Breaking down the Redskins edge rusher depth chart for 2019

Redskins 2019 top backups at edge rusher

Ryan Anderson and Jordan Brailford

The Redskins have a very solid starting duo, and after that duo, they have good backup talent as well; perhaps enough depth to withstand another potentially injury-riddled year.

Ryan Anderson‘s placement is perhaps most obvious here; the Alabama product and former second-round pick hasn’t come close to living up to his draft status, but he provides the Redskins with a kind of multi-faceted insurance, being good against the run and serviceable as a pass rusher.

Anderson doesn’t have the athletic upside to make a massive leap, but he does have the skill set to be serviceable, and compensate for the loss of Pernell McPhee. He produced well in limited action last year, so heading into year three, expectations should be tempered, but rising.

After Anderson, the player order is mostly up to interpretation. One could have another name in this tier, but in this scenario, Jordan Brailford is the last inclusion. Brailford is a bit of an unknown, but perhaps less can be said about the group behind him. Most are known to be serviceable at best. Brailford, meanwhile, has impressive athletic upside for a late-round pick, and since the Redskins invested a pick in him, they might be more inclined to keep him around.

It’s also worth noting that the Redskins only kept four outside linebackers last season. They added more such players at the end of the year, but they began with four. With the starting pairing coming back perhaps stronger, the team can afford to take a risk with their depth. Brailford is a good risk, in that regard, with good burst off the line and easy movement ability.