Ranking the Redskins’ impending free agents in order of importance

Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 09: wide receiver Jamison Crowder #80 of the Washington Redskins reacts after a play in the first quarter against the New York Giants at FedExField on December 9, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Washington Redskins have a lot of free agents in 2019. They’ll have to decide what to do with them and face some pressing decisions.

The Redskins have a lot of players hitting free agency in 2019. They aren’t facing a massive decision like they did last year when they let Kirk Cousins walk and traded for Alex Smith, but there are numerous guys on both sides of the ball that need to be retained. Or, at the very least, a decision has to be made on the status of a number of players.

On the defensive side of the ball, both Preston Smith and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix are hitting the open market. They play at some of Washington’s thinnest positions, so losing either could hurt there. However, they are also coming off somewhat underwhelming seasons, so the decision on paying both or neither will be difficult.

On offense, Jamison Crowder is a free agent and is coming off his worst season to date. Receivers are valuable in the NFL and the Redskins are thin at the position. But will the team end up overpaying for him? It’s possible, and that’s why they need to think long and hard about whether or not they want to bring him back.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the Redskins’ 2019 free agent class, starting first with the potential camp bodies.

LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 19: Running back Rob Kelley #32 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball while teammate guard Shawn Lauvao #77 looks to block against the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter at FedExField on December 19, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Camp bodies

I’m listing this as a classification for the free agents that either aren’t important for the Redskins or are easily replaceable. They had so many players join the team due to injuries last year that they have a lot of guys hitting the open market.

Of course, that’s not to say that these guys couldn’t be brought back on short-term deals. Some are still young and have talent, but they wouldn’t be considered priorities. If anything, they would be added to the 90-man roster on minimum deals and be given a chance to compete for a role with the team in 2019.

Offense

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Defense

Of these groups, Kelley and Flowers are arguably the most talented, and they could certainly be brought back. Kelley just wouldn’t have much of a chance to produce in a crowded RB room, so the team may opt to let him go. That said, Jay Gruden loves Kelley, so perhaps they would keep him. Marshall could also garner consideration as a backup RB, but he didn’t show well late in the year, so keeping him wouldn’t do much for the squad.

As for Flowers, he was a late-season addition for the Redskins and has 53 games of NFL but will only turn 27 in February. He had a great 2017 season with the Patriots as part of their run to the Super Bowl and had 3.5 sacks during that campaign. He could compete for a job with the team, so perhaps he could be a diamond in the rough that few are talking about.

LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 20: Wide receiver Maurice Harris #13 of the Washington Redskins makes a catch in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField on November 20, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

10. WR Maurice Harris

Harris really had a lot of momentum coming into the season. He performed well when given the opportunity in the preseason and had a chance to get on the field a lot, playing 45 percent of the team’s offensive snaps at receiver. Only Josh Doctson had more opportunity to see the field than Harris.

However, Harris’ season was merely decent at best. He finished the year with 28 catches for 304 yards. He posted close to half that production in one game against the Falcons. In the 12 games he played this year, he eclipsed 52 yards only once. And his inability to find the end-zone wasn’t encouraging either.

Simply put, Harris didn’t show anything to prove that he is better than a backup at the NFL level. And though the Redskins need some depth at receiver, Harris isn’t a priority to re-sign. The 2019 NFL Draft class is deep at receiver and the team can spend multiple picks and find an adequate replacement for Harris.

Harris could be brought back for the offseason, but there isn’t going to be any urgency to re-sign him. He wouldn’t be a roster lock for any team at this stage in his career. That said, because of his experience, he does have a leg up on the “camp body” type players, so that’s why he actually qualified for this list.

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 30: A Washington Redskins helmet sits on the grass before the start of the Redskins and Baltimore Ravens preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

9. OL Tony Bergstrom

Bergstrom has been a solid part of the team’s backup group on the interior offensive line. He can play both center and guard so that versatility helps him out.

However, in the grand scheme of things, Bergstrom is merely a replacement player. He is a middle-of-the-pack performer among backups and the team could stand to upgrade him.

This becomes especially true when considering that Bergstrom will be turning 33 before the start of the 2019 season. Bergstrom has no upside at this point, so he will only be what he is. And that is, at best, an average backup. They will probably look at some interior offensive linemen in the draft, so that might be the route to take if they let Bergstrom walk.

Still, Bergstrom has been with the Redskins for a couple of seasons and has 22 games and 11 starts with the squad. He would bring familiarity and continuity on the line, so the team should definitely consider re-signing him. He’s just not as big a priority as some of the team’s other free agents.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 16: Josh Johnson #8 of the Washington Redskins drops back during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on December 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

8. QB Josh Johnson

When the Redskins signed Josh Johnson to their roster as their fourth quarterback of the season, few expected him to do much. In fact, it was originally expected that he would just backup Mark Sanchez. Then, after the Sanchize collapsed, Johnson took over as the starter.

Johnson had a decent run as the team’s starter. He kept them competitive in a few games and didn’t really implode until the season finale. All things considered, he performed well in limited action, and he should get another chance to prove himself.

I’ve been an advocate of re-signing Johnson, and here’s what I said about that topic shortly after the end of the season.

Washington Commanders

"If the Redskins decide that they don’t like many of the options on the free agent market, it may behoove them to bring back Johnson. After all, Johnson would come very cheap and has a knowledge of the team’s offense. He may not be a consistent option if needed as a starter, but in this scenario, he would almost certainly be backing up McCoy. And if he was needed for a few games, he could keep the team afloat. That’s all you can ask for from a backup in the NFL. Re-signing Johnson wouldn’t be the type of home-run move that the team has been trying to make at the quarterback position for the better part of the last decade. But, he would provide some stability and in the case that McCoy went down, Johnson could at least keep the team competitive if he can avoid turnovers."

While Johnson could play a role for the team, it’s not necessarily important that they re-sign him. The team can rely on Colt McCoy as the starter or target one of the quarterbacks in the 2019 NFL Draft. They have already met with a number of prospects at the Senior Bowl, so they are clearly doing their due diligence at the position.

Also, it’s worth noting that Johnson is unlikely to be a hot commodity on the open market. He fits the Redskins system well, but they are pretty much the only team that the journeyman would have a legitimate chance of making. So, he can’t be considered a high priority as there won’t be competition to re-sign him.

NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 22: Dion Lewis #33 of the Tennessee Titans is tackled by Pernell McPhee #96 of the Washington Redskins during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

7. EDGE Pernell McPhee

McPhee’s numbers last season don’t look good on paper. He is an edge player, but he didn’t get any sacks. Still, he will be a key cog to bring back as a role player.

McPhee did a great job of setting the edge in a limited role and was solid against the run and the pass. While the numbers don’t indicate it, McPhee did some damage as a pass rusher thanks to his strength and length. That helped him to get in the backfield on occasion, and he helped to take attention away from the interior line. That opened up opportunities for them to get sacks, so that can’t be ignored.

Last season, the Redskins were able to get McPhee cheap. It’s probable that they could bring him back on a similar contract that pays $1.5 million or less to keep him on as a backup. He’s at the point in his career where he shouldn’t be playing a lot, but he didn’t even crack 20 percent of the snaps last season. If he stays in that role for the ‘Skins, it could be a recipe for success.

Of course, the counterpoint is that the team could move Ryan Anderson into McPhee’s role as the backup and draft another player to provide the team with far more upside at the position. There is absolutely merit to that strategy, especially in a class that has depth on the edge. But at the same time, you can never have too many edge rushers on the roster, so holding onto McPhee wouldn’t be a bad move.

This is especially true because of the unknown status of one Preston Smith. We’re not sure if he will return to the team (more on him later) so retaining McPhee will have extra importance if Smith departs.

LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 18: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins gets a hug from Jonathan Cooper #72 after rushing for a three-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Houston Texans at FedExField on November 18, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

6. OL Jonathan Cooper

Cooper’s path to the Redskins was certainly an odd one. He was once the seventh overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the notoriously bad 2013 NFL Draft. He was unable to make an impact there and was traded to the Patriots as part of the Chandler Jones there. He didn’t play a regular season game for the Patriots and finished the season on the Browns.

Then, in 2017, Cooper was scooped up as a low-risk, high-reward signing by the Dallas Cowboys. There, he turned into a serviceable starter at left guard and signed with the 49ers the following offseason. However, he didn’t make the team and hung around on the free agent market until the Redskins came calling midway through the season.

Cooper ended up starting four games for Washington after being signed off the street. And in that role, he was solid. He wasn’t a liability and seemed to be an upgrade over the injured Shawn Lauvao. Unfortunately, Cooper went down with an injury of his own and was forced to miss the rest of the season.

5. RB Adrian Peterson

Some may argue that Peterson should be higher on this list, and I could see that. After all, Peterson had a great season with the Redskins, posting over 1,000 yards and looking rejuvenated after looking washed up the previous season.

That said, Peterson’s importance will be diminished in the team’s offense next season. The reason for this is that Derrius Guice will be returning from the torn ACL that knocked him out in the preseason. The talented second-round pick out of LSU will likely be treated as the starter, and with more than a calendar year to recover prior to the start of the 2019 campaign, he should be in good shape to handle a full workload.

Though Guice will take over the starting job, the team would still probably like to keep Peterson around as insurance. Guice is coming off a major injury and Peterson did look good in the offense last year. So, a new deal would make sense for both sides.

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However, Peterson may not be willing to play second fiddle at this point during his career. He could wait on the free agent market to sign with a starter-needy team as he did with the Redskins last year. Running backs tend to get hurt frequently across the league, so Peterson will get a starting job at some point — if he’s patient enough to wait it out.

The other thing that is driving Peterson down in the importance category is that he struggled down the stretch. He averaged just 3.67 yard per carry on 124 attempts, including a 91-yard carry that skews the data a bit. Without that carry, he would have averaged just 2.96 yards per carry. While Peterson is still capable of putting forth strong efforts and big stat lines, he can’t do it consistently game in and game out. And that makes him more of a backup caliber player.

The Redskins are already fairly solid at RB, and if they wanted to add more talent and not pay Peterson, they could opt to pick up a late-round prospect in hopes of turning him into a contributor. Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson could also be used in tandem with Guice, so the team’s depth is solid. In short, re-signing Peterson would be nice, but it isn’t a necessity.

LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Jamison Crowder #80 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe #79 after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the New York Giants at FedExField on November 23, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

4. OT Ty Nsekhe

Nsekhe is the most underrated free agent the Redskins have to deal with. In fact, I considered slotting him higher on this list. He is a talented swing tackle that could start for a lot of teams in the NFL. And if the team loses him, they will have some decisions to make on the offensive line.

Without Nsekhe, the team would be forced to operate with Geron Christian as their top backup. Christian was a third-round pick, so this shouldn’t be considered a problem. However, Christian looked awful as a rookie before landing on Injured Reserve, and it will be hard to trust him in such an important role, especially considering the injury woes the team has had on the offensive line in recent seasons.

Trent Williams is still one of the best left tackles in the league, but he has been dealing with knee injuries for the past couple of years. The last time he played a full 16-game season was in 2013. So, the backup tackle is bound to see some action, especially considering that bookend Morgan Moses has had ankle issues of his own.

Because Nsekhe is a plug-and-play option, the team hasn’t had to worry about the backup tackle position in the past few years (save for when they were really decimated by injuries). If he is gone, they will have to rely on Christian or pick up a versatile super-sub like Dalton Risner in the draft to help out their line. Nsekhe’s potential departure would essentially open up a new need that doesn’t already exist.

It’s possible — if not, probable — that a team on the free agent market targets Nsekhe to be a starter. He may be 33 years old, but a desperate squad (or a contender) could opt to give him a multi-year deal to serve as a starter. And besides, he doesn’t have too much tread on the tires, so perhaps he could play a bit longer than the average tackle. No matter what, his decision will be a big one for Washington, as their line is one of the weaknesses that will need to be fixed this offseason.

LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 24: Wide receiver Jamison Crowder #80 of the Washington Redskins rushes for a touchdown in front of free safety Bradley Roby #29 and inside linebacker Todd Davis #51 of the Denver Broncos after catching a second quarter pass at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

3. WR Jamison Crowder

Two years ago, it seemed like Crowder was en route to becoming the Redskins’ top receiving target. Now, there are questions over just how much he is worth and whether or not the team will bring him back.

The Redskins were devoid of receiving talent last year, and Crowder’s absence played a role in that. Crowder missed a huge chunk of the season dealing with an injury and as a result, he had his worst season to date. He logged just 29 catches for 388 yards and two scores in nine games. He will need to improve greatly in 2019 if he wants to live up to whatever contract he ends up signing.

Jay Gruden spoke highly of Crowder earlier this month, per ESPN’s John Keim. Here’s what he said about Crowder’s ability and the team’s efforts to re-sign him.

2. S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Clinton-Dix is such a hard evaluation for the Redskins. On one hand, the team is devoid of talent at the safety position after cutting D.J. Swearinger. They still have Montae Nicholson, but if Clinton-Dix leaves, Deshazor Everett would be the starter. Everett is more of a top backup, as we’ve seen in the past, so that doesn’t seem like the best option.

Based on the players the ‘Skins have at safety, one would think that Clinton-Dix would be the top target to re-sign. And that argument could be made. However, there is one glaring problem that has to be addressed before the team makes a final decision on whether or not to bring back Clinton-Dix.

The problem? He wasn’t very good for the team last season.

Clinton-Dix came over in a midseason trade from the Packers and at the time, he was supposed to be the missing link to finish the team’s secondary. Instead, he was solid at times, but missed too many tackles and blew some coverages as well. He freelanced a bit too much, and it clearly cost the team.

The fact that Clinton-Dix was acquired midway through the season does have to be taken into account. But the fact of the matter is that his reputation didn’t match his play in the second half of the season. He definitely has the talent to improve, and the team should consider re-signing him because of that. But still, it’s tough to recommend paying big bucks to a player that didn’t perform well in his time with the team.

Still, the void at safety dictates that the Redskins have to make Clinton-Dix a priority. If they don’t land him, they’ll have to consider some of the other top options that will be available at safety this offseason.

LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 20: Linebacker Preston Smith #94 of the Washington Redskins celebrates a tackle against the Buffalo Bills at FedExField on December 20, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

1. EDGE Preston Smith

Smith is certainly one of the most polarizing players on the Redskins. In fact, he may be one of the most polarizing players on the free agent market. He has all the tools needed to be a successful pass rusher in the NFL, yet his production doesn’t quite match up with his skill set.

Smith has excellent length and athleticism and has been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks consistently over the course of the past few years. However, he had just four sacks last season and is prone to long hot or cold streaks. So in short, he gets consistent pressure and inconsistent production. That makes it hard to properly evaluate what he will be worth on the open market.

Regardless, Smith is still young (26) and should be entering his prime. If he can put it all together, he could be one of the better pass rushers in the NFL. But that’s just the problem. It’s hard to justify paying someone on a potential-based deal. And that’s what the Redskins will have to do regarding a Smith extension.

If Smith leaves, the team will have a gaping hole across from Ryan Kerrigan. Essentially, Kerrigan — who is no spring chicken — will have Ryan Anderson as his main partner. There aren’t any other options on the roster. The team would then have to get a replacement either in free agency or in the draft. That will be doable, both the draft and free agent classes are loaded at the position, but they will have to use a lot of resources to fix the position either way.

The reason that Smith is the most important free agent option is because of the ripple effect it could have on the team. They are already going to add talent at positions like safety and receiver in the draft, but the need on the edge won’t be nearly as pressing if they re-sign Smith. It will be fascinating to see what they end up doing with him, but clearly, he is the team’s wild card this offseason.

Jacob Camenker