Redskins: Measuring positions of need in the offseason of 2019

Moderate Needs

This is where the 2019 Redskins are: Drifting in an ocean of roster construction confusion and non-confluence. Six of the Redskins twelve main position groups can be classified as average or lower. The root cause? Aging players. Unsavory contracts. And a lack of uniformity. Over the past few years, the Redskins have added some good players. But they failed to build their roster with a future vision, and now the pieces don’t complete a full puzzle. The end result of addition without direction is confusion. Let’s sift through it.

9 – Tight End (C+)

It was one of the best tight end groups in the NFL not too long ago, but now, there is serious concern surrounding Washington’s tight end depth chart. Jordan Reed still can’t stay healthy, and it’s unclear if Vernon Davis will return for another NFL season after ending 2018 with a concussion. Jeremy Sprinkle is the only semi-reliable player in tow, and although both Matt Flanagan and J.P. Holtz have generated some excitement (Chris Cooley has tirelessly talked up Flanagan, and Holtz was recently extended through 2020), some more proven talent could certainly be added here.

A parting side note: The Redskins could part ways with Reed this offseason, and with relatively little dead cap – just $3.6 million, compared to what would’ve been $13.6 million last offseason. But per ESPN’s John Keim, Jay Gruden doesn’t sound like he’s in a rush to get rid of Reed. Expect the oft-injured, contractually cumbersome Reed to return in 2019, for better or worse.

8 – Cornerback (C+)

Washington’s cornerback situation comes with a few silver linings. Quinton Dunbar has clearly developed into starting corner, and with a full offseason to battle his nerve issue, he should be able to come back and effectively resume his starting role. With his combination of length, quickness, and mental preparation, he can truly be a No.1 cornerback. Fabian Moreau, while inconsistent, showed some growth as the team’s slot cornerback in 2018, and with two years left on his rookie deal, he should continue to develop. Greg Stroman also flashed as a top reserve, and it’s not brash to suggest that he could end up having an increased role with more development.

The brunt of uncertainty at cornerback for Washington regards Josh Norman. Norman recently turned 31 years old, and although he embarked on another fairly solid season for the Redskins in 2018, the cliff could come at any time now. His cap figure looms at $14.5 million in 2019, and if released, he’d encumber the Redskins with just $6 million in dead cap, compared to what would have been a whopping $22.3 million last year. With Norman, the Redskins are stuck wondering when their No. 1 cornerback will stop playing quality football. But without Norman, the Redskins would have to find another starter. This offseason, they must decide his future.

7 – Interior Offensive Line (C)

Chase Roullier is an able starter, but at offensive guard, the Redskins have some questions to answer. If he can come back from a torn pectoral, Brandon Scherff is still a borderline All-Pro guard. But a full recovery from that kind of injury is nothing to simply expect, and at left guard, Washington is still searching for answers. The team could try and trot out Jonathan Cooper, as he showed some promise this season. But after what came of the Redskins’ offensive line plans in 2018, hoping to luck into finding a solution shouldn’t be their go-to strategy.

6 – Offensive Tackle (C)

The Redskins’ tackle situation is deteriorating faster than some might be willing to realize. Trent Williams, almost the team’s sole claim of top-end talent, will be turning 31 years old in July, and he already has a lengthy, and recent, injury history. Ty Nsekhe, the team’s swing tackle, isn’t any younger, but he could almost challenge Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle spot, as Moses regressed substantially in 2019. And although Geron Christian is only in his second year, he did little to earn confidence in his short time on the field.

Knowing how the Redskins function, they could end up doing absolutely nothing at tackle, opting to stick with what they have. In that scenario, it would not be surprising to see the team’s offensive line crumble again in 2019. They may not want to admit it, but help is needed at offensive tackle, and sooner rather than later.

5 – Edge Rusher (C)

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Preston Smith might end up leaving the Redskins this offseason, and with his theoretical departure (Jay Gruden said the team would like him back, per J.P. Finlay, but his free agency has been acknowledged), the Redskins would have a void on the edge, opposite Ryan Kerrigan. Edge rusher is one of the most important positions on defense, as it directly impacts the passer. Thus, the Redskins need to add talent in that department.

It’s worth noting that 2017 second-round pick Ryan Anderson was productive in brief stints last year, but assuming he’ll develop to a starter’s caliber in one offseason is dangerous. Proven talent is needed in Washington on the edge. Bend and speed are the key traits to seek; those are two traits that the Redskins lack, and two traits that could complement Ryan Kerrigan’s brute strength and fundamental prowess well.

4 – Inside Linebacker (C-)

The Redskins predicament at inside linebacker is a two-sided coin in every sense of the word. On one side, you have a starter in waiting in Shaun Dion Hamilton, and a starter in waiting in Reuben Foster, if his legal issues are cleared. Josh Harvey-Clemons has carved out a role as a solid depth player who made several plays on running back spy duty. Zach Vigil adds to that depth.

On the flip side, however, Mason Foster, the team’s 2018 defensive captain, is a liability both on and off the field, who’s better off moved on from, and Zach Brown, while talented and committed to financially, has said that “the writing is on the wall“, pertaining to his future with the Redskins.

From a mental standpoint, the Redskins might need a clean slate at inside linebacker. But such a change comes with inevitable uncertainty. And even if Reuben Foster is able to play, he showed he couldn’t be consistently relied upon off the field in San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan said as much. There’s no guarantee he’ll find his way in Washington. If the Redskins have a chance to add speed, and smarts, to their defensive interior this offseason, they need to do it. Dion Hamilton is a promising start, but he can’t do it alone.

In theory, the Redskins could spend their 2019 first-round pick on any of the aforementioned position groups, aside from tight end. But these are not the most pressing needs. Those lie ahead.