The Redskins 53-man roster is almost set. There are a couple spots left to fill, but there’s enough there for us to break it down.
On Saturday, the Washington Redskins capped off months of work and preparation with 37 roster cuts. It’s the toughest day of the year, one where 37 players chasing their dreams have to be told they were good, but just not good enough.
But the season must go on, in spite of those losses. On Saturday, the Redskins reached 53 for the first time, and on Sunday, they ironed out the edges, placing multiple players on injured reserve and shaping their roster to look how it was intended to look.
There are still two spots left to fill on the roster, but the body of the original 53-man roster is set in stone. Here, we’ll analyze the full roster from a position-to-position standpoint. Where are the strong points? Where are the areas of concern? Take a look.
Quarterback (3)
Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy
There were no surprises here, although it is notable that the Redskins kept Colt McCoy as a third quarterback, as opposed to placing him on temporary injured reserve with a designation to return after Week 8.
McCoy was held out of preseason, and was taken out of the starting battle, in fact, due to his ongoing recovery from a broken leg he suffered late last season. In a way, his unbridled inclusion on the roster is a vote of confidence for his health, and he could be available without consequence in a matter of weeks.
Case Keenum and Dwayne Haskins are the two quarterbacks ahead of McCoy, and for the time being, Keenum is the starter of the group. He was named the starter at the end of preseason, and he’ll take the Redskins to battle against the Eagles in Week 1. Coaching for his job, Jay Gruden felt comfortable with a veteran behind center.
How long Keenum remains the starter is unclear, at this point. Gruden said that as long as Keenum produces, he has nothing to worry about. But consistent production has never been a given in Keenum’s career, save for one year with the 2017 Vikings. If Keenum fails to resurrect that form, then we could see Dwayne Haskins at some point.
Haskins showed off his potential in preseason, displaying more arm talent than both his counterparts, as well as adept mental processing. Haskins recently said in an interview that his goal is to be the starter, so he will continue to push and put pressure on Keenum. It’s ultimately up to Keenum, whether or not he keeps the job. That’s why, if Keenum doesn’t lead the Redskins to wins, we could see a change.
Running Back (4)
Derrius Guice, Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompson, Wendell Smallwood
IR: Shaun Wilson
The Redskins 53-man roster at the 4:00 deadline on Saturday saw the team carrying Byron Marshall and Shaun Wilson as its No. 4 and No. 5 running backs. It was a surprise to see the team carrying five backs, but there was a method to the madness; the team placed Wilson on injured reserve, so as to designate him to return later in the season, and they cut Byron Marshall, once they were able to upgrade by adding Wendell Smallwood off of waivers.
Smallwood is a fairly versatile back, and he’s a strong No. 4 option in what appears to be a deep running back rotation. The top dog should be Derrius Guice; Guice is the most talented of the bunch, and now, fully healthy, he’ll be looking to make the league remember him, after he missed his rookie season with an ACL tear. Guice has very impressive athleticism, physicality, and contact balance, and with him carrying the rock, the Redskins rushing attack could become more efficient.
Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson are the veterans in the room, and they offer solid rotational ability. Peterson’s 2018 season was likely the last 1,000-yard campaign we’ll see him achieve, but even in a limited role, he provides experience and vision. Thompson offers these traits as well, in addition to his spry burst and his utility as a receiver, if he can stay healthy.
Wide Receiver (6)
Terry McLaurin, Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn, Robert Davis, Steven Sims Jr., Kelvin Harmon
The Redskins did what they had to do here. It was bold, but the decision to cut Josh Doctson with one year remaining on his contract simply made the most sense. Now, Washington can move forward with a new batch of receivers, and they can give opportunities to players who otherwise wouldn’t have seen the field.
In Doctson’s absence, third-round rookie Terry McLaurin is likely to be the team’s No. 1 receiver. The Redskins held McLaurin out of preseason almost entirely, to preserve him for the regular season. He displayed exciting quickness and route nuance in training camp, and with his strong all-around skill set, he could exceed expectations, with a premier role now waiting for him.
McLaurin’s viability is further magnified when one views the two receivers behind him. Paul Richardson and Trey Quinn both have enticing potential as well, but last year saw both receivers miss a combined 23 games. Richardson’s health issues are more pressing; they span back years, whereas Quinn only has one NFL season under his belt, a sample size not large enough to accurately assess one’s durability.
If they can stay healthy, Richardson offers blazing speed and intriguing potential as a red zone threat, while Quinn has impressive quickness and nuance in his routes, as well as a certain toughness in contested situations. His end zone catch in Dallas last season comes to mind, and hopefully, we’ll see more of that from last year’s Mr. Irrelevant.
The Redskins went with a surprising trio to round out the depth chart at wide receiver, picking Robert Davis, Steven Sims Jr., and Kelvin Harmon as their No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 pass catchers. Davis, an elite athlete, made the team after working hard to come back early from a devastating leg injury, and he didn’t appear to lose any explosiveness in preseason. Sims Jr. boasted a different kind of explosiveness; he’s not an elite athlete by any means, with 4.5 speed to go with his frail 5-foot-9 frame. But Sims has impressive vision and agility as a ball carrier, and he provides Washington with some versatility and returning ability.
Harmon is the last receiver to make the team, and he’s most likely to be inactive on game days. He dropped to the sixth round for his lack of speed, and in preseason, that lack of speed was concerning, as he frequently lacked the top gear required to gain separation. That said, he was able to bring to light his toughness in one-on-one matchups, and his strong hands at the catch point, and given that the team used draft capital on him, it makes sense that Harmon gets a roster spot, to prove he’s worth it.
Tight End (3)
Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle
This will be the fourth year with Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis returning as the Washington Redskins top two tight ends. Reed was hoping to resurrect his 2015 form after a solid offseason, but already, his injury concerns have resurfaced. It was hypothesized that the Redskins could keep a fourth tight end, if Reed’s concussion was that worrisome. But because they kept three, it appears as though Reed should be ready for Week 1.
The Redskins tight end situation is somewhat precarious, and not just because of Reed. Vernon Davis is 35 years old, and by the end of the season, he’ll basically be 36. His age hasn’t sapped away all of his dynamic ability just yet, but one has to wonder how long he can remain a viable offensive weapon for Washington.
Last year, Davis reached his lowest statistical totals yet with the Redskins, amassing 367 yards and two scores on 25 catches. The biggest question is this: If Reed goes down, can Davis pick up the slack like he did two years ago?
The last line of defense at tight end is third-year player Jeremy Sprinkle. Sprinkle flashed a bit in preseason, showing off his physicality on a 28-yard reception against Atlanta, but he still has yet to earn a more productive role in Washington’s offense. Still, he’s more established than practice squad tight end J.P. Holtz, who figures to only see time on the active roster if injuries run rampant.
Offensive Line (9)
Donald Penn, Ereck Flowers, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses, Tony Bergstrom, Wes Martin, Ross Pierschbacher, Geron Christian
Believe it or not, there was a time, not so long ago, when the Redskins offensive line was good enough to mount a bid for a “Hogs 2.0” moniker.
Truth is, the Redskins modern offensive line never came close to matching the dominance of the Hogs, but the current unit is a far cry from even the team’s 2015 lineup. The right side is solid, with Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, and Morgan Moses holding down the fort. But on the left side, there is less certainty to be had.
Veteran left tackle Donald Penn underwent some growth from Week 3 to Week 4 in preseason, and there’s reason to believe he could be a serviceable option in time. But he doesn’t have the quickness or the athleticism to recover the way Trent Williams could, and with Ereck Flowers blocking to his right, this duo could see its fair share of struggles.
Flowers has traits to like, but Bill Callahan seems intent on starting him at left guard, when Flowers might need more time to iron out major inconsistencies in his game. He brings good physicality with his hands, but his height proves to be an issue on a regular basis, as he doesn’t know how to shrink his frame and maximize leverage. This leads to him getting beat early by lower defenders, and he has to resort to holding to regain ground.
Flowers has a chance to be good, but for now, that’s only a theoretical. He has a long way to go, and if his struggles continue, sturdy fourth-round rookie Wes Martin could take the starting left guard job from him.
Martin brings good depth to the team’s blocking unit even if he doesn’t eventually start, but aside from him, there is a great deal of uncertainty. Tony Bergstrom was easy to move in preseason, and Geron Christian, the team’s only backup tackle, was arguably the team’s worst offensive lineman in the early slate. Ross Pierschbacher also needs more time to develop, and his lack of NFL-level power was evident at times. The Redskins starting line is only average, but if injuries hit, a collapse reminiscent of 2018 could occur.
It’s worth noting that the team kept Timon Parris on the practice squad. Parris, an offensive tackle, was promising in preseason; he strung together some consistency in his performances, and he displayed fundamental growth, to go with his athletic upside. It’s not far-fetched to think Parris could be elevated to the active roster at some point, especially if injuries hamper the unit as they have in the past.
Defensive Line (5)
Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, Caleb Brantley
This group returns 20.5 sacks from last year, and with another offseason of Jim Tomsula in the books, they’ll look to improve further on those numbers.
There are no changes in this position group, and it makes sense, because no changes need to be made. Jonathan Allen leads the way as a versatile interior defender who logged 8.0 sacks last season in a breakout campaign. His former Alabama team mate Daron Payne joins him up the middle, seeking to capitalize on a stellar rookie year.
Joining those two in the starting rotation is Matt Ioannidis, an interior pass rushing specialist whose pressure rate mirrors that of some of the best interior sack-getters in the NFL. Ioannidis logged 7.5 sacks while seeing only around half of the team’s total defensive snaps in 2018. With all three starters poised to progress, this position group could be one of the NFL’s better units.
Tim Settle and Caleb Brantley serve as solid depth, and both have the athletic upside to potential see the field more this year. There was talk that either Ryan Bee or JoJo Wicker could sneak onto the roster. Bee gained the most momentum with a strong preseason, but rather than being kept on the roster, he was released and re-signed to the practice squad. From the starting lineup to the squad, the Redskins have very exciting players on the interior line.
Edge Rusher (4)
Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat, Ryan Anderson, Cassanova McKinzy
IR: Jordan Brailford
The Redskins initially kept five edge rushers on their active roster, but after the 4:00 PM deadline, they reverted Jordan Brailford to injured reserve. The earliest he can return to the active roster is after Week 8, just like running back Shaun Wilson.
Brailford could return at some point, but for now, the Redskins are set with four players at this position. It goes without saying that Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat will be the starters. Kerrigan is entering his ninth season in Washington, and with a career year consisting of 15.5 sacks, he could break the 100.0 sack mark. Sweat’s not quite there yet, but as a rookie, he offers an exciting blend of athleticism and length.
Behind the two starters is Ryan Anderson, a former second-round pick entering his third season with the team. By now, the Redskins have likely accepted that Anderson is a depth player at best, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. He provides solid security, and while he doesn’t have the athletic upside of other players, he was formidable in run support last year.
Backing up the starters with Anderson is Cassanova McKinzy. McKinzy, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2016, had a standout preseason, notching two sacks against the Bengals in Week 3. He offers decent athleticism and some edge-bending ability, and while his upside is capped there, his motor never quits. It was postulated that he could miss time with a concussion, but his inclusion on the roster is a good sign for his health.
Inside Linebacker (4)
Shaun Dion Hamilton, Jon Bostic, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Cole Holcomb
This is the receiving core of the Redskins defense. Unproven in every sense of the word, the inside linebacker room still has a certain kind of depth, and there is potential in this area. It’s incredible how the position has changed over the course of one summer. In May, Reuben Foster and Mason Foster were slated to be the starters. Now, neither is on the active roster.
Instead, Shaun Dion Hamilton and Jon Bostic should be the starters, provided both are healthy. They were the ones who constituted the first starting linebacker unit of preseason. That said, expect Josh Harvey-Clemons to rotate in on a regular basis, and potentially usurp one of the two as a starter; Harvey-Clemons was consistently productive in preseason, and he has unique range with his 6-foot-4 frame.
Fifth-round rookie Cole Holcomb rounds out the group, and he should be active on game days as well. He showed some promise in preseason, but was nursing an injury, which limited his playing time. He should be good to go for Week 1, where he’ll likely see most of his snaps at special teams.
Cornerback (6)
Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, Jimmy Moreland, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Greg Stroman
Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, and Fabian Moreau will be the Redskins starters at cornerback for another year, and with any luck, we’ll see more growth from the young defensive backs. Jay Gruden has put the pressure on Norman to play up to his contract value, so Norman faces a pivotal year as well.
Those three will get most of the first-team work, but in a depth chart breakdown on the Redskins official website, staff writer Ryan Fowler wrote Jimmy Moreland’s name in the same breath as the starters, saying that “Jimmy Moreland and Fabian Moreau [are] expected to primarily work in nickel packages covering the slot”. Moreland could very well see regular rotational snaps during the season, and while he won’t be a starter, he’ll have a role, given his ball skills.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Greg Stroman round out the group at cornerback. Rodgers-Cromartie gives the team a little more versatility on the back end; while he’s past his prime, he should be able to play multiple spots when called upon. Stroman, meanwhile, serves as good depth, after a rookie season in which he pleasantly surprised with his natural coverage ability.
Safety (4)
Landon Collins, Montae Nicholson, Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke
All things considered, the Redskins rebounded nicely at safety, from a 2018 season that saw them cut their vocal defensive leader before the end of the season, trade a fourth-round pick for a non-athletic Ha Ha Clinton-Dix who was gone in the ensuing offseason, and place a promising fourth-round pick on the reserve list after an assault allegation.
Montae Nicholson, the aforementioned fourth-round pick, is back with the team after he had his assault charges dropped, and he seems to be rejuvenated in his new role as Landon Collins‘ partner on the back end. Collins showcased his trademark physicality and sturdiness in preseason, and Nicholson complimented him well with athleticism and range, logging a pick six in the team’s second preseason game. This safety duo has exciting potential in 2019.
That said, while the starting safety unit has high hopes, the depth is a bit concerning. Deshazor Everett is a respectable reserve at safety; now entering his fifth year with the Redskins, he’s been a fixture on special teams, and he has enough experience on defense to be a decent contributor when called upon.
Troy Apke garners less confidence; the team kept him over Jeremy Reaves because of his physical upside, which still remains untapped, in a sense. But Apke’s play was not promising in preseason. He consistently took poor angles to the ball, and finding himself in the right position to make a play proved to be challenging. Apke still needs to learn how to use his traits effectively, and it appears that another offseason of work hasn’t quite done the trick. He’s a solid special teamer, but if he sees substantial time on defense, the situation could unravel quickly.
Most of the roster is set, but after placing Shaun Wilson and Jordan Brailford on temporary injured reserve, and after swapping Byron Marshall for Wendell Smallwood, the Redskins have two more spots to fill. They also have one more open spot on their ten-man practice squad. Who will they add to finish off the construction of their team? Here at Riggo’s Rag, we’ll keep you in the loop on those developments.