One of the biggest needs for the Washington Redskins to address this offseason has to do with their cornerback position, and who they will have starting in 2020. We know that the Redskins will have at least one spot to fill when it comes to that spot, but they could very well have two starting positions left empty if CB Quinton Dunbar and his trade demands are not dealt with.
If you’re unfamiliar with the situation, Dunbar let the Redskins know earlier this year that he would like to be either released or traded, should he not be given a contract extension ahead of next season. As it stands now, Dunbar is due $3.25 million in 2020, but none of it is guaranteed. After he has risen to become Washington’s No. 1 pass-defender, and one of the highest-rated CBs in the league over the last year, that compensation is well below is market value.
It seems like it would make sense for the Redskins to want to keep Dunbar around, seeing as he is the biggest asset they have in a weak position group, but the feeling around the team is that Ron Rivera and the new regime is unlikely to extend him. They could do right by Dunbar and trade him away, or they could keep things as is and risk having a disgruntled cornerback playing for them next season.
For NFL Agent J.I. Halsell, with SWAY Talent, the belief is that a trade would be the best thing for the Redskins, as it would help establish the culture of guys wanting to be in the locker room. He cites a tidbit he learned from Eric Schaffer, the Redskins former chief negotiator, to further explain.
“One thing Eric taught is you never want a player walking around the locker room feeling a team is getting over him from a compensation standpoint,” Halsell said, via ESPN.com. “As you’re trying to change the culture and mold a locker room, moving on from Dunbar could be a win-win situation.”
A trade makes sense for the Redskins, but it would mean they’d have two cornerbacks to replace on the defense, rather than one. Washington is expected to spend big at that position in free agency, but it’s tough to see them buying two worthy starters.
An easy fix to this problem would be keeping Dunbar around, and that’s best done by repairing a broken relationship, which the Redskins know a thing or two about. If that can’t be done, though, finding a new home for Dunbar may be the smartest thing to do.
