The Washington Redskins have had a great 2018 offseason. Here’s a look at what their top five moves have been.
In the past couple of offseasons, the Washington Redskins have done well to add quality players to their roster. For the past couple of years, the team has put together two very good drafts and they have made some low-risk free agency signings as well. And the 2018 offseason was one of their best in recent memory.
The Redskins were able to add a few contributors to their roster in free agency, retain some key players, and gain some great rookies in the draft. The front office deserves praise for their efforts, and it’s clear that the team is in good hands right now.
As time goes on, more will be known about the players involved in the 2018 offseason. For now, here’s a look at the top five acquisitions that the Redskins made during the spring.
5. Retaining both starting linebackers Mason Foster and Zach Brown
One of the top story lines regarding the Redskins internal free agents came at the inside linebacker position. The team was set to have their top three players at the position, Mason Foster, Zach Brown, and Will Compton, hit the free agent market, and they needed to re-sign one at the very least if they wanted to stay competitive at the position.
And they did just that. They were able to retain Foster on a reasonable deal and they also inked Brown to a solid deal. The Brown deal was a big move, as many were wondering whether or not that deal would get done. By retaining those two, they were able to keep their starting linebacker corps in place, and they have nice depth behind them as a well.
Zach Vigil played well after being added midway through the season, and he figures to be a solid backup. Elsewhere, Martrell Spaight and Josh Harvey-Clemons both have potential, though the former may cede his roster spot to Shaun Dion Hamilton, who was taken in the sixth round.
By, retaining two starters at linebacker, the team avoided having to spend an early pick on the position in the draft. They were able to focus on other areas early and added a high upside guy like Hamilton in the later rounds.
Of all the free agents to retain, Brown and Foster were probably the most important duo. Given the heightened importance of three-down, non-pass rushing linebackers in the NFL, keeping the two starters for multiple years makes sense. Thus, the importance of re-signing both Brown and Foster can’t be overstated.
4. Selecting NT Da’Ron Payne with the No. 13 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft
The first pick of the 2018 draft drew a bit of a mixed bag of emotions for Redskins fans at first. When the team selected Da’Ron Payne with the No. 13 pick, it was clear what the team had done. They had shored up a glaring need at nose tackle and added talent to their defensive line. However, some fans were miffed that a supposedly superior prospect was on the board.
The player I’m talking about is Derwin James. The Florida State safety was long considered to be a potential target of the Redskins by fans and analysts, but in reality, his fit in the defense would have been a bit questionable. While James played slot corner and safety in college, the team would have had trouble working out how and where to use him. They needed a player who could play outside and slot corner, but James didn’t project to be that type of option. He was more of a hybrid safety who would have had to fight D.J. Swearinger and Montae Nicholson for playing time.
Realistically, the team was only interested in selecting Minkah Fitzpatrick as an early defensive back because he could play any position in the secondary. When he went off the board at No. 11, it was clear that the team was going to go with a defensive lineman. And when Vita Vea came off the board a pick later, that made Payne the man.
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Payne has excellent athletic ability, and he was a force during the Crimson Tide’s run to the College Football Playoff. He played with current teammate Jonathan Allen for a couple of years, and now the two will create a fierce, athletic interior rushing tandem to help break down the pocket. And that could work wonders for the Redskins front seven.
Patching a major weakness with a top prospect at a position is always a good move. By adding Payne, the Redskins patched their biggest need. They doubled down by adding Tim Settle later, and it appears that their defensive line rotation is fixed. That began with the Payne selection and as a result, that makes him a top acquisition for the 2018 offseason.
3. Signing Paul Richardson to serve as a speed wide-out
If there was one thing that Washington had to add to their offense this season, it was a solid receiving option for their wide receiver group. In 2018, the unit struggled badly with drops and ineffective play. They had no game-breaking threats, as Jamison Crowder regressed because Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson were no longer around. They had to change that in 2018.
Getting Paul Richardson will certainly help in that regard. Though Richardson was just a one-year wonder with the Seahawks, the former second round pick was given a five year, $40 million deal to join the Redskins. And he fits what the Redskins need to a tee.
After Richardson signed with the Redskins, I said the following of his abilities as a receiver, and how his athleticism will greatly help the team’s passing game.
FanSided
"Many will point to Richardson’s speed as his greatest strength, and that certainly is one. However, in the wake of his ACL tear, Richardson has learned to play with more than just speed. Now, the more impressive parts of Richardson’s athletic arsenal are his quickness and body control. Richardson uses his quickness in routes to gain separation with sudden movements. This allows him to get to open space where he can make a catch and then utilize his speed to his advantage. In terms of body control, Richardson is able to move his body in ways that allow only himself to catch the ball. He can contort his body in borderline unimaginable ways to toe-tap inbounds and get catches that other receivers may not be able to get. Also, the way he can move his arms and utilize his hands gives him a massive catch radius, thanks to his flexibility."
This is something that Alex Smith will love having. Richardson will be able to make some insane catches and he will do a lot to provide the Redskins with a top receiving threat. With Richardson as the speed threat, Josh Doctson as the possession receiver, and Crowder manning the slot, the Redskins would appear to be in solid shape at the receiver position.
Richardson came at a hefty price tag, but he was the team’s biggest acquisition in free agency. And it stands to reason that he should have a good chance to succeed in Washington’s iffebsuve system.
2. Landing RB Derrius Guice in Round 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft
Throughout the lead-up to the draft, many Redskins fans were clamoring for Derrius Guice. They felt that the LSU running back was one of the most powerful runners in the draft, and that his mix of power and elusive ability would make him a great lead back at the NFL level. While this delegation did have a point, there was one major concern.
Guice wasn’t worth the No. 13 pick. In no circumstance would it have made sense to take him in the top 20 and maybe the top 25. So, the team was looking at the possibility of having to move up and get him, or trade down from their No. 13 pick to get maximum value. But in the end, it turns out the team was able to pull off an even better move.
Guice slipped in the draft due to concerns about how he had performed in the pre-draft process. Rumors came out regarding lies he had told about being asked inappropriate questions at the Combine, and there were also some reports of Guice getting into arguments during his pre-draft visits. It’s possible that these concerns could have been overblown, but that definitely caused him to slip.
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Had the draft fallen normally, without the concerns about Guice’s character, then he probably could have been a first round pick. As it stands, he was the seventh running back taken overall. And the Redskins were able to trade down to get him while picking up a third round pick. That’s a huge get for the squad, as they got a player they would have considered in the early second round with one of the later picks in the round. That was a smart move by Doug Williams and Bruce Allen, and they deserve credit for it.
For the Redskins, Guice will probably come in and be the starting running back from day one and onward. They really needed to find a true workhorse back with some power, especially after Matt Jones and Rob Kelley had failed in those roles in the previous two seasons. It also helps Guice’s cause that he can complement Chris Thompson well, so they will be an ideal tandem to use in game.
Overall, getting Guice in Round 2 and picking up a Round 3 selection was an excellent move. The Redskins could have gotten the steal of the draft in Guice, and being able to land their top targets in Guice and Payne was a huge get for the team this offseason.
1. Acquiring QB Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs
This obviously had to be the top move. Once it became increasingly clear that Kirk Cousins wasn’t going to re-sign with the Redskins, the team had to find a replacement at quarterback. Though the 2018 draft was loaded with potential high-quality passers, it wasn’t guaranteed that any would fit the Redskins or make it to their pick. So, the team had to make a move to acquire somebody to man the most important position on the field.
And they did just that. In terms of talent, Alex Smith may not be a huge upgrade over Cousins. In fact, he may be a slight downgrade. But, the point is simple. Smith is a veteran, stopgap option who is coming off one of the strongest seasons of his career. He has proven to be successful in the regular season, and there’s a chance that he could help get the Redskins to the postseason. So, in that regard, he should still be viewed as a solid player.
The fact of the matter is that if Cousins left the Redskins, they were going to be hard pressed to find an adequate replacement. Though the market was saturated with potential options, only one came with a consistently solid pedigree and virtually guaranteed assurance that he would perform well in a new location. That was Smith. The Redskins could have taken a chance on a rookie or opted to pay Case Keenum big bucks, but trading for Smith was almost certainly the right move, as he was the safest, best quarterback option available aside from Cousins.
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Getting Smith was a big, costly move. But when you get a quarterback you’re confident in, it’s a good move. The Redskins deserve credit for bringing in Smith, and the coaching staff and fans alike are excited to see what he can do once he dons the burgundy and gold in 2018.