Why Matt Ioannidis could be used as a trade chip by the Redskins if needed

Matt Ioannidis has been a key part of the Redskins’ defensive rotation in the past two seasons. However, entering a contract year, there is no guarantee that the team is going to keep him.

The best pick of the Scot McCloughan tenure in Washington was Matt Ioannidis. The former fifth-round pick out of Temple spent his rookie season on the practice squad and as an inactive before playing a bigger role in his second season. He had 4.5 sacks in 2017 while providing great pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And in 2018, Ioannidis was even better, logging 7.5 sacks and operating as a key part of the team’s defense.

That said, Ioannidis is entering a critical 2019 season. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and at just 25 years old (26 next January), he could be poised to make big money on the free agent market following the campaign. If he can continue to be a great interior pass rusher, teams across the NFL will take notice and will consider giving Ioannidis a big deal in free agency. And that’s something that the ‘Skins may not be willing to pay.

In recent seasons, the Redskins have shown less of an inclination to keep their own free agents. Just this offseason, they let Preston Smith, Jamison Crowder, Ty Nsekhe, and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix walk and in the previous offseason, Trent Murphy, Spencer Long, and, of course, Kirk Cousins, left via free agency. So, it’s not a guarantee that they will try to keep Ioannidis, and it becomes even less likely when looking at the rest of their defensive line.

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The Redskins have two former first-round picks on their defensive line, the Alabama duo Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen. Both are under contract for at least three years (including the fifth-year option on the contracts of first-round picks) so they may be the long-term starters for the ‘Skins.

It’s worth noting that both Allen and Payne played over 75 percent of the team’s snaps at defensive tackle. Ioannidis played in 42.5 percent. And while Ioannidis is fantastic when he’s on the field, the type of contract he might command could be too much for a rotational defensive lineman. So, that may force the team’s hand when Ioannidis hits free agency, as they won’t have a big budget to retain him.

And for those wondering, when asked about an Ioannidis extension, Bruce Allen said there’s “nothing to say right now,” per ESPN’s John Keim.

With all of that said, the Redskins should consider using Ioannidis in a trade package during the draft. That’s not to say that they will do anything, but they could at least use him as a trade chip. Perhaps if the team targets Josh Rosen in a trade, they could throw Ioannidis into a deal with the Cardinals and defray the cost of the draft capital that they would give up.

If not that option, then the team could at least consider moving Ioannidis if they can get a third-round pick or better in return, as that would be better than any compensatory pick they could get for losing Ioannidis. That seems much less likely, but the team should consider it if Ioannidis leaving is a foregone conclusion.

If the Redskins did move on from Ioannidis now, it would give a chance for young players Tim Settle and Caleb Brantley to prove their worth for the team. The depth they have at the position is solid, so trading Ioannidis and getting an asset could be worthwhile. Still, it doesn’t seem likely that anything is in the works, but the team should at least consider trading him if a great offer comes along. But if not, he’ll continue to be a strong force for the Redskins’ defense.