2019 NFL Power Rankings: Who heads into summer at No. 1?
By Ian Cummings
No. 21 – Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a trendy pick to be a bottom feeder in the NFL in 2019. Two straight 7-9 seasons and an offseason that got off to a shaky start helped establish them as such. But from March onward, the Redskins righted the ship, and now, they’re in prime position to surprise a few people.
Now, that’s not to say that the Redskins are in contention to win the NFC East. They’re not. Not yet. But the team is more talented than national media gives them credit for, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Nestled inside that defense is a front four that could contend as one of the best in the NFL. The front seven took a hit with the loss of Reuben Foster, but Shaun Dion Hamilton has the potential to fill that hole well, and in the secondary, the team has a number of up-and-coming defensive backs, such as Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, and Montae Nicholson, to pair with Landon Collins.
Washington Commanders
If the defense reaches its full potential, it can be a vaunted group, and if the offense does the same, it can be a surprising unit. The unit’s effectiveness is contingent on health, which is never certain with the Redskins. And Trent Williams’ contract holdout further complicates matters. Assuming the team pays Williams and satisfies his camp, the offensive line is well above average, and the team has a new quarterback in Dwayne Haskins to help keep them afloat.
The biggest question mark for Washington might be their receiving core; they have no one proven in that area, and while a group with Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Cam Sims, Trey Quinn, Kelvin Harmon, and Terry McLaurin has potential, it ultimately leaves much to be desired, at the moment. Still, with new offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who’s expressed the desire to modernize the offense, one or more of those names could emerge.
The Redskins under Jay Gruden have been a predictable group. They don’t win much, in the way of meaningful games, but they often find a way to stay around the league average. With Haskins, a pro-ready quarterback, and a talented defense, the Redskins have a high floor, and they could make some noise. But coaches like Gruden and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky could limit the group, as they’ve done in the past.