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Breaking down the Redskins safety depth chart for 2019

By Ian Cummings

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Strong safety Montae Nicholson #35 of the Washington Redskins makes an interception over wide receiver Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Strong safety Montae Nicholson #35 of the Washington Redskins makes an interception over wide receiver Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Tre Boston #33 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up on field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Tre Boston #33 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up on field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

A note on Tre Boston

I’m gonna make this brief, folks. If Tre Boston hasn’t been signed now, there’s a good chance he won’t be.

Of course, there’s always a chance. Training camp could bring a new injury at safety, clearing up a spot. But the team showed no motivation to pursue Boston earlier in the offseason. In fact, they showed no motivation to add a safety at all. They appear to be investing their time in Montae Nicholson as the starting free safety, and it’s a choice that has some merit.

Boston has very good ball skills, and he’s one of the more underrated safeties in the league. But the Redskins have a safety with more athletic upside, who’s four years younger, in Nicholson. They have to commit to Nicholson’s development at some point, and signing Boston doesn’t serve that purpose.

There are moves that always look good in theory, and from a pure quality standpoint, Boston would be an upgrade over what Nicholson provided in 2018. But turning away from home-grown potential isn’t the way to build from within in the NFL. The Redskins have an opportunity to gain from a cheap reclamation project in Nicholson. They just got a new defensive backs coach with more experience, who brings a greater emphasis on leadership. They’ve been open about the chance they’re giving Nicholson. Now isn’t the time to pull the rug out from under the 23-year old.

Next. Breaking down the Redskins cornerback depth chart. dark

Even without Boston, the Redskins safety group can be a very good one in 2019. It’ll take a lot of work, a lot of discipline, and a little bit of good luck. But it can happen.

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