The has been a lot of debate among Redskins fans about who should be the starter at No. 2 corner, Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau. While one will likely win, it’s okay to like both candidates.
Quinton Dunbar or Fabian Moreau. You have to choose one. That’s a sentiment that has been circulating lately about the Redskins battle for the No. 2 cornerback. Some fans prefer Dunbar. They like his length, experience, and the fact that he has improved in every year since coming to the NFL. Other loves Moreau for his athleticism, speed, and upside.
As a result, heated debates about who should be the starter have been taking place for a good chunk of the offseason. While one is likely to earn the starting role across from Josh Norman, the debate about which one is better is somewhat pointless. While some may prefer one candidate, it’s important to remember that both candidates are solid options and should be capable pieces in the Redskins secondary.
Right now, Dunbar seems favored to be the starter, which makes sense. The former Florida product came to the Redskins as an undrafted free agent receiver in 2015. Since that time, the team converted him to cornerback and he has grown in each season he has been with the team. At times in 2016 and 2017, he looked like a capable No. 2 corner, and there was even some hope that he could unseat the inconsistent Bashaud Breeland in the backfield.
More from Riggo's Rag
- What will Emmanuel Forbes bring to the Washington Commanders?
- Highlighting the best Commanders 2023 NFL Draft betting props
- 3 late Commanders rumors drawing buzz ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
- 4 bold predictions for the Commanders 2023 NFL Draft
- Commanders News: Chase Young trade, draft day, CB riser and Sam Howell
For the 2018 season, the Redskins confirmed that they preferred Dunbar by signing him to an extension and leaving Breeland on the market. That’s a sensible decision, given that Dunbar had a far lower average annual value than Breeland before the latter’s deal was voided. And since Dunbar was at least comparable to Breeland, that decision seemed like a smart one.
In 2018, Dunbar will get his chance to prove himself. If he succeed across from Norman and continues to grow, he should lock down a starting role in the team’s defense. And Dunbar looks the part of a starting corner with a 6-foot-2, lanky frame and very good speed that allows him to stay with any player on the field.
Some will argue that Dunbar’s potential isn’t as high as Moreau. This argument is often justified by pointing to the fact that Moreau was a third round pick who could have gone in the first round had it not been for a pectoral injury suffered in the draft process. This makes sense, but it’s important to note that undrafted free agents can often turn into high-quality NFL players as well.
Dunbar is one of them, and he should only get better with more experience at receiver. He could be similar to Trevor Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers. Williams was a receiver at Penn State who converted to corner in his rookie year of 2016 and has been excellent for the Chargers. Last season, he ranked as the No. 10 corner in all of football per Pro Football Focus.
Dunbar may not ever reach that height, but the point is that being undrafted doesn’t cap potential. It’s all about the player, and Dunbar has the skill set needed to be a quality starter.
Why Moreau could be just as good as Dunbar
I just sang the praises of Quinton Dunbar, but Fabian Moreau does have a case to be a starter as well. As mentioned in the previous slide, Moreau was a high draft pick and had a potential first round skill set. So, seeing him on the field for the first defensive snap of the season could work well for Washington.
Moreau has the makings of a very good NFL starter, and the main trait he possesses that others don’t have is speed. Moreau can keep pace with some of the fastest NFL receivers and has the 6-foot frame and instincts needed to defend passes at a high level. He didn’t get a chance to do that consistently as a rookie, because he was buried on the depth chart, but that could have been good for him.
While not being tasked with much aside from special teams, Moreau got a chance to develop with Torrian Gray. The Redskins defensive backs coach has done very well since joining the team and has helped some of the younger corners to develop. Notably, he was able to turn Kendall Fuller into one of the league’s best slot corners and has helped Breeland and Dunbar to steadily improve as well. So, it stands to reason that with a year of development under his belt, Moreau could be ready to make a big impact.
Moreau could start over Dunbar, or he could end up taking the slot role from Orlando Scandrick. Moreau has the speed necessary to keep pace with the quicker interior receivers in the league, so that could be an ideal compromise for the fans of Dunbar and Moreau, as the two would be on the field for a good chunk of the snaps.
The greater point of this whole piece is a reminder that both Moreau and Dunbar are solid players. Realistically, the Redskins can’t go wrong with whoever they choose. Either should be ready to start this year, and by 2019, the two could be the outside starters for the team.
Next: Redskins should consider signing J.R. Sweezy
Instead of debating which player should start, let’s just take a moment to appreciate what Washington has. They have two players who could be ready to be capable starters and they will pick one to handle the job at some point during the preseason. But for now, it’s more than okay to like both of them and hope that they both will succeed.