The Washington Redskins did a lot to add talent to their roster during the 2018 offseason. Here’s a look at who their most impactful additions will be.
Rosters are never built in just one offseason. They’re built as an amalgamation of several offseasons, drafts, contract extensions, and free agent signings that can help to build a contender. That said, the 2018 offseason was a great one for the Washington Redskins, and it continued a trend of two consecutive strong offseason performances.
The Redskins appear to be on the verge of becoming a playoff contender, and that is largely thanks to the players they have added. After all, they already had a solid (albeit injury riddled) roster in 2017. They only needed to fix a few positions in order to make a big impact on their squad.
They did just that, and now, it will be time for these new acquisitions to step up and make a big impact. Here’s a look at the top five of those acquisitions, and how quickly they will be able to make a difference for the Washington Redskins franchise.
Of the offseason acquisitions that Washington has made, Pernell McPhee is one of the more under-the-radar players. The former Chicago Bear signed a very cheap deal to come to the Redskins and essentially replace Junior Galette. In terms of fit, the team couldn’t have picked a better player.
Over the course of his NFL career, McPhee has thrived as a rotational pass rusher, and even was a solid starter at times. From 2014 to 2017, McPhee recorded at least four sacks in every season. This may not seem great, but considering that he only played in 52 games with 17 starts during that time, it’s fairly good.
McPhee is going to take over Galette’s role from 2017 as the primary backup pass rusher. Galette thrived in this role spelling Preston Smith and Ryan Kerrigan, and he did a lot to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. McPhee is built a little differently than Galette, and relies more on strength than athleticism to be a great pass rusher, but he should be able to have similar results while playing next to a couple of star edge men.
The big question surrounding McPhee will always be about his health. He missed 12 games over the past three seasons with the Bears, and was at less than 100 percent for several other contests. He has to make sure that he can stay on the field. And if he can, that will be a positive for the Redskins.
McPhee is going to have an impact in a different way than most on this list. He’s going to seamlessly replace a player who was excellent for the team last year. McPhee has the skills necessary to do this, and he should continue to keep the Redskins pass rush strong for another season. Their rotation will continue to be very good with him on board.
The Redskins were missing one element from their passing offense last season. That was speed. Though they had some solid options in the receiving corps, they couldn’t really consistently get open because the team lacked a deep threat.
Paul Richardson is going to provide the team with that. Richardson was signed to a monster five year, $40 million deal to leave the Seahawks and join the squad. It’s obvious that Washington has big plans for him, and they could view him as a replacement for the departed DeSean Jackson.
Richardson has a unique skill set that I have spoken of before. In an article breaking down his playing style, I said the following of his speed and catching ability.
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 description has shades of Odell Beckham in it. Now, I’m not saying that Richardson is going to have a Beckham like impact on the Redskins, but he certainly offers more than just speed, unlike Jackson. Richardson will look to make crazy contested catches and will certainly have some “wow” moments during the 2018 campaign.
Pairing Richardson with Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, and a fresh face at quarterback should give the team a chance to build a solid receiving corps like it had in 2016. Richardson will have a big impact on the squad, and it’s possible that he could end up being their No. 1 receiver.
Derrius Guice was a steal for the Redskins late in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Guice should have been an early second round pick, but he slipped due to perceived character concerns that were reported. Despite this, nothing ever came of the rumors, and Guice has been a model citizen since arriving in D.C. In fact, he’s been a lot more than that.
Guice truly is a man of the people, and he has stopped at nothing to interact with fans and spend quality time with people around the area. He invited a group of fans to the movies, was at one of the Capitals watch parties, and has interacted with seemingly every fan he comes across. In terms of community impact, Guice has already done a great deal, and it seems that he will continue to embrace the fans. And all that has been done without even stepping on anything but the practice field.
And that’s the best part. Once Guice is on the field, he figures to be a potential three-down back. Guice has good strength, runs with balance, and has the ability to elude runners as a result. He’s the type of back who is above average in almost everything, but has no elite skill. And that’s not a knock on him. That just means that he’s a very well-rounded player with the potential to grow.
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The Redskins ground game has lacked a lead for the past few seasons. Alfred Morris was a great runner during his first few years in Washington, but he tapered off as time went along. Neither Matt Jones or Rob Kelley proved to be a quality option for the team as the starter either. Jones is no longer on the team while Kelley is fighting for a roster spot.
Guice should be the type of back who can come in and earn the starting job right away. Jay Gruden spoke frequently of his desire to improve the position this offseason, and Guice seems to fit the mold of what the Redskins want to do. They want a guy who can play all three downs and allow them to mix in Chris Thompson as needed. And Guice will allow them to do that.
The only reason that Guice comes in at No. 3 on this list is because it’s still uncertain whether or not he will begin the year as the starter. While many believe that to be a foregone conclusion, Gruden has rolled with veteran options over more promising rookies in the past couple of seasons. For the first month of 2018, it’s possible that we could see a committee approach featuring Guice, Thompson, and Samaje Perine leading the charge. So, that may delay the impact that Guice can make on the squad by just a bit.
Make no mistake. Guice is ready to play and should be a great NFL running back. He will give the Skins something they have needed for a long time: stability at running back. It’s just a matter of whether or not he will be getting 10 touches a game or 20 touches a game to start the season.
I know what you’re thinking. Alex Smith was the biggest acquisition of the Redskins offseason. How can he possibly be ranked at No. 2 overall in terms of instant impact? Well, as good as Smith is, and as great as the reviews have been coming out of practice, there is one thing that is keeping him lower on this list.
The player that Smith replaced is Kirk Cousins. While Smith’s stats and penchant for avoid mistakes are extremely appealing and give him an edge over Cousins, the fact is that he is not a massive upgrade over him. He’s definitely an upgrade, but Cousins is at least comparable to Smith.
Where Smith has the advantage over Cousins is his ability to push the ball downfield while avoiding turnovers. While both quarterbacks were very accurate, Cousins struggled with untimely turnovers especially in the red zone. That did cost the Redskins a couple of games, but that gunslinger mentality also has led Cousins to some come-from-behind victories during his time with the team, including a beautiful victory over the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.
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Still, Smith is the safer option of the two quarterbacks. Week in and week out, you know what you are going to get from him. He’ll complete a lot of passes, avoid turnovers, and settle for plays that give the team a chance to win. He’s not always going to be a big time playmaker, and often he will throw a ball away as opposed to making a risky throw. But that may be refreshing for Washington fans who remember Cousins’ late picks against the Dallas Cowboys and other top caliber opponents.
Smith is the cheaper option who can be better than Cousins when he’s at his peak. His playoff record doesn’t inspire many, but the fact that he has gotten the Chiefs and 49ers there so many times speaks volumes about his abilities as a leader and a passer. And with a strong supporting cast like what he has in Washington, he could go on a bit of a run if he can get the team through the crowded NFC.
While the acquisition of Smith will have a big impact on the team, it may not have as much of an impact as one other acquisition the team made.
At the time of the pick, getting Daron Payne may not have seemed like the top value for the Washington Redskins. They had been rumored to like Vita Vea better and though he was off the board, stud safety Derwin James was still available. After an initial outpouring of distaste for the Payne selection, Redskins fans have come to love the idea of selecting him. And it’s easy to see why.
Of all the Redskins offseason additions, Payne has the potential to be the most impactful. The weakest part of the Redskins team was their nose tackle position. They have struggled to fill that hole for many years, and for the past couple of years, Ziggy Hood was forced to play out of position there. But with Payne, that will all change.
Payne gives Washington a legitimate run stuffer to plug in on the inside. He’s played alongside Jonathan Allen before in college, so that duo will have instant chemistry. And while Payne didn’t have great pass rushing numbers in college, he has the immense athletic upside to make him successful in that regard in the NFL.
From day one, Payne will be a starter with the Redskins. And he has the potential to make their defense a top 10 unit. When fully healthy last season, the Redskins were teetering on the brink of an above average stop unit with an average run defense. The addition of Payne will only elevate them, as they have no glaring weaknesses on that side of the ball. In fact, the only uncertain position at the moment is the No. 2 cornerback spot.
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Payne was an excellent pick by the Redskins. He fits what they need perfectly and should become a solid starter immediately. He pushes the defense into the top ranks, and it will be great to see what he can accomplish, especially with Jim Tomsula teaching him.