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Redskins Roster Projection: Team loads up in the trenches

By Jacob Camenker

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Chase Roullier #73 of the Washington football team waits to snap the ball against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on November 3, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo beats Washington 24 to 9. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Chase Roullier #73 of the Washington football team waits to snap the ball against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on November 3, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo beats Washington 24 to 9. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 09: Tight end Evan Engram #88 of the New York Giants is tackled by defensive back Deshazor Everett #22 of the Washington Redskins in the third quarter at FedExField on December 9, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 09: Tight end Evan Engram #88 of the New York Giants is tackled by defensive back Deshazor Everett #22 of the Washington Redskins in the third quarter at FedExField on December 9, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Safety (4)

Landon Collins, Sean Davis, Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke

Collins and Davis are written in pen as the starters, so they will make the roster. But beyond those two, the safety depth chart is unsettled.

For the moment, Everett and Apke should be the favorites to make the roster for one simple reason: They’re both terrific on special teams. Everett averaged 1.14 special teams tackles per game last year, good for third in the NFL. He is a good veteran presence and the special teams captain should continue to serve as the top backup for the team.

Apke’s spot is a bit more tenuous, but his speed is the big difference-maker here. He’s a good gunner and finished 11th in the NFL in special teams tackles with 11 stops in that area. If he can get better as a safety — he showed signs of improving in coverage last season — he could eventually emerge as a top backup. Either way, the Redskins don’t have a lot of speed in the secondary, so keeping Apke makes sense for the time being.

Kamren Curl and Jeremy Reaves are the notable cuts here. Curl, a seventh-round pick, will have trouble making the roster because of his lacking speed. He may make it as a special teamer, but he just doesn’t have the long speed needed to crack the top four on this depth chart.

Reaves, meanwhile, is a young, well-rounded player, so he’s probably the first man off at this position. If he proves that he can succeed as a backup safety, he could edge out a guy like Everett or maybe force Rivera and Del Rio to consider keeping a fifth safety.

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