Washington Redskins defensive line goes from short-staffed to stacked
By Ian Cummings
“The Washington Redskins had the No. 32 ranked run defense in 2018.”
This was the most overused quote in the pre-draft process, cherry-picked by countless media outlets to accentuate the Washington Redskins’ need for a new defensive lineman.
Yes, the Washington Redskins needed a new defensive lineman after the end of last year, but they were far from terrible in this area. Before Jonathan Allen was lost for the season with a foot injury, he and Matt Ioannidis were one of the top defensive lineman duos in the NFL, backed up by solid depth players such as Anthony Lanier and Stacy McGee.
Of course, the Washington Redskins’ defensive linemen couldn’t stay healthy, and by the end of the season, players such as Terrell McClain, Ziggy Hood, and A.J. Francis were taking meaningful snaps.
The Washington Redskins didn’t have a bad defensive line. They were simply short-staffed. While nabbing a first-round talent wasn’t necessary, the value of a strong rotation cannot be overstated, as the Philadelphia Eagles taught the league last year.
That’s why, when the Washington Redskins picked at No. 13 overall, they went with Daron Payne, a strong, high-upside lineman with the ability to play both 3-4 end and tackle. A literal perfect fit.
But the Washington Redskins didn’t stop there. In the fifth round, when Virginia Tech standout Tim Settle remained on the board, the Washington Redskins didn’t hesitate to add an immediate influx of depth on the defensive line. They drafted him, and after the conclusion of the draft, their defensive line was completely restructured.
The defensive line wasn’t necessarily a weakness ahead of the NFL Draft; it was an area of improvement, but it had pieces in place. The puzzle was completed in the subsequent NFL Draft, and as a result, the Washington Redskins have gone from short-staffed to stacked in just one offseason.
Next: Rookie Comparison: Derrius Guice vs. Saquon Barkley
With Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, and Daron Payne starting in base 3-4 alignments, with Tim Settle, Anthony Lanier, and Stacy McGee rotating in, the unit has a much better look; it legitimately has the potential to be a top ten defensive line this year. Injuries will no longer bear as much weight, and it’s unlikely that the Washington Redskins will be as unlucky in 2018 as they were last season. Subsequently, the “No. 32 ranked run defense” moniker shouldn’t stay long, either.