Washington Football Team cornerback Fabian Moreau signs with Falcons

The Washington Football Team has lost another former draft pick in free agency.

There’s always inevitable turnover during each offseason’s free agency period, and 2021 is no exception. The Washington Football Team’s doors have opened and closed, and players have gone in and out.

Among those who came in are quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, cornerback William Jackson III, and Curtis Samuel. But Washington also lost some firepower, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. 2020 starters such as Kevin Pierre-Louis and Ronald Darby left for new opportunities, and 2017 second-round pick Ryan Anderson also departed, seeking out an interdivisional opportunity with the Giants.

Anderson wasn’t the only 2017 selection to part ways with the Washington Football Team. According to reports, third-round cornerback Fabian Moreau has also officially left Washington, opting to join the Atlanta Falcons, where he’ll potentially have a chance to start. Washington had reportedly considered bringing back Moreau, but the addition of William Jackson likely minimized Moreau’s avenues to an increased role.

Moreau, who turns 27 years old in April, has borderline-elite athletic traits, and he often flashed those traits in spurts with Washington. Over four seasons, Moreau played in 60 games, 18 of which were starts. Over that span, he accrued six interceptions and 14 pass deflections. Five of those interceptions came in Moreau’s most recent two seasons.

It’s almost surprising that Moreau didn’t see more time as a starter in 2020, as he flourished in small moments under Ron Rivera’s tutelage. When Kendall Fuller started the season on the injury report, Moreau played on the boundary and played well for the most part, logging two interceptions and three pass deflections. Moreau also allowed a measly opposing passer rating of 79.9.

Nevertheless, when Fuller returned to the field, there wasn’t much room for Moreau to earn substantial snaps, especially with Ronald Darby playing well and Jimmy Moreland manning the slot. Moreau remained a mere depth player for most of 2020, but he’ll have the chance to expand beyond that role in Atlanta. Aside from 2020 first-round pick A.J. Terrell, the Falcons don’t have a lot of stability at cornerback.

With a new opportunity, Moreau could help fill a need for the Falcons, and realize his true potential as a result. Washington will likely miss his ability to produce in a pinch, but there will be chances to recoup the loss later on in the offseason.