Redskins new era yields uncertainty, but ultimately potential

Expectation and reality have never been one and the same in Redskins Park.

The Bruce Allen years were rife with a kind of blissful ignorance. Year in and year out, the Washington Redskins expected to compete, simply because some simple addition and subtraction told them that they were only one or two games out of playoff contention. Allen’s famous “it means you’re close” remark, made in the early months of 2019, encapsulated this mindset.

The Redskins, for so long, sought to build off of a rotten core, and only when it all collapsed late in 2019, did Dan Snyder finally make the change that needed to be made. He disposed of Allen and hired respected coach Ron Rivera, who then assembled his own staff. But even now, with the distorting veil of the previous regime gone, it’s hard to read the Washington Redskins, and where their new path might take them.

Possessing one of the highest cap space figures in the league in free agency of 2020, the Redskins chose to stay under the radar. When their biggest swings wound up missing, they didn’t compensate with less valuable signings; instead, they loomed in the shadows, swiping up low-risk, high-upside signings. It was a refreshing change, from a previous regime which chose to sell fans on hope at a high price. But onlookers were ultimately left questioning the upside.

The 2020 NFL Draft naturally brought more excitement, with transcendent edge prospect Chase Young ushering in a wave of optimism. But beyond him, there’s a familiar confusion surrounding the Redskins’ most recent class. Not necessarily an expectation of disappointment, but an understanding that opinions must be suspended, until the picks hit the field in September.

How will the Redskins use Antonio Gibson? How will they use Antonio Gandy-Golden? Will Saahdiq Charles factor into the starting left tackle equation early on? Will Khaleke Hudson pay off his investment as a special teamer? Did the Redskins make the right choice by overlooking certain needs, such as cornerback and tight end, on Day 3?

For now, these questions remain unanswered, and for a fan base that’s only known defeat for so long, that’s a tough reality to face. The offseason is the season of eternal optimism, something Washington has been taken captive by for over a decades worth of summer months. Bruce Allen is finally gone, and a new, healthy organizational structure is in place. Can’t one finally cling to this optimism safely, without the risk of heartbreak?

Not yet.

The Redskins’ turn of the decade is a grand experiment, and one that might ultimately end in failure. It may also succeed, but for the time being, conclusions are suspended. Waiting is the only viable option. Washington chose to play it safe in free agency, and they chose to stick to their draft board when needs told them to go elsewhere. Fans want a one-year turnaround, but for now, the Redskins are just laying the groundwork. And while that means an extended period of uncertainty, it also paves the way for true success. In due time.