Breaking down the Redskins cornerback depth chart for 2019

Redskins 2019 reserves

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Danny Johnson

It’s been speculated by some that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie might factor into the starting equation at some point. I don’t see that upside for the veteran. While he’s had a very productive career, over the last two seasons, he’s only started seven games, and he retired midway through his 2018 campaign with the Oakland Raiders, before coming out of retirement to join Washington.

Cromartie still has some speed, but age has clearly played a role in his regression, and as he moves into his age 33 season, he shouldn’t be expected to come anywhere close to his peak form. Cromartie, more likely than not, will provide depth and versatility on the back end, but even then, he’s not a roster lock. His contract contains very little guarantees, so if the Redskins wanted to cut him, they could do so with no adverse effects.

Of course, Cromartie has the sixth spot locked down with a fair amount of security, because the closest cornerback behind him is Danny Johnson, a 2018 undrafted free agent who was, at best, inconsistent in his time as a defensive contributor. He made the roster because of his returner utility, and also because of his modest ball skills, but he was exposed on the big stage, and if the decision comes down to Cromartie and Johnson for the team’s sixth cornerback spot, Cromartie is more likely to win out.

Johnson can, of course, defy the odds and develop over the 2019 offseason, or one of the team’s roster hopefuls could emerge, and force the Redskins to keep them around.