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A blueprint for the Washington Redskins 2020 free agency

By Ken Johannesen

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 22: Vernon Davis #85 of the Washington Redskins warms up prior to 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: Vernon Davis #85 of the Washington Redskins warms up prior to 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 – NOVEMBER 24: Paul Richardson #10 of the Washington Redskins runs after a catch as Jahlani Tavai #51 and Amani Oruwariye #24 of the Detroit Lions defend during the first half at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 24: Paul Richardson #10 of the Washington Redskins runs after a catch as Jahlani Tavai #51 and Amani Oruwariye #24 of the Detroit Lions defend during the first half at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Step Two – Players To Release

This next step in this offseason blueprint is typically easier said than done, but the list seems like it could be a bit more palatable than previous years.  Some names are obvious.  Others may be a bit out of the comfort zone for some fans, but the new regime is not necessarily as loyal to these players as we’ve seen from the previous staff.

Here is a list of players the front office should release in the coming weeks:  Josh Norman, Jordan Reed, Paul Richardson, Coty Sensabaugh, Trent Williams, and Ryan Kerrigan.

Norman, Reed, and Richardson make the most sense at this juncture. Norman has devolved into a corner who is much slower and simply not able to have any kind of impact going forward.  Releasing him would open up a whopping $12.5 million in cap space for the Burgundy and Gold.

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No one denies the talent that is Reed, but multiple concussions in his career have finally brought his time in a Redskins uniform to an end.  Releasing Reed will create $8.5 million in cap space.

Richardson has been a bust as a Redskin and it is time to cut the cord.  Releasing him with a post-June 1 designation will provide the team with $6.5 million in cap relief, but they will incur a dead cap hit of $2 million in 2020 and $4 million in 2021. The Redskins currently have a very low $300,000 in dead cap money for 2020, so releasing Richardson is much more bearable.

Sensabaugh was added late in the 2019 season as the secondary became depleted with injuries. Releasing him will open up nearly $1 million in cap savings.

Williams could be signed to a new contract. He could return with the terms of his current contract. He could be traded. Releasing him would provide the team with $12.75 million in cap space.

Kerrigan could return if he signs a new contract that provides the team with plenty of cap relief. Kerrigan could also be traded. Releasing him will offer the Redskins $11.75 million in savings against the cap.  Each of these salary cap scenarios come from Over the Cap.

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