Redskins were smart to sign few undrafted free agents in 2020
The Redskins didn’t add many undrafted players to the fold this offseason, but there’s a good reason for that.
No team in the NFL signed fewer undrafted free agents than the Washington Redskins did following the 2020 NFL Draft. In fact, it wasn’t particularly close.
Following the draft, the Redskins only brought in four undrafted players all on the offensive side of the ball. They were Colorado quarterback Steven Montez, LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss, Temple wide receiver Isaiah Wright, and Missouri wide receiver Johnathon Johnson.
That was it. Nobody was added on defense or on the offensive line. It was just about adding some skill position players with upside.
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In a normal year, this would be a head-scratching decision. But in 2020, this was a sensible strategy for the Redskins. And the reasoning for that is simple.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NFL teams haven’t been able to hold rookie minicamps or OTAs in person. All meetings thus far have been virtual As a result of that, the rookie classes of each team will be a bit further behind than normal coming into 2020.
Teams will still have a chance to develop players once training camp and the preseason rolls around. But at least off the bat, the growth of rookies could be a bit stunted. And that may be especially problematic for undrafted rookies who may need extra time to get acclimated to the NFL.
With that said, what the Redskins have chosen to do is smart. They targeted more veteran depth in free agency to help fill out their roster depth. And while these guys may have less upside than undrafted players and could just be camp bodies, they won’t require a ton of investment from the coaching staff. That will free up the staff to focus more on the eight draft picks they made as well as the four undrafted players they’ve brought aboard. And, of course, on other young players on the roster that are continuing to develop, like Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin.
In short, the Redskins have added some young talent, but haven’t added too many raw pieces that could have trouble making the 53-man roster or practice squad. They picked and chose their targets carefully and it’s likely that they believe the 12 rookies they brought aboard all have a chance to either make an impact or at least make the 53-man roster or practice squad for 2020.
Next. Why Thaddeus Moss went undrafted in 2020. dark
It will be interesting to see how the Redskins rookie class ends up faring. It may be the smallest in the NFL, but that was a smart choice for the squad given the unique configuration of this offseason.