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Washington Football Team: Final roster projection before cut day

By Jacob Camenker

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Cam Sims #89 of the Washington Football Team looks on after the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 08, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Cam Sims #89 of the Washington Football Team looks on after the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 08, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 13: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Football Team runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 13: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Football Team runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Running Backs (4)

Antonio Gibson, JD McKissic, Bryce Love, Peyton Barber

This is the same group of five running backs I featured on my last roster projection. In the wake of Derrius Guice’s release, I thought that Washington would keep five running backs because of their relatively solid depth at the position.

Here’s what I said about each back in that piece.

"Washington has plenty of upside with Gibson and Love. But they also have other bridge options to pair with Peterson if either isn’t ready for a big workload. McKissic can serve as a top receiving back while Barber is a fine early-downs back and short-yardage hammer. They should stick around as insurance for Peterson and the rookies should any struggle or get hurt. Because of the depth added during the offseason, Washington is well-equipped to survive without Guice. They may be a true committee early in the season as they figure things out, but hopefully, one of the young guys can step up and prove to be the future of the running back corps moving forward."

It still seems that Washington will keep all five backs around. The one that may be closest to the chopping block is surprisingly Love and not Barber, but since there is space on the roster for more running backs, there’s no reason to give up on the former Heisman winner. Love could return to his college form, or at least 80 percent of it, and help create a nice future one-two punch with Gibson.

We’ll see what ultimately happens but in this analyst’s opinion, keeping five backs, at least to start the season, seems like a good move.

UPDATE: In a surprise move, Washington has released Adrian Peterson. As such, he’ll be removed from this roster projection and the team will roll with the four backs they currently have on the roster.

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