Washington Football Team Rumors: Ryan Anderson mentioned in trade talks

Ryan Anderson has reportedly been mentioned in trade talks by the Washington Football Team.

With roster cuts rapidly approaching for the Washington Football Team, Ron Rivera and Kyle Smith are going to be faced with numerous difficult decisions as they shape their 53-man roster. On Friday, they shocked the world by cutting Adrian Peterson, a player that was presumed to be the starter at running back.

Could they have another surprising move in their pocket? It’s surely possible. And one of the names to keep an eye on during cut day is Ryan Anderson.

According to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, Anderson’s name has been “raised in trade talks” in the lead up to final cuts.

Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Anderson will be on the move, but the fact that it’s being discussed could indicate one of two things.

First, it may solidify the belief that Anderson isn’t the greatest fit for the 4-3 scheme Washington is planning on utilizing in 2020. Anderson is a better fit as a 3-4 rush linebacker than a 4-3 edge because of his size (6-foot-2, 255 pounds). He sets the edge against the run well in the 3-4 but may have more trouble doing so in the new alignment.

Additionally, any interest in trading Anderson, from Washington’s perspective, could be a vote of confidence for a few of their younger edge rushers. James Smith-Williams and Jordan Brailford have reportedly impressed in camp and Ryan Bee (6-foot-7) looked good during the 2019 preseason. Perhaps one or two of them have made enough of an impression to stick around at Anderson’s expense.

Notably, Brailford has been mentioned the most by reporters covering camp this year, but he is similarly-sized to Anderson. Maybe if he has shown well enough, the team figures that they can offload Anderson, obtain a draft pick for the pending free agent, and role with a cheaper alternative. Or maybe they like the bigger guys (Smith Williams or Bee) better.

Either way, these rumors aren’t a huge surprise. Anderson has talent but with his free agency approaching and Washington having invested so much draft capital in the defensive line, this is probably his last year with the team anyway. They could hold onto him in hopes of getting a compensatory pick but if a decent offer comes their way for him, they could pull the trigger.

Conversely, this could all be smoke. Rivera and Jack Del Rio have praised Anderson’s work this offseason and may view him as a key piece on one of the team’s strongest defensive units. Even if they are set to lose him in 2021, they may be happy to keep him around for another season then eventually collect a compensatory pick if he shines in a backup role.

It’s also possible that the reason Anderson’s name is out there that another team asked about him and was rebuffed.

Soon enough, we’ll see whether or not Washington is planning on moving Anderson. For now, it’s just a potential story to keep an eye on as roster cuts draw nearer and nearer.