Washington Redskins safety grades for the 2018 campaign
By Ian Cummings
Deshazor Everett
No one’s calling for Deshazor Everett to start in 2019, but the Texas A&M product put up respectable defensive numbers in 2018, given his role with the team.
Before Week 17, Everett had only logged 65 defensive snaps, and just 13 in coverage. Primarily a special teams player (341 special teams snaps in 2018), Everett was only targeted once over the first sixteen games, while accruing eight total tackles. Had D.J. Swearinger not been released, Everett might not have received a grade in 2018.
But Swearinger was released, and Montae Nicholson was benched, and in a sudden turn of events, Deshazor Everett became the Redskins starting safety for their Week 17 matchup with the Eagles. And all things considered, he fared very well, looking at stats from Pro Football Focus.
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In the final game of the season, Everett received more defensive snaps than he had logged all season with 69, including 33 coverage snaps and 34 run defense snaps. Everett was targeted six times, and while he allowed six catches, he was a sound tackler, allowing just 52 yards on those catches. He also had notched an interception on an errant throw, making the most of his limited opportunities.
Everett has always done just that in Washington: He’s made the most of limited opportunities. While his efforts may never lead to a full-time starting job, it’s nice to have a competent all-around player in the wings at safety, especially with no starters set in stone for 2019. Set to turn 27 years old this season, Everett still has a few quality years left as a key reserve. And if the Redskins somehow decide to give him a starting opportunity, although risky, it won’t be a completely baseless decision.