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FanSided

Redskins Reality Checks: Pre-draft roadmap for team to follow

By Tim Payne

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 23: Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera waits on the sideline during their game against the Washington Redskins at Bank of America Stadium on October 23, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 23: Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera waits on the sideline during their game against the Washington Redskins at Bank of America Stadium on October 23, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 28: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Redskins reacts after sacking Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium on October 28, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 28: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Redskins reacts after sacking Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium on October 28, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

First five steps

7. Extend Ryan Kerrigan

If Kerrigan is willing to do a team-friendly deal, I’d absolutely restructure and extend him. Something in the neighborhood of turning his current $11.7 million number for this year into a three-year, $33 million deal with $12.5 million guaranteed. Then, you absolutely slide him into the “Clay Matthews/Chris Long” role through his age 35 season. This saves the team about $7 million in cap space this season, bringing their current cap space to about $70 million.

8. Extend Trent Williams

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It was organizational malpractice of the highest order for the team not to resolve the Trent Williams saga last season via either an extension or a trade. Whichever side you land on that coin, you have to acknowledge the team blew it (Thanks Bruce).

But at this point, the trade market won’t return decent value for a player of Trent’s value. And nobody really thinks he doesn’t have three or four more solid years left. So, I would bite the bullet and extend him. A four-year, $70 million deal with $50 million guaranteed should get that done. If not, then I’d let him play out his existing deal and take the comp pick when he leaves next year in free agency.

But for this exercise, let’s assume he takes the offer which will actually save the team another $3 million in cap space.

9. Re-sign Brandon Scherff

The Redskins should work to get Brandon Scherff extended before the franchise tag deadline. He should have been extended this time last year, but better late than never. Scherff is the closest thing to a “Hog” the Redskins have. They should tie him up (see what I did there?) with a five-year, $90 million deal with $60 million guaranteed.

This could easily be structured to cost them about $12 million in cap space this year and would give them an All-Pro guard to run behind for the entirety of Ron Rivera’s current contract with the team. This move leaves them at $61 million in cap space remaining.

10. Trade Dunbar for OT Ryan Ramczyk

Dunny has been a success story here in Washington, but the reality is, he’s not healthy enough or consistent enough to be worth putting up with a holdout. The Redskins should get the most value possible out of him…and that is to get a known commodity, rather than a late-round draft pick.

Ramczyk is a solid right tackle who is essentially on the last year of his deal. The Saints need cornerback help (they relied on Eli Apple last year), and the Redskins need to shore up their OT position. I’d give Ramczyk a three-year extension at about $9 million in average annual value, costing about $6 million in cap space, and leaving the team with $55 million available. This also puts some starting pressure on Morgan Moses who needs to elevate his play in 2020 to avoid being cut in 2021.

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