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Washington Football Team Roster Projection: Update with Alex Smith healthy

By Jonathan Eig

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 11: Alex Smith #11 of Washington drops back for a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 11: Alex Smith #11 of Washington drops back for a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 24: Ryan Anderson #52 of the Washington Redskins in action in the second half against the Detroit Lions at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 24: Ryan Anderson #52 of the Washington Redskins in action in the second half against the Detroit Lions at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Front Seven

Caleb Brantley has opted out for the 2020 season, and Reuben Foster has been cleared to play. That seems to make the front seven roster choices very simple.

Normally, a new scheme with new coaches, and several new players expected to take prominent roles would result in a lot of conjecture. We may see new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio make some creative choices in how to deploy his line and linebackers, but the roster is pretty well set.

There will be seven lineman and eight linebackers on paper, which is not an appropriate apportionment for a 4-3 defense. But I think we will see linebacker Ryan Anderson moving around quite a bit, and occasionally lining up at the defensive end spot, which tips the balance back a bit. The fringe benefit of keeping more linebackers is that it should result in better kick coverage on special teams.

Though I am not bold enough to project him on the final roster, my one deep dark horse this year is defensive end Jordan Brailford.

Brailford is coming off a rookie season spent on the IR. He was a productive pass rusher in college and has good measurables, especially solid in areas that equate to good edge rusher play – 20-yard shuttle and broad jump. He is a bit undersized for the line (very similar in size to Ryan Anderson) and there was some thought that he might be better suited to play linebacker in the NFL.

But here’s the one thing that I find most intriguing about Brailford. When Bleacher Report’s player evaluator Matt Miller was doing comparisons to current NFL players before last season, he compared Brailford to at-the-time-journeyman edge rusher Shaq Barrett. I can see why Miller made the comparison. And we all saw what Barrett did last year.

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