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Breaking down the Redskins defensive line depth chart for 2019

By Ian Cummings

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 15: Matthew Ioannidis #98 of the Washington Redskins celebrates a sack on quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers (not pictured) during the first quarter at FedExField on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 15: Matthew Ioannidis #98 of the Washington Redskins celebrates a sack on quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers (not pictured) during the first quarter at FedExField on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 22: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys tries to avoid the reach of Tim Settle #97 of the Washington Redskins in the first half at AT&T Stadium on November 22, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 31-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 22: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys tries to avoid the reach of Tim Settle #97 of the Washington Redskins in the first half at AT&T Stadium on November 22, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 31-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Redskins top backups

Tim Settle and Caleb Brantley

When these players are your top backups on the interior defensive line, you know you’re in good shape.

That’s not to say that either of them are proven at this stage, but both players are young, with very good potential to mold while learning under coach Jim Tomsula. Tim Settle turns just 22 years old on July 11, while Caleb Brantley, once an early-round contender in the 2017 NFL Draft, is still only 24 years old.

Settle is the run stopping specialist of the group, although he has some burst to him, and he could be developed into a rotational contributor in time. He made some strides as the 2018 season went on, showing flashes of disruption both as a pass rusher and a gap filler.

Brantley, meanwhile, has the athleticism, length, and play strength to exceed even those standards, should he respond positively to the coaching provided by Tomsula. He’s still very much a projection, but he’s reportedly been progressing well in offseason workouts. Jay Gruden said earlier in the offseason, per J.P. Finlay, that he had “high hopes” for Brantley. So far, the Florida product appears to be on the right path. He needed a work ethic overhaul in the NFL, and with Tomsula, he may have gotten it. It’s still early, but if he keeps developing, he could see out his potential and add to Washington’s explosive defensive line group.

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