What should the Redskins do with veteran edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan?

The Redskins kicked off offseason cuts on Friday. Two bad contracts are out the door, and there’s almost certainly more to come.

The Washington Redskins and Ron Rivera started off their transactions on Friday by releasing veteran cornerback Josh Norman, effectively clearing $12.5 million in cap space while incurring just $3 million in dead cap. Shortly after, the team released wide receiver Paul Richardson, clearing space at a position group that desperately needs more talent in 2020.

The moves on Friday represented the start of a transition for Washington, and that transition is far from over. More likely than not, more cuts will come as the weeks move on, and the futures of several players will become speculative hot spots. Jordan Reed is one such player, and another is Ryan Kerrigan, the veteran edge rusher who’s spent his entire nine-year career in D.C. to this point.

Kerrigan has had a productive career with the Redskins, logging 90.0 sacks in nine seasons and earning four Pro Bowl bids, with his last one coming in 2018. He’s eclipsed ten sacks four times, and until 2019, he was averaging double digit sacks a season.

2019, of course, was the tendency breaker. Kerrigan still produced to a degree, but he wasn’t as consistent as he normally is. He logged just 5.5 sacks in twelve games, and saw career lows in tackles and forced fumbles. Kerrigan’s dip in production comes as he nears 32 years of age, and it forces onlookers to entertain a difficult conversation about his remaining viability.

Kerrigan is set to earn $11.5 million in 2020, the last year of his current deal. Per Over the Cap, the Redskins can save all of that money, with no dead cap, by cutting him before June 1. They could also try and trade Kerrigan, but a 32-year old with such a hefty cap figure isn’t likely to command much interest, especially when he’s observably regressing.

Cutting Kerrigan is a move that unfortunately has some merit, especially if Rivera and the Redskins want to indulge fully in free agency this offseason. But another option that exists is potentially restructuring Kerrigan’s contract and spreading out the hit over multiple years, so Kerrigan can remain on the roster as rotational depth, as well as a valuable mentor for Montez Sweat and potential first-round acquisition Chase Young.

ESPN’s John Keim made the suggestion that the Redskins keep Kerrigan and restructure his contract, and to me, that looks like the best bet for now. Kerrigan won’t be a valuable asset on the trade market, and he could also fit better in Rivera’s new 4-3 scheme, as he’ll have his hand in the dirt on every snap. It makes sense to look for trade suitors, but the factors present aren’t conducive to widespread interest, and any compensation received will likely be minimal.

What do you think the Redskins should do? Should they take the cap space and move on from Kerrigan? Should they trade him for what would likely be a Day 3 pick at best? Or should they keep him, restructure his contract, and allow him to be a mentor for the younger edge players? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!