Redskins sign former first-round defensive end Marcus Smith

We have a Redskins roster move to report, but it isn’t about a quarterback.

The Washington Redskins have had a disastrous second half of the 2018 season, from both a record standpoint and a personnel standpoint. Countless players, including more than half of their starting offensive line and their top two quarterbacks, have been lost for significant periods of time, and the injuries keep coming en mass.

At the start of the day, it was assumed that there would be only one addition for the Redskins in the next twenty-four hours: The addition of a quarterback. Many names were thought to be in the running, and there was even a report that the Redskins had considered Colin Kaepernick for the job.

But despite all the buildup, the Redskins first transaction of the day is not a quarterback addition. Instead, it’s a defensive end. Per Ian Rapoport, the Redskins have signed former Eagles first-round pick and Seahawks journeyman Marcus Smith.

Smith, 6-foot-3, 258, was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, out of Louisville. He played only three seasons in Philadelphia, notching just 4.0 total sacks over that time span. After that stint, he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks, and in a relief effort in October of 2017, he logged 1.5 sacks, showing a glimpse of his first-round talent.

That glimpse, however, would prove to be nothing more. Smith would finish the 2017 season with 2.5 sacks, and the Seahawks would release him well before the preseason of 2018.

Now, Smith will get another chance to prove his worth as an edge rusher for Washington. After losing Cassanova McKinzy to a torn pectoral, the Redskins had a spot to fill on the edge, but not necessarily an immediate need, as their top four options are still relatively healthy (although Anderson may miss some time with a minor injury).

Nevertheless, taking a chance on Smith’s potential, with four games left, isn’t a bad call. Smith ran a 4.66 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, so he has some athleticism that the Redskins’ rushers might lack. Unlocking Smith’s talent is a task that wasn’t achieved by two previous teams, and with Washington, it’s just as unlikely. But it’s a fairly risk-free move with the potential for greater rewards.

The signing of Smith throws the team’s quarterback situation under question. The Redskins had an open spot on the 53-man roster before the signing, but with Smith now aboard, there is no place for a quarterback. Jay Gruden said earlier today that Colt McCoy may not have to go on injured reserve, but that statement could prove to be false fairly quickly. The Redskins still need a backup quarterback. They aren’t done making moves.