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For the Redskins, signing Kevin Dodd doesn’t make a lot of sense

By Jacob Camenker

SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Kevin Dodd #93 of the Tennessee Titans pulls down Melvin Gordon #28 of the San Diego Chargers during the first half at Qualcomm Stadium on November 6, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Kevin Dodd #93 of the Tennessee Titans pulls down Melvin Gordon #28 of the San Diego Chargers during the first half at Qualcomm Stadium on November 6, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Former second-round pick Kevin Dodd was released by the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday. The Washington Redskins should steer clear of the former Clemson product.

At the top of Day 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Titans were on the clock. They had the luxury of taking any player they wanted. After adding right tackle Jack Conklin in the first round of the draft, the team turned their focus to the defensive side of the ball. They selected Kevin Dodd from Clemson in hopes that he would develop into a key part of their pass rush behind former Redskin Brian Orakpo and solid starter Derrick Morgan. That never panned out.

In two seasons for the Titans, Dodd recorded 12 tackles and a sack in 18 games. He spent time on Injured Reserve with a foot injury and never seemed to get into any rhythm in Tennessee. With a change in the coaching staff and former linebacker Mike Vrabel taking over the defense, 2018 seemed like a prime time for Dodd to break out. Instead, he chose not to report to training camp and that prompted the Titans to release him.

Dodd was certainly a disappointment as the first pick of the second round, but he still has some upside. And it seems that another NFL team will give him a chance to become a quality pass rusher. However, that team shouldn’t be the Washington Redskins.

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The Redskins could use some extra depth at the edge rush position. That is true. With Preston Smith and Pernell McPhee‘s contracts set to expire at the end of the year, having another developmental player to work along with Ryan Anderson would make sense.

However, Dodd was never seen as a great fit in a 3-4 defense. While Washington runs a lot of 4-3 concepts in the nickel, their base is a 3-4, so that would make Dodd borderline unplayable in that package. Unless they were able to move him to the five tech, they wouldn’t have a use for him on a good chunk of their defensive snaps. And if Dodd were on the field as the five tech, he’d be taking snaps away from guys like Matt Ioannidis, Anthony Lanier, and Jonathan Allen. And that trio has proven themselves more than Dodd.

It seems probable that Dodd will try to sign with a team employing a 4-3 base package (the Atlanta Falcons come to mind as a possibility). The Redskins could consider him as a camp body and try to get him to learn the rush linebacker position, but the motivation issues he had (i.e. not coming to training camp in a critical year for him) could make that a failing proposition. So, he would more likely be a sunk cost for the team. The Redskins are better off letting a guy like Alex McCalister try to make the roster as the fifth rush linebacker.

Even if the Redskins were desperate for depth on the edge, they would almost certainly place a call to Junior Galette before trying to sign Dodd. At least Galette would bring veteran experience and proven production.

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Dodd will almost certainly get a chance to play elsewhere, but he has to prove himself. The chance probably won’t come in Washington, unless Greg Manusky sees something in him and pounds the table for him.

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