Riggo's Rag
FanSided

3 free agent guards the Redskins should consider signing in 2019

By Jacob Camenker

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 30: Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates with Mark Glowinski #64 after beating the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 30: Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates with Mark Glowinski #64 after beating the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 11: A.J. Cann #60 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in action against Jarvis Jenkins #98 of the New York Jets during the first quarter of an NFL preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 11, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 11: A.J. Cann #60 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in action against Jarvis Jenkins #98 of the New York Jets during the first quarter of an NFL preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 11, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

52. . Guard. Jaguars. A.J. Cann. 3. player

The Redskins haven’t valued the guard position much in recent offseasons. They have taken a chance on athletic players in the past like Shawn Lauvao in hopes that they can turn into quality starters. If they take a chance on a player again, A.J. Cann could be an interesting pickup.

Cann was an early third-round pick by the Jaguars in the 2015 NFL Draft. The South Carolina Gamecock almost immediately became a starter with Jacksonville and in 60 career games over four years, he has made 59 starts. Getting a player with that type of experience is usually a good thing, especially considering that Cann is just 27 years old.

However, Cann has merely been an average player for the Jaguars. He graded out as the No. 45 guard overall last season per Pro Football Focus. That makes him a fine starter, but again, he is nothing special. Any team signing him would have to be replacing a worse player. And in this case, the Redskins are doing just that.

More from Commanders Free Agency

Cann committed just two penalties last season for the Jaguars and has averaged three per season over his four-year career. That’s not an awful number for an offensive lineman. However, he had his worst performance in pass protection last year, surrendering 6.5 sacks on the season. Of course, it’s worth noting that he was working with Blake Bortles and Cody Kessler at quarterback, but the Redskins will also have marginal quarterbacks starting in 2019. So, this would be the one concern with adding Cann.

Cann still has some upside and is better than the players the Redskins marched out to the position last year. For those reasons alone, he will intrigue them. That said, they can’t make the mistake of throwing a lot of money at him and viewing him as an above-average player. He can be trusted as a starter and fit in as a part of a strong unit, but the team should look to get him on the cheap if they decide not to pay up for one of the better options at the position.

Home/Commanders Free Agency