The Washington Redskins haven’t lived up to expectations this season. They should look to make some changes this offseason, and these are three defenders that may have to go so the team can bring in some more talent.
We’re getting closer to the end of the Redskins season. It has been a disappointment. There are no two ways about it. Of course, injuries can be blamed for some of the issues, but they’re only part of the issue. Poor coaching, energy, and effort from the Redskins team have ultimately sunk the ship this year. And it may be time for a culture change in the organization.
This culture change could take effect in many ways. It may need a full overhaul of the front office. It could involve Jay Gruden going elsewhere as well. That said, the one thing that is certain is that the team will make some changes on both sides of the ball. There’s no doubt that they will add some new personnel, and the defensive side of the ball could see some serious changes.
Outside of the defensive line, the ‘Skins should be looking to find some upgrades in their back seven. They have a few starters that need to go elsewhere next season for a variety of reasons. While it’s not a lock that all three of these players will be gone, it seems possible — if not probable — that Washington will look to part with these three veterans.
3. CB Josh Norman
Norman hasn’t played well enough this year to warrant the Redskins keeping him around for another year. He is starting to regress a bit, and his cap number is just too big to justify keeping him.
This year, Norman hasn’t been a big-time playmaker. He has been decent in coverage, but not excellent. And his tackling ability has declined a bit, as he now looks to make big plays more than he looks to just make the stop. And that is an issue.
Norman would be a player that could be retained for another season if he was on a reasonable contract. However, that isn’t the case with him. Norman is due to see an $11 million base salary and $14.5 million cap hit. However, if the team cuts him, they would receive a dead cap hit of just $6 million, per Spotrac, so that would be a way to part ways with him.
Norman will likely get a chance to go elsewhere, but the Redskins just can’t afford him. If he was still playing like a top-10 cornerback, then it could be discussed. But this year, he has started to regress. And considering that he will be 31 before the start of the 2019 season, it’s tough to imagine that he will suddenly return to form moving forward.
2. LB Mason Foster
Foster has made headlines this week for all the wrong reasons.
First of all, he hasn’t looked good when on the field this year. In most of the games that he has participated in, Foster has been lost in coverage. He doesn’t have the instincts or speed needed to cover at a high level. At this point, he is a two-down linebacker at best who can succeed when coming downhill. However, if you leave him in space, he will find himself in trouble.
However, the bigger problem for Foster this week comes off the field. An Instagram account tied to his name unleashed some comments that attacked the Redskins fan based in a profanity-laced fashion. While Foster could have understandably been upset by the attacks he received from fans on Twitter, the response was still inappropriate and has angered the ‘Skins fan base. And that’s for a good reason.
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Of course, it’s also notable that Foster’s cousin came out and said that he was the one that sent the message that angered the Redskins fan base. The story is just a strange one, and it’s unclear what the whole truth is at this time.
That said, the fact of the matter is that Foster probably shouldn’t return to the team next year. He is a fine two-down option and potential backup, but the Redskins need to get younger and quicker at linebacker. They should give some other players a chance to prove themselves and potentially earn starting roles. The middle linebackers have been the biggest weakness of the front seven, so making no changes would make minimal sense. And letting go of Foster seems like a step in the right direction as the team looks to make their front seven one of the best in the NFL.
Again, Foster could stick around, but rest assured the Instagram exchange will also have an impact on him. Whether or not he was the one that sent the message, he was still involved with it. That will weigh heavy as the team looks to make some decisions about veterans on their roster.
1. LB Zach Brown
At this point, the decision to re-sign Zach Brown seems like it was a mistake. While he had done very well for the team in 2017, his season to date has been mostly disappointing. And even worse, in the past few weeks, it has become clear that his head may not be in the right place.
This week, Brown has said that he’s just “sitting here just doing what I’m supposed to be doing ’till it’s time for me to leave” and that the “writing’s on the wall,” according to NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay. It seems that he’s a player that knows his time is up, but at the same time, it’s poor leadership for him to basically say he’s just waiting for the season to end so he can go.
Brown was benched last week in favor of rookie Shaun Dion Hamilton to start the game. While Brown did eventually play, he obviously took issue with the benching. That said, the fact of the matter is that Brown has been woeful in coverage this year, so having him on the field at times has been a liability. Given that Brown had also missed practice time with an illness, it made sense to get Hamilton some reps to see what he could do in Brown’s place. But Brown took it personally, and that’s what led to his comments.
Frankly speaking, the Redskins need to get rid of the players that are somewhat over the hill or are turning into head cases. Brown could fall into both categories. It’s time for him to have a change of scenery and see if he can turn back into the Pro Bowl candidate he was in 2017. But either way, don’t expect the ‘Skins to hold onto him, given the savings they could get from releasing him this offseason. Especially after the comments he made this week about leaving.