Redskins should try to extend Quinton Dunbar before OTAs

According to the latest NFL rumors, Quinton Dunbar may not report to OTAs because he’s in the final non-guaranteed year of his contract. The Redskins should look to change that.

It looks like Quinton Dunbar is planning on skipping Redskins OTAs this offseason.

According to NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay, Dunbar won’t be taking part in the voluntary workouts as he is in the final year of his non-guaranteed contract.

And as Finlay explained, Dunbar’s decision is being impacted by the horrific injury that Reuben Foster suffered during OTAs last spring, an injury that is still affecting the linebacker and could keep him out for part of the 2020 season.

More from Riggo's Rag

"One source explained that for many Redskins players, watching linebacker Reuben Foster go down with a potentially career-ending knee and leg injury in last year’s OTAs left a significant impression about the value of voluntary work. It’s unclear that Dunbar would even want a new contract now or if he would prefer to face unrestricted free agency one year from now."

This absolutely makes sense and on the surface, this doesn’t seem like a big deal. After all, OTAs are voluntary, so Dunbar has every right not to show up. But it points out a slightly bigger issue for the Redskins. They really need to start thinking about extending Dunbar, if possible.

Now, as Finlay notes, it’s entirely possible that Dunbar may want to test unrestricted free agency come the 2021 offseason. If so, that could make attempting an extension a fruitless endeavor. Still, the Redskins should try to re-sign him to a deal as Dunbar has been the team’s best corner for each of the past two seasons.

Dunbar was excellent in coverage during the 2019 seasons, grabbing four interceptions and defending eight passes despite playing in an overly complex scheme and other members of the secondary struggling. He truly proved to be a No. 1 corner and since he’ll turn 28 in March, he should have a handful of good years left in front of him. Thus, an extension would be warranted to keep him around, especially with the team lacking proven talent elsewhere at the corner position.

That said, the fact that Dunbar has struggled with injury issues could make him a candidate to take a slight discount and sign a team-friendly deal. He has missed a total of 14 games in the past two seasons and while he could improve under a new training staff, if he suffers another injury, it could impact his value on the free-agent market.

In the best-case scenario, the Redskins and Dunbar could work out another extension that ensures Dunbar will get paid guaranteed money this season while paying him at a competitive rate in upcoming seasons as well. A three-year extension worth somewhere between $10 and $12 million annually would make sense, as Dunbar could cash in now to guarantee himself future money while the Redskins would pay slightly below what Dunbar might make on the open market after a good season.

It remains to be seen whether or not the ‘Skins will try to keep Dunbar. And perhaps he won’t settle for anything less than his market value and will gamble on himself ahead of the 2021 offseason. But either way, the news that Dunbar is skipping OTAs is notable and if he is worried about guaranteed money, the Redskins should consider making a deal with him to keep him around.

Next. Redskins first-round options - Alabama OT Jedrick Wills. dark

Even if that doesn’t bring Dunbar in for OTAs, it would be a positive move for Washington as a team.

Home/Commanders News