-Clemons is a another player who you should keep a tab on. Clemons, 6-foot-4, 226, is still in the process of switching from safety to linebacker. The Washington Redskins valued his potential enough to keep him on the final-53 last season, and after he flashed in limited action, registering 11 tackles, a pass deflection, and half a sack, there’s no reason for the team to end the experiment now. Clemons has the potential to be a very good player, and with two aging starters at linebacker, potential is something you don’t let slip away.