One offseason later, the Washington Redskins roster is brand new.
The Washington Redskins made plenty of changes to their roster in the offseason of 2018. They started out with a bang, trading slot cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick in exchange for veteran quarterback Alex Smith, effectively ending the Kirk Cousins saga in Washington.
The Washington Redskins made strides in free agency to not only compensate for the loss of an upstart cornerback and valuable draft capital, but also to help smoothen Alex Smith’s transition into Jay Gruden’s offense.
In free agency, the Washington Redskins’ biggest splash was the signing of former Seahawks’ wide receiver Paul Richardson. Aside from Richardson’s speed and separation ability, the Redskins added little dynamic ability elsewhere; they made no more signings on offense, and on defense, they only added reserve edge rusher Pernell McPhee and descending slot cornerback Orlando Scandrick.
In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins made far more progress, turning many of their roster’s weaknesses into strengths. Now that the smoke has cleared, what does the 53-man roster project to look like in four months? In the coming slides, we give our best shot at figuring that out.
Quarterback
Roster Projection: Alex Smith, Kevin Hogan
Roster Locks: Alex Smith
Offseason Sleepers: N/A
Alex Smith is the only true lock on the roster at quarterback; after trading elite slot cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick in exchange for the tenured signal caller, there’s no reason to discuss a possible departure.
Kevin Hogan and Colt McCoy, however, are more expendable, although it’s possible that the Washington Redskins could keep both along with Alex Smith. The team has, in recent years, shown a tendency to keep three quarterbacks, more often than not.
For several years, they rolled with Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, and Robert Griffin III. In 2016, they kept Cousins, McCoy, and Nate Sudfeld. 2017 was an outlier, in this regard. The team cut Sudfeld after preseason and went with two, instead.
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It’s anyone’s guess what the Washington Redskins do with their last two quarterbacks. Both Kevin Hogan and Colt McCoy are on the final year of their respective contracts, and neither will incur much dead cap if cut. Furthermore, the Washington Redskins barely gave up anything to acquire Hogan. All it took was a sixth-round pick swap with the Cleveland Browns.
Colt McCoy has far more experience in the system than Hogan does, but with a quarterback like Alex Smith, who will soon be 34 years old, it would be smart for the team to err on the side of the younger quarterback, if they’re forced to choose one or the other.
Hogan has his flaws; he needs to work on his throwing motion, and he doesn’t have as much experience as McCoy. But if the difference between McCoy and Hogan is minimal, and the team feels the need to open up a roster spot to reinforce another position, Hogan should be the choice, and the reason is simple; he has more of his career arc left to play out.
With his mobility, Hogan is a good fit for Gruden’s offense, and Gruden, a respected quarterback developer, can help Hogan work on his throwing motion. He proved to be a solid spot starter in Cleveland last year. There’s no need to give up on him so quickly. If comparable, in terms of camp and preseason performance, Hogan should get the edge over McCoy. And McCoy should get a chance to prove himself somewhere else, before his time runs out. It’s a chance he’s always wanted.
Running Back
Roster Projection: Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson, Samaje Perine, Kapri Bibbs
Roster Locks: Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson
Offseason Sleepers: Kapri Bibbs, Martez Carter
This position is very exciting to look at.
There are two roster locks at the running back position, and neither one should come as a surprise: Rookie running back Derrius Guice and third-down running back Chris Thompson.
Guice gives the Washington Redskins a true two-down back who can also come in on third-down and provide a little quickness and pass catching ability. Guice is the full package; he runs with a full head of steam, but at the same time, he has the short-range agility to make decisive cuts and throw defenders off guard. Combine these traits with Guice’s balance through contact and his innate ability to simply stay on his feet, and it’s easy to see why he’s penciled in as the starter next to Chris Thompson. He was a top-fifteen talent in the draft this year, and he fell to the Washington Redskins at No. 59.
Speaking of Thompson, the Washington Redskins’ third-down back is still recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered in last year’s Week 11 matchup against the Saints. Thompson has said that he feels confident about the progress he’s made, and he will likely be one hundred percent by training camp. That is important. Thompson was a dynamic weapon for the Washington Redskins last year, and if healthy, he will be one of Alex Smith’s favorite targets, as well as a schematic chess piece that can make Jay Gruden’s job a lot easier.
Guice and Thompson form the perfect combo. But who makes the roster after them. Samaje Perine seems unlikely to get cut. The Oklahoma product was decent as a part-time starter last year, and while he displayed lacking vision and burst, he was at least better than his counterpart Robert Kelley, in this regard.
The Washington Redskins will be forced to choose between Perine and Kelley, and common sense says that they’ll choose Perine. Perine is quicker, slightly more athletic, and he’s three years younger than Kelley. In a league where running backs decline faster than players at other positions, that age difference could be important in the decision making process.
After the injury issues at running back last year, the Washington Redskins may also choose to keep a fourth running back. This running back could serve as both depth and an occasional change-of-pace back, while also providing value on special teams, if need be. For our purposes here, I chose Kapri Bibbs. Bibbs, in a small sample size, showed impressive burst and running ability last year with the Washington Redskins.
Bibbs is almost as quick as undrafted free agent Martez Carter, and he has the NFL size that Carter lacks. That size could be key in the decision making process. The Washington Redskins had a 5-foot-8 linebacker last year named Nico Marley who impressed in preseason with his energetic play. As solid as Marley was against the competition, the Washington Redskins chose to cut him loose, without even so much as signing him to the practice squad. Measureables matter, and at 5-foot-7, Martez Carter might simply be too small for the Washington Redskins’ standards.
Wide Receiver
Roster Projection: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Jamison Crowder, Trey Quinn, Brian Quick, Robert Davis
Roster Locks: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Jamison Crowder, Trey Quinn
Offseason Sleepers: Maurice Harris, Simmie Cobbs
Everyone loves the storyline of undrafted free agent wide receiver Simmie Cobbs. And I don’t blame them. Cobbs, an uber-athetlic outside receiver with the skills and talent to win in the red zone. Many believe Cobbs should have been drafted.
But as exciting as Cobbs’ underdog story may be, the Indiana product has competition on the Washington Redskins receiving core. There are four wide receivers who are going to make the roster no matter what: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Jamison Crowder, and Trey Quinn.
Doctson, Richardson, and Crowder are self-explanatory. Doctson is entering just his third season, and he should break out if healthy, providing the team with an athletic No. 1 receiver. Richardson is the speed of the group; he can get separation with crisp routes, something Washington Redskins receivers struggled with last year. And Jamison Crowder will continue to work well in the slot.
After those three, the final roster lock is Trey Quinn. Some may say that Quinn isn’t a lock because he was selected with the final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. But, as I’ve said before, it’s not about the pick. It’s about the player. Quinn, standing at 6-foot-0, 202, is one of the most polished route runners in the 2018 draft class. He only had one year of starting production in college, but in that year, he showed fluid fundamentals and sure hands, two things Jay Gruden loves in his receivers.
Quinn was a fourth-round prospect in some corners, and after slipping to the final pick the draft, “Mr. Irreleveant” has a massive chip on his shoulder. Book it now; Trey Quinn will make the Washington Redskins 53-man roster.
After Quinn, however, the roster situation is murky. If the Washington Redskins keep six receivers, then there are four receivers battling for only two remaining spots: Brian Quick, Robert Davis, Simmie Cobbs, and Maurice Harris.
In this projection, I went with Robert Davis and Brian Quick. A year of experience could separate Davis from Simmie Cobbs, and Davis is faster at a similar size; at 6-foot-3, 217, Davis ran a 4.44 at the NFL Combine. That’s a special combination of size and speed, and the Washington Redskins can’t afford to cut him in this stage of his development.
Brian Quick, meanwhile, is the lone veteran in the wide receiver room. Set to turn 29 years old in June, he offers not only depth, but also special teams value for the Washington Redskins. The Washington Redskins wouldn’t have re-signed Quick to a one-year deal if they didn’t like we he showed on and off the field in 2017. With such a young receiving core, it’s important that there is some continuity. Quick could provide that, and more. People write him off as the one designated for the cut list, but there’s reason to believe the team is higher on him than most.
Tight End
Roster Projection: Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle
Roster Locks: Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle
Offseason Sleepers: Manasseh Garner, Matt Flanagan
The tight end position appears to be fairly set, barring any major changes by the Washington Redskins. Jordan Reed is the starter, and they expect him to finally be healthy this year. Whether that expectation comes to fruition is a different story.
As the No. 2 tight end, the Washington Redskins can rely on veteran tight end Vernon Davis for a while longer. He’s 34 years old, and nearing the end of his career arc. But he appears to still have juice left in the tank. It will be interesting to see how Davis and Alex Smith play together after reuniting in D.C. to re-enact their glory days in San Francisco.
Behind those two, Jeremy Sprinkle, a second-year pro out of Arkansas, is the final lock. With his blocking prowess and athletic upside, Sprinkle is an essential piece to a fragile tight end unit. He was already an anchor as a run blocker, and he could develop as a pass catcher this season. With Reed and Davis not guaranteed to return in 2018, that would inflate Sprinkle’s value exponentially.
The team, at this point in time, seems likely to keep three tight ends, but players like Manasseh Garner and Matt Flanagan, two former Pittsburgh Panthers, should not be forgotten as possible fourth tight ends. Garner has the size to contribute in a Niles Paul-esque role, while Flanagan is not only larger, but also three years younger. Neither is particularly likely to make it, but keep an eye on Flanagan; he has the measurables and reputation as a blocker that the team needs.
Offensive Tackle
Roster Projection: Trent Williams, Morgan Moses, Geron Christian
Roster Locks: Trent Williams, Morgan Moses, Geron Christian
Offseason Sleepers: Cameron Jefferson, John Kling
For purposes of building the best possible offensive line with the current personnel, I moved Ty Nsekhe to guard in this roster projection. However, both he and Tyler Catalina can play at tackle as well. But for our purposes here, there are only three tackles likely to make the roster: Trent Williams at left tackle, Morgan Moses at right tackle, and third-round rookie Geron Christian as the swing tackle.
We know what we’re getting from Williams and Moses. Both players are veterans who are solid in both pass blocking and run blocking. Williams, in particular, has been one of the best in the business for almost a decade.
However, neither player is fully healthy at this point in time, and Williams is nearing 30 years old, while Moses just turned 27. An immediate succession plan is not currently necessary, but it is time to at least start thinking about the left tackle position after Trent Williams. By picking Geron Christian in Round 3, they did just that.
Geron Chrisitan, standing at 6-foot-6, 315, has the size, length, and athleticism to become a starter at tackle down the road. He needs more development, in terms of his fundamentals and hand placement, but Christian has a lot of potential, and sitting behind Trent Williams, while learning from Bill Callahan, will prove to be a very good situation for him.
By drafting Louisville swing tackle Geron Christian, the Washington Redskins at least made it so that if Williams abruptly loses his ability to play, the Washington Redskins have a backup. And if Williams stays healthy, then the Washington Redskins have a young, high-upside tackle to develop for the future.
Let’s be clear about one thing: Geron Christian will not move to offensive guard. If anyone is moving to offensive guard, it is Ty Nsekhe. There’s no reason for any team, if they draft a developmental tackle, to throw that underdeveloped tackle into the left guard position. Nsekhe, who at least has limited experience at left guard, makes far more sense.
It’s unlikely that anyone else makes the roster besides those three, but Cameron Jefferson and John Kling are at least names to watch. The team has had Kling around for over a year now; Kling is a behemoth of a man who doesn’t offer much in terms of mobility. Similar things can be said about Jefferson, and while he is slightly smaller, he too has work to do, in terms of polish and footwork. Fast ascensions by fringe players have happened before, and so one should not count out these players until summer is over. But it’s unrealistic, to say the least.
Offensive Interior
Roster Projection: Ty Nsekhe, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Tony Bergstrom, Tyler Catalina, Sean Welsh
Roster Locks: Ty Nsekhe, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Tony Bergstrom
Offseason Sleepers: Kyle Kalis, Sean Welsh, Timon Parris
The Washington Redskins have said that they expect Ty Nsekhe to compete for the left guard slot this offseason, and with the subsequent selection of Geron Christian in the third round of the NFL Draft, it would make sense that they experiment with Nsekhe at that position.
Even at 33 years old, Nsekhe has the size and talent to earn the starting position in the short-term. With Nsekhe at left guard, the Washington Redskins could comfortably run with ascending second-year player Chase Roullier at center, and perennial Pro Bowler Brandon Scherff at right guard.
It can’t be understated how important Roullier’s development is in 2018. The Wyoming product impressed as a rookie in 2017, and he will get all starting snaps as a center in the offseason. If he doesn’t pan out, it will set the Washington Redskins back at the position. Luckily for them, however, they have several players in the wings who can play both center and guard. Tony Bergstrom is a reliable veteran option, while Iowa’s Sean Welsh is an underrated option as an undrafted free agent. Welsh has starting experience at Iowa, a school that’s known for churning out NFL offensive linemen.
The team should be expected to keep their starters, and after that, Tony Bergstrom is a lock. The team re-signed him earlier in the offseason, as he played well on a very short notice in 2017. Bergstrom can play center and guard, so his utility is useful there.
After Bergstrom, Catalina seems to have a slight edge; he was awarded a spot on the roster as an undrafted free agent in 2017 because of his versatility between tackle and guard. With experience under his belt, and an offseason to improve, he should be able to separate himself. As the sixth interior offensive lineman, Sean Welsh should be viewed as a candidate to knock out Arie Kouandjio, as the team released Orlando Franklin to make room for Welsh yesterday. Welsh is younger than Koudanjio, and at this point, the team may prefer his upside and versatility over the latter’s stagnant play.
Two options that shouldn’t be forgotten, in the midst of all the names, are Kyle Kalis and Timon Parris. Kalis, an undrafted free agent from Michigan in 2017, impressed the coaching staff, but was ultimately beaten out by Tyler Catalina due to the latter’s versatility. Kalis would be signed to the Colts’ practice squad, and soon after, he would be elevated to the active roster, starting two games at guard for the team. He did not play well, and soon after, he was released. The Redskins picked him back up. Timon Parris, meanwhile, is a massive 6-foot-6 guard who has extensive starting experience in the FCS. Neither player has the inside track at the roster. But neither should be forgotten, either. There are many unknowns surrounding this position group. Anything could happen.
Defensive Interior
Roster Projection: Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Da’Ron Payne, Tim Settle, Anthony Lanier, Ziggy Hood
Roster Locks: Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Da’Ron Payne, Tim Settle, Anthony Lanier
Offseason Sleepers: Phil Taylor, Tavaris Barnes
The Washington Redskins defensive line looks completely different in 2018. And that’s a good thing.
Coming back with Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, and Anthony Lanier as starters, the Washington Redskins knew they needed more going into the 2018 NFL Draft. They spared no expense on draft night, selecting Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne in Round 1, and then selecting Virginia Tech defensive tackle Tim Settle in Round 5.
The five linemen mentioned thus far are all roster locks, it would seem. In base 3-4, Allen and Ioannidis will for a devastating tandem at defensive end, and Da’Ron Payne can effectively function as both a defensive tackle and a nose tackle. Tim Settle will give the team depth and solid rotational flexibility at nose tackle, and Anthony Lanier, who registered 4.5 sacks in the final five games of 2017, should do the same at defensive end.
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We know who the top five defensive linemen on the roster will be. But what happens after that? There won’t be much breathing room for other options, and we’e already seen the Washington Redskins begin to phase out subpar talent. No one will lose sleep over the loss of A.J. Francis, and the same can be said for Terrell McClain’s release. But what should we make of the remaining options?
One would like to think that Phil Taylor can make the roster and defy the odds after a season-ending injury, but after the NFL Draft, his chances seem particularly slim. The Washington Redskins, with a scheme-diverse defense, don’t need more than two nose tackles, which they already have. This takes Ondre Pipkins off the table as well.
In their sixth defensive lineman, the Washington Redskins will likely look for experience to counter a young defensive core. Thus, the two likeliest options are Ziggy Hood and Stacy McGee. Don’t worry, Hood won’t be starting at nose tackle anymore, so the prospect of his retainment is less daunting. Hood is also older, and the team has made it clear that they hold a certain value in veteran leadership. That could make Hood a bit less expendable. And McGee more expendable. With Payne and Settle in tow, the Washington Redskins don’t need McGee’s versatility like they did last year. And they certainly don’t need his cap number, either. Thus, McGee could be a cap casualty in August.
One final payer to watch is defensive end Tavares Barnes. His odds of making the final roster are slim, but Barnes has the raw athleticism to warrant an extended look. He’s bounced around the league since entering in 2015, but if Jim Tomsula can hone his athleticism and improve his fundamentals, Barnes could be a sleeper on the 90-man roster.
Defensive End
Roster Projection: Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Pernell McPhee, Ryan Anderson
Roster Locks: Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Pernell McPhee, Ryan Anderson
Offseason Sleepers: Alex McCalister
The Washington Redskins seem fairly set at defensive end. Just as they have for three years now, Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith will line up on opposite ends and wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. Kerrigan doesn’t appear to be slowing down, on his way to one hundred sacks, and Smith, heading into a contract year, could be due for a breakout performance.
Behind the starters, the Washington Redskins have veteran Pernell McPhee, whom they signed in free agency, and Ryan Anderson, whom they drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. McPhee will be solid depth for the burgundy and gold. He’s never been a top-tier player in the NFL (his career high in sacks was 7.5 in 2014), but he’s been decent, and the Washington Redskins can settle for that from a reserve player.
Ryan Anderson is more of a wild card on he edge. The Alabama product didn’t make his way onto the field all too often in 2017, and there are serious concerns about whether or not he can effectively fulfill the role of a 3-4 outside linebacker. Coming out of college, Anderson wasn’t overly talented, and he certainly isn’t fast. 2018 is a crucial year for the second-round pick. If he doesn’t improve, then the team could begin the process of moving on.
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If the team isn’t confident in Anderson’s progress, then there are two options on the roster worth looking at: Alex McCalister and Davon Durant. The former demands far more attention as a possible roster inclusion. McCalister, standing at 6-foot-6, 240, has the length and athleticism that Ryan Anderson lacks. McCalister was a top performer at the NFL Combine in 2016, although he wound up slipping to Round 7 in the 2016 NFL Draft due to character issues. If the Washington Redskins feel they need help on the edge, then McCalister is one player who could give them that.
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.
Cornerback
Roster Projection: Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, Joshua Holsey, Greg Stroman, Orlando Scandrick
Roster Locks: Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau
Offseason Sleepers: Danny Johnson
Aside from left guard, the position of cornerback might be the biggest question mark for the Washington Redskins. Josh Norman is slotted as the starter on the outside, but who starts opposite him, and in the slot, remains to be seen. Those pieces will settle in the offseason.
On the outside opposite Norman, Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau are the most popular options. Dunbar, 6-foot-2, 197, has the edge, in my opinion, due to his length and his in-game experience, which he received last year when filling in for Bashaud Breeland. Dunbar played surprisingly well in relief in 2017, and it wasn’t a fluke. There were several weeks where he was asked to fill in, and he played like a starting caliber cornerback each week. Dunbar also has past experience as a wide receiver, which will help him stay one step ahead of his opponents. He knows their thought process better than any cornerback on the roster.
If Dunbar starts, however, it becomes unclear what the team should do with Fabian Moreau. The most logical option is to keep Moreau where he is most natural: On the outside. He could rotate in with Josh Norman and Quinton Dunbar, and that would be a quality option. However, just as the team did with Kendall Fuller, who played primarily on the outside in college, the Washington Redskins could try and move Moreau inside. But they have alternative options there as well.
Joshua Holsey drew praise from team staff in the offseason of 2017, and although he never got any playing time in the slot, that is where he projects the best. Holsey will have competition, however. Former Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick played primarily in the slot throughout his time in Dallas, and although he’s not as fast as he used to be, the team could settle for him there; they’ve done similar things with other declining veterans in the past.
Greg Stroman is also an option in the slot, and perhaps one that we should talk about more. On the surface, it might seem brash to talk about a seventh-round pick as a possible starter in the slot. But Stroman is not your ordinary seventh-round pick.
Stroman’s biggest knock is that he’s undersized. There are no fundamental concerns, or issues with his character and his game I.Q. Stroman may have been just a few pounds away from a fourth-round grade in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Stroman’s size (5-foot-11, 183) is an issue in the NFL, as it remains to be seen whether he can hold up and withstand solid contact on a regular basis. But he had no injury issues in college, and in terms of coverage ability, he was one of the best in the NCAA. Stroman is very quick on his feet, and he can change directions in a flash. With his length, he can easily blanket receivers. In the slot, he could be a very credible threat for opposing offenses. He would need to beef up a bit, in order to withstand the physical climate. But Stroman can play. And he has the talent to start, if things line up for him.
Another player who should not be forgotten is undrafted free agent Danny Johnson, out of Southern University. Johnson is undersized, standing at 5-foot-9, 181, but his instincts and playmaking ability cannot be ignored. He finished his lengthy career at Southern with 17 interceptions, showing that he has the ability to not only diagnose, but also make plays on the ball. He faces steep competition ahead of him, but if he can tack on some weight and impress in camp, he could find a way onto the final 53. Otherwise, look for the team to keep him around on the practice squad.
Safety
Roster Projection: Montae Nicholson, D.J. Swearinger, DeShazor Everett, Fish Smithson, Troy Apke
Roster Locks: Montae Nicholson, D.J. Swearinger, DeShazor Everett
Offseason Sleepers: Fish Smithson, Quin Blanding
Many early projections have the Washington Redskins keeping only four safeties, but I’m not so certain this will be the case. Injuries worsened this unit in 2017, and with several players providing contributions in multiple places, there is an increased risk for injury for safeties.
Montae Nicholson and D.J. Swearinger are on the field for defensive snaps, while DeShazor Everett will be a valuable holdover on special teams. The nature of the position demands that teams be ready if injuries occur. That is why I chose to keep five safeties.
The team’s starters, Nicholson and Swearinger, should form one of the better safety duos in the NFL, if they can stay healthy. That was the issue for Nicholson last season. When on the field, he could cover the width of the field in only seconds, and he has the length and I.Q. to be disruptive at the point of the catch. Swearinger, meanwhile, is an aggressive leader at the strong safety position. He is somewhat inconsistent in coverage, but he’s solid overall, providing steady run support and playmaking ability that hasn’t often been expected from that position.
Again, the key is staying healthy. If the Washington Redskins starters can do that, then they will be one of the better safety duos in the NFL. They could even be elite. But if injuries have their way again, then the Washington Redskins will be forced to turn to the reserves.
DeShazor Everett has the ability to play the safety position, but that’s like saying Patrick Ramsey had the ability to play quarterback. He did. But he wasn’t nearly consistent enough to keep the job. Everett isn’t nearly as bad, in that regard. But we know what he is, and he isn’t a player who can be counted on to maintain consistency on the back end. His niche is on special teams. Still, the Washington Redskins won’t cut Everett. They underwent substantial turnover on special teams this year, and they re-signed Everett as a result. He’s locked in as the third safety. But he is lacking in some departments.
Thus, two better options to serve as reserve players are 2018 fourth-round pick Troy Apke and 2017 undrafted free agent Fish Smithson. Smithson was elevated to the Washington Redskins roster late in the 2017 season. A production artist out of Kansas, Smithson came into the league a bit undersized, but he has the instincts and ball skills that teams look for from safeties. He still has to prove himself this offseason, but he has the traits to succeed.
Troy Apke has a better chance of making the roster if the team is forced to keep only four safeties. The team spent draft capital on Apke this year, and they are in love with his 4.32 speed. Apke may be underdeveloped, but at 6-foot-1, 200, he has traits that can be honed and strengthened with time. Torrian Gray has made traits prospects like Apke work before (See Nicholson, above). Apke can contribute as a solid special teamer right away, but he also has potential as a free safety, if he can work on diagnosing during plays.
One player who shouldn’t be forgotten in the safety conversation is Quin Blanding. Blanding produced on a massive scale in college, showing solid tackling ability. He has good size, but he’s severely lacking in terms of positional speed. Although it’s unlikely, look for him to possibly beat out Smithson. If Blanding doesn’t make the roster, he could quickly be brought onto the practice squad.
Special Teams
Roster Projection: Dustin Hopkins, Tress Way, Nick Sundberg
Roster Locks: Dustin Hopkins, Nick Sundberg
Offseason Sleepers: Sam Irwin-Hill
This position group should be easy to predict.
There’s no way that the Washington Redskins sign anyone other than Dustin Hopkins and Nick Sundberg at kicker and long snapper. The latter is getting older, and they could use competition for Dustin Hopkins, but they would have signed alternative players already if they planned on bringing anyone else in.
The only special teams position that may experience some turnover is punter. Earlier in the offseason, the Washington Redskins bought in Sam Irwin-Hill to compete with Tress Way. Way has more experience and is very likely to win the job against the Australian punter. But Irwin-Hill could win. We’ve seen crazier things happen.
Next: Analyzing the Washington Redskins veteran defensive linemen
Overall, the Washington Redskins’ 53-man roster looks strong right now. There are some areas of weakness, but few positions truly lack a starter, and almost every position has adequate depth, something they lacked last year. Agree or disagree with our roster projections? Be sure to voice your opinion in the comments below!