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FanSided

Simulating the Washington Redskins’ free agency, NFL draft, entire 2020 offseason

By Jacob Camenker

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 30: A Washington Redskins helmet sits on the grass before the start of the Redskins and Baltimore Ravens preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 30: A Washington Redskins helmet sits on the grass before the start of the Redskins and Baltimore Ravens preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 13: James Bradberry of Carolina Panthers looks on during the NFL game between Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 13: James Bradberry of Carolina Panthers looks on during the NFL game between Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /

Free Agent Signings: Defense

On the defensive side of the ball, we were focused on addressing a couple of big needs. The Redskins need another outside corner to play across from Quinton Dunbar and they need a free safety to complement Landon Collins.

The team was able to land both. And both came from Rivera’s former team, the Carolina Panthers.

The bigger contract that was dished out went to James Bradberry. The top corner on the Panthers will turn 27 just before the start of the 2020 season and he’s a physical player who would complement Dunbar well. Bradberry has defended at least 10 passes in each of his four years in the league, has eight career interceptions, and is a very strong tackler.

Must Read. Three Panthers free agents Redskins could target after hiring Ron Rivera. light

Bradberry signed on a four-year deal worth $48 million total. The $12 million AAV and 40 percent guarantee compares very favorably to the Darius Slay contract and shouldn’t be seen as an overpay. This contract will take Bradberry through his age 30 season and if he continues to play well and improve, he and Dunbar could give the team 1A and 1B options at cornerback.

The other former Panther who joined the Redskins was safety Tre Boston. Boston has floated around the league to three different teams on one-year deals the past three offseasons. If he wants job security, Washington may be able to offer Boston a three-year deal worth $15 million total (30 percent guaranteed).

Boston is a good ballhawk in the secondary and surely would make an impact next to Collins. In the Redskins defense under Jack Del Rio, Boston would play center field for the team while Collins would work more in the box and as a top-notch downhill run stopper. Both would play to their strengths and would give the Redskins defense a chance to improve on the back end.

The final defensive signing is an underrated one at linebacker. We acquired Nick Kwiatkoski from the Bears on a two-year deal worth $5 million that’s just 25 percent guaranteed. Kwiatkoski has mostly been a backup during his time with the Bears but started a career-high eight games for the team in 2019 and posted 68 tackles and 3.0 sacks.

Kwiatkoski turns 27 in May and has some upside, so adding him as linebacker depth makes sense. Between him, Jon Bostic, Reuben Foster, Cole Holcomb, Shaun Dion Hamilton, and Josh Harvey-Clemons, the team has enough depth at the linebacker position to make the 4-3 scheme work, especially if Ryan Anderson also plays the SAM position in the team’s new defense.

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