NFL cut day is rapidly approaching. And the Washington Redskins are going to have to make some difficult roster decisions in the coming weeks. Here’s our latest roster projection.
In the NFL offseason, things can change rapidly. Just a couple of weeks ago, it seemed that Colt McCoy was going to have a chance to with the starting job for the Redskins. Instead, he has sat out a couple of preseason games as he continues to rehab from a leg injury that cost him the last month of the 2018 season.
And now, there are some questions about whether or not he will be on the team’s 53-man roster to start the season.
McCoy’s injury complicates the roster a bit more, but it opens the door for the team to keep some talent at other positions. If the team does place McCoy on IR, they will only carry two quarterbacks. And that extra roster spot could give them an extra linebacker, safety, or receiver as they look to build the most competitive 53-man roster possible.
It is also possible that the team could go light at some other positions in order to load up on their areas of weakness. Running back stands out as one where the ‘Skins could try to go light and ride their three-headed backfield to a solid rushing attack.
With that said, here’s a look at our latest 53-man roster projection, starting with the quarterback position.
Quarterback (2)
Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins
Remember when the Redskins thought that Colt McCoy might be able to return for the playoffs in the event that they made it? Those were the good old days. Now, eight months removed from McCoy’s leg injury, he is still having major issues with it.
Recently, head coach Jay Gruden said that McCoy might not be ready to start the year and that he may be out until a couple of weeks into the season. If that’s the case, the team should strongly consider placing him on Injured Reserve with a designated-for-return tag.
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At this point, McCoy isn’t going to be the starting quarterback. That ship has sailed. At best, he’s coming back to be the top backup. But if he isn’t right, there’s no point in having him on the roster. So, if the team stashes him until he’s fully healthy, they will get a chance to use his roster spot elsewhere while also retaining McCoy. And given the issues the team had at quarterback last year, they do probably want to hang onto McCoy.
If McCoy is placed on IR-DFR, he could return to the team after their Week 9 bye. Unfortunately, since McCoy has already practiced this offseason, he can’t go on the PUP list which would give him a chance to return after Week 6. But still, having McCoy halfway through the season and fully healthy is better than keeping him on the roster while unhealthy or cutting him outright.
Meanwhile, Keenum has been steady in the preseason and has done enough to earn the starting job. Haskins has flashed the upside that many expected he would after the team selected him 15th overall in the draft, but while he has shown growth, it still seems that he will start the season as a backup. But if Keenum struggles or Haskins continues to make strides on the practice field, the dynamic talent could see action early in the season. And if not, he will almost certainly start at some point this year.
While the recently-signed Jalan McClendon has no chance of making the 53-man roster (barring a disaster), he will stand a chance of being stashed on the practice squad. He has a solid 6-foot-5 frame and good athletic ability, so perhaps he could work as a scout team quarterback while cross-training at some other positions.
Running Back (3)
Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson
The more that I think about it, the more it makes sense for the Redskins to keep only three running backs. The unit was viewed as a strength, but the lacking performance of Samaje Perine this preseason has potentially made himself expendable.
And as I pointed out in a recent article, the Redskins don’t exactly have a lot of logical options for a roster spot beyond Perine.
Washington Commanders
"If the Redskins do cut Perine, there isn’t another logical player that could step into his roster spot. Sure, they could opt to keep the underwhelming (Byron) Marshall as receiving insurance for (Chris) Thompson. But he hasn’t proven to be anything special after spending parts of the last two seasons with the team. Meanwhile, (Shaun) Wilson was injured in the second preseason game while Reynolds has looked good, but could be stashed on the practice squad. Typically, the Redskins only have three backs active on game day. So, they could opt to carry just three to start the season while stashing a guy like (Craig) Reynolds on the practice squad. It’s highly unlikely that Reynolds would be claimed, and even if he was, they could sign Marshall to that unit or add another young back and call him up in case of injury."
Essentially, this boils down to one thing. Why keep a lackluster player and sacrifice depth at another position? Stashing Reynolds, Marshall, Wilson (if healthy), or even Perine on the practice squad could work and if one of their top guys gets hurt, they can call up said player.
Of course, this plan is contingent on Guice’s health. But with the 2018 second-round pick tentatively set to play on Thursday, it looks like he will be healthy to start the season.
If the team does keep a fourth running back that isn’t Perine, Wilson would probably be the best option, if healthy, as his return ability, shiftiness, and youth make him a solid backup for Thompson. It will be interesting to see what the team ultimately decides to do at the running back position. The three players included on this roster projection are the locks, but there could be room for one more depending on what the team thinks of their depth options.
Wide Receiver (7)
Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn, Terry McLaurin, Robert Davis, Darvin Kidsy, Kelvin Harmon, Cam Sims
There are quite a few questions about the Redskins receiving corps, but one of the most glaring is what to do with Josh Doctson. The former first-round pick’s fifth-year option wasn’t picked up, so he’s in a lame-duck year for Washington. Barring a breakout campaign, it seems likely that he will head for greener pastures as he looks for a change of scenery in the 2020 offseason.
That said, the team could look to trade Doctson for a conditional late-round pick. After all, they have quite a bit of young upside at receiver, as guys like Davis, Kidsy, and Sims have all flashed during training camp and the preseason. If the team feels that these players have upside and that they’re going to lose Doctson anyway, they could part with him, especially if they can get a resource for him.
Moving on from Doctson is far from certain. So is keeping seven receivers on the roster. Still, given the team’s lack of top-end talent at receiver, keeping some extra potential-based players would be a smart move. But if they want to keep only six or decide to keep Doctson, then Kidsy, Sims, and Harmon could find themselves in danger of being cut or stashed on the practice squad. Of that group
If I’m the Redskins, I would try to get whatever I can for Doctson in the coming weeks. Some receiver-needy team could be willing to take a chance on him in hopes that he develops into a solid No. 2 option in a passing attack. Doctson could reach that ceiling here in Washington, but again, his uncertain future here could make it worthwhile to deal him away. And if the team wants to give third-round rookie McLaurin a chance to play early, dealing Doctson could create an opportunity for that.
We’ll see if Doctson ends up sticking around or going elsewhere. For now, I’m not including Doctson here. He is one of the true wild cards in the Redskins roster battle at the moment.
Tight End (3)
Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle
This group seems pretty much set in stone. The Redskins could opt to keep another body at the position if they like any of their depth options enough, but the top three will remain.
Reed is the dual-threat option at the position and can be a matchup nightmare when healthy. His health has been an issue over the course of the past few seasons, but he has been healthier in training camp than in years past and has looked great on the field by all accounts. Hopefully, he can finally stay healthy and be a consistent weapon in the offense.
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Davis is a savvy veteran backup who still has the speed needed to be a successful receiving weapon. Davis is a decent blocker as well and despite his age, 35 years old, he is looking like a roster lock.
Sprinkle is the young man in this group, but he is entering his third year with the team after being a fifth-round pick. He is a very good blocker but is still working on improving as a receiver and proving himself. But his blocking ability should give him a chance to make the roster.
As for the fringe options, Donald Parham has the height (6-foot-8) but hasn’t done much on the field. Matt Flanagan has gotten some praise from guys like Chris Cooley, but he hasn’t done much as a receiver. JP Holtz, an H-back hybrid, may be the most versatile of the group and I happen to like him. But given Gruden’s lack of appreciation for fullback-type players, I don’t see the squad keeping him around.
Offensive Line (9)
Donald Penn, Ereck Flowers, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses, Geron Christian, Timon Parris, Wes Martin, Ross Pierschbacher
The Redskins clearly are lacking depth on the offensive line, and part of that is due to Trent Williams’ holdout. At this point in time, there is no end in sight for that. So, it’s hard to put him on the 53-man roster. We’ve done it in the past, but with the season drawing nearer, it seems more likely that Williams will opt to sit out unless the team trades him.
With that said, it seems likely that Penn will win the starting job at left tackle over Christian given the performance of the duo. But the team should want to carry an extra tackle on the roster given the health concerns they have had on the line in recent seasons. Right now, Parris is the favorite to lock down that role as he has shown growth in the preseason. That’s enough to win him the fourth tackle job.
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Elsewhere, rookie fifth-round pick Pierschbacher will take over the backup center job from Tony Bergstrom. The 33-year-old Bergstrom has struggled in the preseason and has never been anything more than a decent backup option, so keeping him around doesn’t make sense.
Everyone else on this unit seems to be a lock. Flowers was once considered to be on the roster bubble, but he has improved his play with each day he has spent at guard and he was fairly solid in the team’s second preseason game. If he continues to grow, he could be a fine option at left guard. Either way, it seems that the ‘Skins want to keep him, though they could eventually give the starting job to fourth-round rookie Wes Martin.
The only notable cut, aside from Bergstrom, is Hugh Thornton. Though Thornton was a former third-round pick by the Colts, he hasn’t done enough to make the roster in Washington. Flowers, Martin, and Scherff are ahead of him in the race for a guard spot and Pierschbacher’s versatility should seal his spot as the final interior backup.
Defensive Line (6)
Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, Caleb Brantley, Ryan Bee
This is one of the more solidified groups on the roster. The top unit of Allen, Payne, and Ioannidis is one of the fiercest three-man fronts in the league. And Allen and Payne have been particularly hard to stop this preseason, so they may be even better than expected.
The backup spots get a bit trickier. Settle and Brantley are likely locked into the roster, but both are dealing with injuries. Settle’s is expected to be minor — he banged up his knee in the second preseason game — so he should be fine as the top backup.
However, Brantley is dealing with a Lisfranc injury, so that makes his status a bit murkier. Lisfrancs are notoriously difficult injuries and they can last longer than anticipated. Allen actually had a Lisfranc injury as a rookie and missed more than half the season as a result. If the coaching staff feels that Brantley needs extra time to heal, they could keep him out at least at the start of the season.
If Brantley is on the roster but is less than 100 percent, he may not be able to be active on game days. If that’s the case, the Redskins will need to carry another lineman to play in the rotation in place of him.
Enter Ryan Bee. The Marshall product has had a strong preseason and has the size (6-foot-7) and consistent skill set (at least 4.0 sacks every year in college) to be a productive NFL player. He has flashed enough to earn a roster spot regardless of Brantley’s condition, so including him here makes a lot of sense. The team’s top undrafted free agent could spend extra time working with Jim Tomsula as they look to develop Bee into a quality rotational player.
Edge Rusher (4)
Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat, Ryan Anderson, Cassanova McKinzy
This is another group that is relatively set in stone with a bit of give-and-take on the back end. Either way, these four players appear to be roster locks, and with good reason.
Kerrigan has long been one of the league’s most consistently underrated edge players. Sweat was a first-round pick this year and has tantalizing athletic traits. Meanwhile, Anderson hasn’t quite lived up to his second-round billing yet, but he’s continuing to show steady growth while performing very well against the run on the edge.
The only question coming into camp was who the fourth, and potentially, fifth options would be here. But throughout training camp and the preseason, McKinzy has been able to showcase his speed rushing abilities with great success. He was a force against backup offensive tackles in the team’s preseason contests, and his strong performance there should lock up a roster spot for him, especially considering that the team brought him up from the practice squad midway through last season.
The notable exclusion from this group is rookie seventh-round pick Jordan Brailford. This year’s Redskins Mr. Irrelevant (though he wasn’t the actual Mr. Irrelevant of the 2019 NFL Draft class) has pass rushing upside and could become a well-rounded contributor. However, he has dealt with a troublesome groin injury during his time with the team and may have to be stashed on IR if he can’t get healthy. Considering that the ‘Skins appear to be four-deep here, they should be comfortable with trying to stash him.
Inside Linebacker (5)
Jon Bostic, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Cole Holcomb, Marquis Flowers
The Redskins could just keep four players at this position. But recent injuries could cause them to keep an extra insurance policy just in case.
Harvey-Clemons banged up his knee and was checked for a concussion in the Week 2 preseason game. Hamilton was out of that contest with a chest injury, as was Holcomb (shoulder soreness). All should be fine for the start of the season, but it may behoove the team to carry some extra depth there, just in case.
There are three options for the Redskins to consider here. Undrafted rookie BJ Blunt has been with the squad since inking a deal with the team after the draft. They also added the speedy Gary Johnson, who had a strong career at Texas, in recent weeks.
That said, Flowers makes the most sense to keep. He was with the team last year when injuries struck and has plenty of NFL experience, including a 3.5 sack campaign with the Patriots. He’s versatile and can play inside linebacker and on the edge. He probably wouldn’t get a ton of playing time off the bat, but having him to back up all the linebacker positions, including the edge, could be useful.
As for Blunt and Johnson, both would be solid practice squad candidates.
Cornerback (6)
Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, Jimmy Moreland, Greg Stroman, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Remember when the cornerback battle seemed like it was going to be an intense one? Well, that quickly disappeared due to a couple of injuries.
Danny Johnson and Adonis Alexander have both missed extensive time this preseason, and it doesn’t seem likely that either will be ready to start the year. Johnson will probably remain on the PUP list until Week 6 while Alexander could be stashed on IR. And if Alexander is healthy, he may be cut and stashed on the practice squad.
Simply put, the six corners listed above have clearly been the best options for the Redskins this preseason. Norman, Dunbar, and Moreau are set as the starters. Moreland has been a turnover machine, though he has had some issues in coverage. Stroman has looked good once again and provides return ability on special teams. And Rodgers-Cromartie adds a veteran presence and more versatility to the squad.
If all the players here can live up to their potential, this corner group could end up being a very strong one. Moreau is a player that the team would like to see strides from in particular. But, for right now, it seems that the team is in good hands with these six guys.
Safety (5)
Landon Collins, Montae Nicholson, Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke, Jeremy Reaves
The Redskins have a top-heavy safety group, as Collins is one of the best safeties in the league while Nicholson appears to be back to the form he held during his excellent rookie season. Behind those two, the depth was a bit questionable, so they could carry five players just to ensure they have options.
Everett has long been a core special teams option for the squad and has done well as a backup safety at times. He isn’t always perfect in coverage, but he can get the job done as a spot starter. And that makes him a reliable backup.
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Apke has caught a lot of flak since being a fourth-round pick by the Redskins in 2018, as many thought he was a reach. He didn’t show well in limited action as a rookie before being hurt, but the speed and athletic potential are undeniable. Apke has also gotten better this preseason and looked like a solid tackler in the second preseason game. That performance, plus his speed and special teams ability, should land him on the squad.
The fifth and final player included in this roster projection is Reaves. The 2018 undrafted free agent out of South Alabama has been good in coverage this preseason and has demonstrated an ability to get to the ball quickly, break up passes, and make tackles. He’s still only 22 years old, so he has untapped potential. Keeping him around to develop him seems like a good idea and in this roster projection, the Redskins can afford to keep him.
JoJo McIntosh was favored by some to make the roster ahead of the preseason, but the undrafted rookie from Washington hasn’t made many waves so far. He’s better served as a candidate for the practice squad.
Specialists (3)
Dustin Hopkins, Tress Way, Nick Sundberg
The only special teams member that should be on the chopping block is special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor. The Redskins have allowed two punt return touchdowns in their first two preseason games and have been in a bit of disarray in that area. They may be able to work it out ahead of the 2019 season, but it certainly looks like they’re missing Ben Kotwica who is now with the Atlanta Falcons.
But, I digress. There won’t be any changes on special teams barring an injury. Way is still one of the league’s best punters. Sundberg is starting to get older, but he has been reliable for the ‘Skins over the course of his career. Plus, the team cut Andrew East, the long snapper competing with him, shortly after camp began.
Hopkins is probably the closest player to the chopping block after missing a couple of kicks in Week 2 of the preseason. Still, he’s coming off the best season of his career and improved his range from 50-plus yards. If he can shake off the bad outing against the Falcons, the Redskins won’t need to have a kicker competition.
At this point, I’d write these names in pen. I could be wrong, but the Redskins seem confident that this trio can get the job done.
Practice Squad (10)
WR Steven Sims Jr., WR Jehu Chesson, QB Jalan McClendon, TE Donald Parham, LB Gary Johnson, S JoJo McIntosh, DL JoJo Wicker, RB Craig Reynolds, OT Blake Hance, LB BJ Blunt
This practice squad is loaded with potential. The Redskins are stashing some extra offensive weapons because they opted to go light on that side of that ball. That Steven Sims Jr., a potential slot weapon who has done well this offseason, and Jehu Chesson, a special teams ace who could make the team as well.
Elsewhere, Reynolds serves as the de facto No. 4 running back but will spend time seasoning on the practice squad. If anyone back gets banged-up, he’d be the first man to call. The same can be said for quarterback Jalan McClendon, who sticks around because of his athletic ability and McCoy’s injury.
Parham makes the team because of his 6-foot-8 frame and upside. Perhaps a year on the practice squad would do the undrafted Division II product well. Offensive tackle Blake Hance sticks around too. The team is thin at tackle, so developing the Northwestern product is worth a shot.
Defensively, the two JoJo’s stick around. Wicker spent time on the active roster last year and still has potential. He just loses the final roster battle to Bee. Meanwhile, McIntosh was viewed as a candidate to challenge for a safety job, but Jeremy Reaves has overtaken him in that realm. Still, with the Redskins lacking safety depth, he’s worth keeping around.
The final two practice squad spots are all about potential. BJ Blunt has been with the Redskins since signing as an undrafted free agent. The converted safety has a nose for the football and while he’s raw, the McNeese State product has the upside needed to be an eventual contributor. He could make the roster as a fifth linebacker, but he probably needs more time before being given that role.
Finally, Johnson was a nice pickup by the Redskins. As mentioned, the team could use some candidates for a fifth linebacker spot. Johnson has excellent speed and athletic ability so he could develop into a quality player. He may even have a chance to make the squad as a special teams player.
This is a solid practice squad and the ‘Skins could get some future contributors off here. It will be interesting to see how they construct their 53-man roster, but this permutation certainly seems possible.