Grading Redskins most controversial moves during roster cuts
Redskins cut TE J.P. Holtz, sign Matt Flanagan to the practice squad
This was one of the stranger moves of cut day for the Redskins. While Holtz wasn’t a given to make the roster, many thought he would have a chance to latch on as a backup tight end/fullback hybrid after putting on a great display during the preseason. He looked like a very solid blocker at the very least.
However, given the fact that Jay Gruden doesn’t value the fullback position highly, Holtz was cut by the Redskins. This wasn’t a major surprise as the team hasn’t carried a primary fullback since Gruden’s arrival. Still, some expected that Holtz would be signed to the practice squad, but he wasn’t.
Instead of keeping Holtz in the fold, the Redskins elected to keep Matt Flanagan. This was an odd choice, as Flanagan has a similar skill set to Holtz. He’s best served as a blocking tight end who could work as a fullback if needed. That said, Flanagan didn’t flash nearly as much as Holtz in the preseason, so the choice to keep Flanagan should be questioned.
Perhaps because Flanagan spent more time with the team in the offseason and is younger than Holtz, he was given the chance to prove himself and grow. Still, Flanagan’s ceiling appears to be as a blocker, and he didn’t look very good as a receiver. Comparatively, Holtz showed some ability as a pass catcher in the final preseason contest, so I thought that would work in his favor.
At the end of the day, we’re really splitting hairs here. These are two guys that could have been practice squaders, but one guy got the job and will serve as the team’s depth blocking tight end. Even though it’s not a big move, the Redskins could regret choosing Flanagan over Holtz if the team has to call him up to the roster this year.