Washington Football Team: 3 replacements for Jon Bostic after season-ending injury

1. Benardrick McKinney

This one might come as a surprise, but Benardrick McKinney is probably the best fit for Washington as far as free agents are concerned.

A former second-round pick of the Texans, McKinney has graded out extremely well in coverage throughout his career. Speaking strictly in terms of the last three seasons, he averaged a respectable 67.1 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. For comparison’s sake, Bostic logged a 29.4 grade this season before his injury.

To put it simply, McKinney could be a revelation for Washington at the inside linebacker position. He has a Pro Bowl on his resume (2018) and is just a well-rounded defender. The 28-year-old isn’t renowned for getting after the quarterback, but he could wreak havoc as a situational pass rusher in sub packages.

McKinney was traded to the Dolphins in the offseason, but he was shockingly cut before Miami submitted its 53-man roster. He’s been braving the free agent waters ever since, and we’re not entirely sure how he hasn’t been signed.

If Washington is serious about fixing their defense and finding a replacement for Bostic — which they should’ve been kicking the tires on anyway before the injury given the performances he was turning in — McKinney should be their top choice.

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