In the second week of free agency, 2020, the Washington Football Team signed two defensive players to one-year deals. If you read the analysis of the players at the time, you would have seen that one was a talented but oft-injured cornerback who had frustrated fans in Philadelphia, while the other was a journeyman linebacker who could play special teams and little else.
But Ronald Darby and Kevin Pierre-Louis would become mainstays on a top-5 defense, playing so well that they each cashed in with long-term deals on new teams for 2021. The lesson is that even though most of the big names sign early in free agency, there are key acquisitions possible in the second week and beyond.
Jacob Camenker identified three players – Tre Boston, K.J. Wright, and Trai Turner – who are still on the market and who could interest the Washington Football Team. Here are three more:
1. Eric Wilson, Linebacker
If Washington is looking for a direct Pierre-Louis replacement, the 26-year-old Wilson is as close as they are likely to come. Wilson rose from undrafted free agent in 2017 to become the Vikings’ leading tackler in 2020. After starter Anthony Barr suffered a torn pec early in the season, Wilson stepped in and never left the field.
Wilson showed the athleticism to be a modern off-ball linebacker who can cover all over the field. Despite his tackling totals, Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the worst run defenders in the league in 2020, so Washington needs to determine whether Wilson will improve in this area as he gains more experience. Pierre-Louis was in a very similar position when Washington signed him in 2020.
2. Trey Burton, Tight End
The Washington Football Team either passed or was outbid on a number of modestly-talented move tight ends. As much as I would have liked to have seen how Dan Arnold looked paired with Logan Thomas, his price tag grew too high.
Ross Dwelley chose to remain in San Francisco and James O’Shaughnessy re-upped in Jacksonville. Jacob Hollister and Jared Cook will be suiting up for new teams in 2021, but neither is in Washington.
Of all these players, only Cook has shown star potential, and he is at the end of his career. Any of them would have been upgrades over existing back-ups Marcus Baugh and Jeremy Sprinkle – at least as receiving options – but none were sure things.
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Neither is Burton, the tight end who flashed playmaking potential early on but has dealt with injuries for most of his career. Burton was a disappointment in Chicago, but if he can stay healthy, he still can make plays as a second tight end. Burton will turn 30 during the 2021 season, so he most likely has one more shot to buy himself a few more years with a good campaign.
It’s possible that Washington will target a receiving tight end like Miami’s Brevin Jordan in the upcoming draft. And converted college receiver Dylan Cantrell remains an intriguing option on the practice squad.
But Burton does have a track record at the professional level. After kicking the tires on Richard Rodgers last preseason, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Washington take a similar look at Burton.
3. John Miller, Guard
Trai Turner has been a better player than John Miller throughout his career. When he was at his best, he was significantly better.
But in recent years, I think Miller has been the steadier player. He fits the exact profile of Wes Schweitzer, a young vet who can start or provide interior line depth.
He may never become a dominant blocker, but he has graded out as a decent player in both running and passing situations, and that is a meaningful factor, especially for a potential depth player. As Schweitzer proved last season, having a veteran who can step in without requiring major restricting of the game plan is vital.
It is possible that last year’s rookies, Saahdiq Charles and Keith Ismael, could get some looks at guard this season. But Washington can’t be very confident about Wes Martin, and behind those unproven players, Washington has nothing should Schweitzer or Brandon Scherff miss time this year.
Wilson, Burton, and Miller are far from sure things and if the Washington Football Team were to sign any or all, there is no guarantee that any would make the team or have the impacts that Darby and Pierre-Louis had last year.
But these signings often get overlooked with a new quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback headed to town. But sometimes a signing like this can make the difference between team staying competitive through the year and falling apart due to an injury or two.