Riggo's Rag
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Final Redskins 53-man roster projection before NFL roster cuts

By Jacob Camenker

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 22: Defensive back Jeremy Reaves #39 of the Washington Redskins reacts at the conclusion of an NFL preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 22: Defensive back Jeremy Reaves #39 of the Washington Redskins reacts at the conclusion of an NFL preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 15: Cassanova McKinzy #58 and Darrell Williams #59 of the Washington Redskins stand with Deshaun Davis #48 of the Cincinnati Bengals for a photo after a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 15: Cassanova McKinzy #58 and Darrell Williams #59 of the Washington Redskins stand with Deshaun Davis #48 of the Cincinnati Bengals for a photo after a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Edge Rusher (5)

Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat, Ryan Anderson, Cassanova McKinzy, Marquis Flowers

Kerrigan, Sweat, and Anderson all were seemingly roster locks coming into the season and the trio should complement each other well.

Kerrigan is one of the hardest-working edge rushers in the league and can win at the point of attack with strength and speed. He can do a bit of everything and should continue to perform well after back-to-back 13 sack campaigns.

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As for Sweat, the first-round pick has unbelievable athletic ability and length, and he should be the perfect candidate to replace the departed Preston Smith. He should be a good pass rusher and did well enough setting the edge in college to potentially earn a starting role. He will be nice to use in tandem with Anderson who is one of the better run-stopping edge players in the league.

Meanwhile, McKinzy has been excellent this preseason and has shown burst and athleticism off the edge. His bend is great too, so that, plus his two-sack performance against the Falcons last week, likely earned him a spot. He could see some action as a pass-rushing specialist and on special teams. The only thing clouding his availability for Week 1 is the concussion that he suffered in the preseason finale against the Ravens.

Because of McKinzy’s concussion, I could see the Redskins keeping an extra hybrid linebacker just in case he can’t play to start the season. That’s why Marquis Flowers makes it in this projection. Flowers is a seasoned veteran who played with the New England Patriots and can play on the edge or at middle linebacker. He had a solid preseason so keeping him around to start the year while letting McKinzy get healthy could be an option.

The notable omission here is Jordan Brailford, the team’s rookie seventh-round pick out of Oklahoma State. Brailford has a nice skill set, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy so far this offseason as he has dealt with a nagging groin injury. I think that the team should stash him on IR and give him a chance to prove himself next year. If not, he could be kept on the practice squad.

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