Redskins: Riggo’s Rag Mailbag: QB depth chart, preseason, and more
By Ian Cummings
Quantifying quarterbacks
As is often the case with the NFL offseason, there’s nothing concrete quite yet. But there’s only one variable in every possible quarterback scenario for the Redskins, and that’s Kevin Hogan.
Kevin Hogan is, more or less, in control of his own destiny. The Redskins traded a conditional sixth-round pick for him, seeing his acquisition as a low-risk move with the potential for respectable dividends down the road.
If Hogan can impress, he can lock down a spot on the Redskins’ roster. At just 25 years old, he’s the youngest quarterback on the Redskins’ roster by seven years. If he shows promise, and Jay Gruden feels he can mold him, then Hogan could make a case to be the team’s next long-term backup. His starting hopes seem slim, at this point in his career. But he has the tools to stick around.
That said, Hogan has a couple factors working against him in his pursuit of job security. One is Colt McCoy. McCoy, with his experience in the Redskins’ system, is clearly the No. 2 quarterback. Upon the acquisition of Kevin Hogan, there was some speculation that he might steal McCoy’s job, but McCoy dispelled that notion in OTAs, taking all backup reps and connecting for big plays regularly, often with Robert Davis.
More likely than not, the Redskins aren’t getting rid of McCoy. The only spot Hogan can earn is the No. 3 quarterback slot. And he can do it, but he’ll have to play well enough to negate the second factor working against him: The Redskins’ roster depth.
This factor will be harder to work against. Unlike years past, the Redskins have an excess of depth at skill positions across the roster. Wide receiver, inside linebacker, and cornerback are areas clogged with talent. The Redskins could keep as many as four running backs, six receivers, and six cornerbacks, with a mass outlier not out of the question. This doesn’t bode well for Hogan. With McCoy already in tow, if the Redskins decide to keep a treasure trove at another position, then Hogan, the third-string quarterback, would be one of the most expendable players on the roster.
It seems simple, but that’s all there is to it. It all comes down to Kevin Hogan. Colt McCoy isn’t leaving, unless a perfect coalescence of factors spring together (Hogan plays so well that the team feels obligated to keep him, and they also want to stock up on excess depth). If Hogan impresses enough to stay, then the Redskins will keep three. If not, then Alex Smith and Colt McCoy will be the only two quarterbacks on the roster.
It’s all up to Hogan. In a way, that might be what he wants. But he has a lot of pressure on his shoulders.