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Redskins Training Camp Profile: LB Martrell Spaight

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 19: Tight end Greg Olsen #88 of the Carolina Panthers is tackled by defensive back Greg Toler #20 and outside linebacker Martrell Spaight #50 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at FedExField on December 19, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 19: Tight end Greg Olsen #88 of the Carolina Panthers is tackled by defensive back Greg Toler #20 and outside linebacker Martrell Spaight #50 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at FedExField on December 19, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 30: Zach Vigil #56 of the Washington Redskins forces Rod Smith #45 of the Dallas Cowboys out of bounds short of the goal in the fourth quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 30: Zach Vigil #56 of the Washington Redskins forces Rod Smith #45 of the Dallas Cowboys out of bounds short of the goal in the fourth quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Spaight’s main competition

Spaight is going to have a lot of competition for a backup linebacker spot on the Redskins roster. As it currently stands, the top six players on the unit all have a chance to make the team, so Spaight will have to perform at a high-level to lock down a roster spot.

There are two players who are definitely going to be safe in starters Mason Foster and Zach Brown. Both were inked to extensions this offseason and will return as the starting linebacker duo. Given how well they played last year in tandem, they should continue to have success in 2018.

Behind those two, the order of the depth chart is more of a mystery. However, it seems likely that second-year man Josh Harvey-Clemons will have a chance to make the roster. Harvey-Clemons was worked as the No. 3 linebacker during OTAs, and his excellent size and unique hybrid safety skill set should make him an ideal fit as a top backup. Given that covering tight ends was a major weakness for Washington last year, retaining him and using him in this kind of role makes a lot of sense.

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With that said, it seems that Spaight’s main competition for a roster spot will come from Shaun Dion Hamilton and Zach Vigil.

Hamilton is a bit of a wild card, as he is coming off a season-ending knee injury for the second time in as many seasons. If he can get fully healthy, he’s an intelligent player with a well-rounded skill set who could work as a backup and a special teams ace. Conversely, if he’s not fully healthy, he could end up on the PUP list or Injured Reserve to start his NFL career. But if he is ready to go, the sixth-round pick seems likely to make the roster.

That means that Vigil will be the main competition for Spaight. Both are very good run defenders who have some deficiencies in coverage. That said, Vigil showed a lot after being signed off the street last season and starting down the stretch for the Redskins. So, this battle won’t be easy for Spaight to win unless he can show that his cover skills are improving.

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