Redskins: Five questions that need to be answered in free agency
By Ian Cummings
No. 2 – Will the Panthers nepotism continue, and will it be a problem?
It’s not, like, a problem problem just yet, but there is something to be said about the Panthers pipeline that the Redskins have inherited since hiring Ron Rivera as their head coach.
Most of the team’s new coaching staff under Rivera came from Carolina, and in the months before free agency, the Redskins have already signed two former Panthers players: Tight end Marcus Baugh, an undrafted free agent who was at Ohio State with Haskins in 2017, and Jared Norris, a minus athlete who likely won’t provide much more than special teams utility.
The coaching staff hires are understandable, as Rivera wanted a staff that he was comfortable with. But that kind of hiring process does breed questions over whether or not the jobs are given on a purely merit-based philosophy. That same concern may stem to free agency, where the potential energy is there for Rivera to indulge in his Panthers connections again.
James Bradberry is the obvious headliner in that department, as the 27-year old cornerback is set to get a hefty payday on the open market. Other former Panthers players who could potentially generate interest from Washington include Tre Boston, Devin Funchess, Chris Hogan, and Daryl Williams. Some of these players might present more value than others, but if the signings are made solely based on the connections with Rivera, that’s a slippery slope that could lead to problems down the road.