Washington Football Team DE Ryan Kerrigan requests trade, per report

Per reports, Washington Football Team veteran defensive end Ryan Kerrigan has officially requested a trade.

It’s been clear from the start of Ron Rivera’s tenure that the Washington Football Team‘s coaching staff values the role Ryan Kerrigan has on the defense, in spite of the team’s aggressive upgrades along the edge of the defensive line.

Kerrigan, who turned 32 years old this past August, is beyond his starting days in D.C. with Montez Sweat and Chase Young both emerging. But Kerrigan has maintained a purpose, serving as a respected veteran mentor for Sweat and Young. Young is on the record appearing appreciative of Kerrigan’s insight, and Rivera lauded the former first-round pick when he broke the team’s all-time sack record earlier this season.

Despite the admiration for Kerrigan’s services, however, it appears as though Kerrigan himself may finally be losing interest in his limited role. According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter, and corroborated by NBC Sports reporter J.P. Finlay, Kerrigan has requested a trade from the Washington Football Team.

According to Schefter, Kerrigan’s preference to stay in D.C. “for the long haul” apparently eroded when he playing time decreased exponentially due to the presence of Young and Sweat. Despite Kerrigan’s desire to take on a greater on-field impact elsewhere, Schefter notes that Washington has informed other NFL teams that they do not intend on trading Kerrigan, and value his presence too highly to deal him.

Kerrigan has indeed seen a decrease in playing time this season; he’s only played 36 percent of the team’s total defensive snaps. And yet, he’s one of the team’s leading sack-getters, with 4.0 through seven games, as well as four tackles for loss to add on to that total.

Kerrigan is in his tenth year with the Washington Football Team. Along the way, he’s been one of the best edge rushers in the league, accumulating four Pro Bowl berths, 94.0 sacks, 118 tackles for loss, 26 forced fumbles, 24 pass deflections, and three interceptions.

Even in 2020, Kerrigan has been one of the team’s most efficient pass rushers, and they’ve clearly benefitted from having a deep rotation. With that being said, Kerrigan’s limited role has also kept him fresh, and has him longing for one last opportunity to mount a playoff run as a starter with a truly contending team.

For now, it looks like Washington won’t give in to the demand, but with Kerrigan being past his peak and on the last year of his contract, it stands to reason that an offer enticing enough could nudge the Washington Football Team in the right direction. And a team that’s just an edge rusher away might be compelled to make that offer.