Redskins sign offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer to three-year deal

The Washington Redskins needed some offensive line depth with Ereck Flowers leaving the team in free agency. They signed Wes Schweitzer to add to their roster.

Ahead of free agency, it seemed possible that the Washington Redskins and Ereck Flowers would agree to an extension. However, the two parties couldn’t get a deal done and Flowers went to the Miami Dolphins on a three-year deal worth $30 million total.

With Flowers gone, the Redskins had little depth left on their offensive line. They needed someone to challenge Wes Martin for the starting left guard job and a guy who could potentially be a backup interior lineman for the team.

And they may well have found one.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Redskins are signing former Atlanta Falcons guard Wes Schweitzer to a three-year deal.

Schweitzer was a sixth-round pick by the Falcons out of San Jose State in 2016. He has played in 46 games over the course of the past three seasons and made 36 starts for the Falcons. The 6-foot-5, 314-pound blocker has played both guard positions during his career and should be a solid challenger for Martin and will be a solid backup if he doesn’t win a starting job.

Offensive line expert Brandon Thorn offered some thoughts on Schweitzer after the signing. Here’s what he said about his skill set.

That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but the fact that Thorn likes him is a good sign. Schweitzer is just 26, so perhaps if he can improve in Washington, he’ll turn into a quality option for the team.

All told, this deal is a solid one with upside. The Redskins are paying Schweitzer like a low-level starter. He’s getting $4.5 million per year, and if he only ends up being a backup, this deal isn’t going to hurt the Redskins. But if he improves and can be a serviceable starter, he’ll be well worth this money.

Ron Rivera has seen Schweitzer play twice a year for the past three seasons. He had to plan against Schweitzer when he was the coach of the Panthers, so he probably has a good knowledge of his skill set.

If Rivera likes Schweitzer enough to challenge for a starting job, it’s worth bringing him in. And if he can’t beat Martin for a starting job, he’ll be a fine veteran backup at a reasonable price.

Signing Schweitzer isn’t a thrilling move, but it’s certainly not a bad one. The Redskins will make some other moves in the coming days as they look to continue to upgrade their overall roster, but adding Schweitzer on this type of deal is a fine start.