Why Eric Berry could make sense for the Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins could use a rangy safety to pair with Landon Collins. Eric Berry could make sense for the squad.
After being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason, safety Eric Berry elected not to play in the NFL in 2019.
As detailed by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Berry’s decision was self-made and he did have opportunities to return to the field. That said, he wanted to be sure that he was fully healthy and mentally prepared for another season which led him to take a sabbatical of sorts.
But now, it looks like he’s ready to return to the NFL in 2020. And if he does, the Washington Redskins should be interested in him.
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Entering the season, Berry will be just 31 years old and he is a three-time All-Pro first teamer. He is very good in run support but is even better in coverage and over the course of his career, he has racked up 14 picks and 51 pass defenses in 87 games. He just knows how to track balls, cover tight ends, and help on deep routes. For those reasons, he could be an ideal fit next to Collins.
Of course, it’s worth noting that Berry does come with concerns. Over the course of the past three NFL seasons, he has played in just three games between his absence in 2019 and multiple Achilles injuries that plagued him in his final two active seasons. And even before that, Berry dealt with some injury issues that caused him to miss 10-plus games in 2011 and 2014.
That lack of action and lengthy injury history would give any team pause about signing a player into his 30s. So, the Redskins would have to dig into those issues and ensure that Berry is healthy before committing to anything.
The bigger issue with Berry, though, is that he may want to join a contender. At this point in his career, he may care more about the potential to get a ring as opposed to money, especially considering that the demand for his services may not be high after a year away from the game. That said, while Washington should be improved in 2020, they’re still coming off a 3-13 season and need time to rebuild before they can be considered anything close to a contender.
Still, the Redskins could have interest in a guy like Berry. He fits the skill set they need for a starter next to Collins pretty well and the team did sign Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a deal before last season. So, they’re not afraid to take chances on veteran players in the secondary.
The 2020 free-agent safety class looks loaded, though, so it’s possible the team could find a younger and healthier option who might be a safer bet than Berry. Tre Boston sticks out as a possibility as do Anthony Harris and Justin Simmons. But if they’re looking for a cost-effective pick who could re-emerge as one of the league’s better safeties, Berry would make sense.
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Either way, the ‘Skins should kick the tires on Berry if he does, in fact, want to play. At the very least, he would offer the squad an upgrade over Montae Nicholson and would create solid depth for the team. But again, in a deep free-agent safety class, they will have options if they want to address the position.