Breaking down the Redskins edge rusher depth chart for 2019

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 28: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Redskins reacts after sacking Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium on October 28, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Redskins 2019 starters at edge rusher

Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat

Preston who?

The Redskins may miss Preston Smith’s multi-faceted skill set early on, but Montez Sweat has the physical traits to match, and exceed, Smith’s impact early on in his career. Perhaps, in his rookie season, we’ll see that upside.

Before we get into the details on Sweat, however, let’s talk about what’s already there, in the starting lineup at edge rusher. Ryan Kerrigan, who’s set to turn 31 years old in August, is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season, a year in which he nearly matched his career high in sacks with 13.0, and added three forced fumbles to his whopping career total of 25.

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Kerrigan simply continues to produce, and now, he’s a couple more good years shy of eclipsing the century mark in sacks, a feat only 32 players in the history of the NFL have matched. Kerrigan doesn’t flash on screen, but in a sense, that only makes him more dangerous. With subtle technical dominance and brute, focused strength, Kerrigan is able to consistently out-muscle linemen. And with his understanding of leverage and points of advantage, he can continue to produce, even after his body starts to deteriorate in the coming years.

Even with that deterioration on the horizon, Kerrigan’s style of play isn’t reckless, and if anything, it preserves his prime. He should have at least two more years of quality production left. In 2019, it’ll be business as usual for the steely veteran.

Montez Sweat will be able to learn a thing or two from Kerrigan, in time. But for now, Sweat already has a lot of things going for him, and a lot of traits even Kerrigan himself didn’t have, coming out back in 2009. It’s well-documented that Sweat, at 6-foot-6, 260, ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Yes, you read that right. A 4.41. If he were to test as a wide receiver, that number would place him over eighty percent of receivers tested at the NFL Combine, since the event’s inauguration.

So yeah, that’s pretty good.

It’s worth noting, of course, that sheer straight-line speed isn’t the most important trait for an edge rusher to have. But it speaks to the burst off the line that Montez Sweat couples with his outstanding length and play strength. He doesn’t have much bend, but with his burst and anchor, he’ll be able to get around most offensive tackles, and as he continues to learn more about the nuance of the position at the NFL level, he should only get better. Sweat provides good utility as both a run stopper and a pass rusher, and he has the athletic upside to transcend most of the league as well. It’s a rare high-floor, high-upside pick, and pairing him with Kerrigan, and the team’s interior defensive line, could bear exciting dividends.

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