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5 free agents that the Redskins need to target in the 2019 offseason

By Jacob Camenker

NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 16: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New Orleans Saints warms up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 16: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New Orleans Saints warms up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 11: Jordan Hicks #58 of the Philadelphia Eagles tackles Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 11,2018 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 11: Jordan Hicks #58 of the Philadelphia Eagles tackles Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 11,2018 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

. Linebacker. Eagles. Jordan Hicks. 4. player. 54

Linebacker might be a need for the Redskins. It also might not. There are currently a lot of questions about the linebacker corps, so at the very least, the team will have to explore potentially adding some talent to offset those.

Right now, the team ha slast year’s starters, Mason Foster and Zach Brown, under contract. However, neither really looked like a three-down player last year. As a result, both are cut candidates and Brown said at one point that the writing was on the wall for his time in Washington.

Meanwhile, Reuben Foster figures to slot in as a starter for the team, but he is currently on the Commissioner’s/Exempt list. It’s unclear whether or not he will be suspended, but it seems likely that he will be out for some time. If he does miss time, the team will need to have a quality starting candidate ready. Josh Harvey-Clemons and Shaun Dion Hamilton could be internal options, but they may want to add a sure-fire three-down linebacker to help solidify their front seven.

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With all that said, the Redskins should take a long, hard look at Jordan Hicks. The Eagles’ linebacker has been a key part of their defense and when healthy, he has been one of the league’s best linebackers. Last season, he had a career-high 91 tackles and three sacks, and he showed solid coverage ability. Pairing him and Reuben Foster long term would be a dynamic linebacker tandem.

Of course, there are also some injury concerns with Hicks. He has only ever played a full 16-game season once, and that came in 2016. Last year, he was limited to 12 games, but he still had stellar production. And when he was on the field, he was the glue that helped the Eagles’ defense stay together.

If the ‘Skins were guaranteed to need a linebacker, Hicks would be higher on this list. He’s one of the most talented players on the market. Plus, poaching him from a rival would be great, as the Redskins would strengthen their team while weakening the NFC East. Still though, the team may not want to spend big money at linebacker unless they know Foster is going to be suspended.

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