Redskins 53-man roster projection: New-look ‘Skins rely on youth, upside

Practice Squad (12)

Here are the 12 players that the Redskins may carry on the practice squad. And yes, under the NFL’s new CBA, teams will be allowed to carry 12 practice squads with two game-day call-ups. So, some of these players will surely see NFL action in 2020.

QB Steven Montez. Montez could make the roster given the team’s uncertainty at quarterback but if not, the undrafted player out of Colorado will be a great developmental quarterback to keep around.

WR Jester Weah. A practice squader with the Redskins for most of 2019, Weah (6-3, 210 pounds) made 77 catches for 1,568 yards and 14 touchdowns during his two productive seasons at Pittsburgh. He averaged 20.3 yards per catch during that span.

WR Isaiah Wright. Wright, a 2019 undrafted free agent, worked as a pass catcher and rusher for Temple. He has good size at 6-2, 220, and could develop into a solid NFL playmaker with time to season on the PS.

TE Caleb Wilson. Wilson was Mr. Irrelevant in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was claimed by the Redskins off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals late last season. He was an excellent receiver in college but doesn’t do a lot as a blocker. Perhaps that will change if he bulks up. 

OT Timon Parris. Parris has been a staple of the Redskins practice squad for the past two years. He has dressed for four games for the team but hasn’t played much. At 6-6, 315 pounds, he has the frame needed to make an impact and as mentioned earlier, he could challenge for the fourth tackle spot. If not, the ‘Skins will be happy to retain him as key organizational depth.

OT Paul Adams. Teams will need to have more offensive linemen around because of the new game day call-up rules. So, the Redskins may want to keep Adams around. The 6-6, 317-pound Missouri tackle is a terrific developmental player, much like Parris. Adams spent half of the 2019 season on the Redskins practice squad.

C Ross Pierschbacher. Here’s one last O-Lineman. Pierschbacher well could make the 53-man roster but if not, he figures to be interior depth on the practice squad. The Alabama product was a fifth-round pick in 2019, but Rivera and Co. invested in their own fifth-round center, Keith Ismael, this offseason. 

EDGE James Smith-Williams. Smith-Williams is talented but injury prone. If he’s not on an injury list, the 2020 seventh-round pick will be a great practice squad stash. He’s the only draft pick not to make the roster, and that’s solely because of the team’s depth on the defensive line. 

DL Ryan Bee. Bee is 6-7 and was a well-rounded, balanced producer at Marshall. He’ll be in the running for the eighth defensive lineman job and if Rivera and Del Rio can develop him, he may make the roster. But another year on the practice squad will only afford the 24-year-old more time to improve. 

CB Danny Johnson. Johnson made the Redskins roster as an undrafted rookie in 2018 and served as a kicker return and slot corner. Last year, he only played in two games due to injury. He did have 10 tackles vs. the Eagles in Week 15, but he’ll have to stay healthy and stave off competition to make the roster. If he can’t beat Colvin, he’ll be a practice squad shoo-in. 

CB Greg Stroman. Stroman is in a similar situation to Johnson. Stroman missed all but one game last year after a promising rookie season. If he stays healthy, he’ll challenge for a roster spot and he offers some value as a punt returner. But if he can’t quite crack the corner depth chart, developing the former 2018 seventh-round pick on the practice squad would be an excellent alternative.

S Jeremy Reaves. Reaves spent most of 2018 and half of 2019 on the Redskins practice squad. If he doesn’t make it at safety, he’ll have to wait for his opportunity here once again.

This is just one combination of what the Redskins roster could look like. And it’s bound to change countless times during the offseason. What do you agree with and disagree with? Let us know in the comments below!