The 2020 NFL Free Agency period is still open, but things have wound down for the Washington Redskins for the most part, and the team is largely set with their roster aside from the addition of a handful of draft picks that are set to come later this month.
So if this is largely the final product that we have to work with before the 53-man roster cut, where are the strengths, and where are the weaknesses? We break it all down here in our rankings of the Redskins nine position groups, starting with the worst and going down the line to the very best of the best.
No. 9 — Tight Ends
The tight end position was a major area of need for the Redskins heading into free agency, and they did very little to address it. After both Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis missed most of the 2019 season with injuries, it was apparent that Washington needed to do something in order to better round out that part of the field and help their young quarterback by offering a safety valve over the middle. It looks like we’re still waiting for that to happen.
The Redskins added Richard Rodgers and Logan Thomas in free agency, but neither of them feels like surefire starters once the regular season rolls around. It’s likely that Washington will try to draft a TE somewhere in the third or fourth round later this month, but even the best TE in the 2020 draft class would have to be pretty spectacular if he wants to improve this position group for the Redskins.
No. 8 — Quarterback
The QB room currently ranks pretty low on the Redskins list of assets, but that’s mainly due to inexperience. A year from now, this position group could easily be near the top of the rankings, depending on what we see from both Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen.
The two young players have both shown some bright spots in their career, and watching them grow over the next season will be entertaining. The battle for the top spot will tell us a lot about both of them this summer, and we’ll definitely get a feel for who has the chance to take the reigns for the future. Haskins currently has the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, but Allen has the experience in Scott Turner’s system, and he could easily usurp the role. Regardless of who takes the first snaps under center, until we see more from this position group, it’s hard to have a great deal of confidence going forward.
No. 7 — Offensive Line
The offensive line in Washington is a little lopsided. On the right side, you have veterans like Brandon Scherff and Morgan Moses, plus Chase Roullier holding down the middle. However, on the left side, you have…Cornelius Lucas? Wes Martin? Wes Schweitzer? It’s unclear what the starting front will look like when Week 1 rolls around, and the left tackle spot will be a major position of contention as the team looks to replace Trent Williams. It won’t be easy to fill the hole left by Ereck Flowers either.
It’s highly possible that Martin can step up to be a solid LG, and the Redskins can apply another stop-gap at the LT position for the 2020 season, but there are definitely some question marks on the offensive front.
No. 6 — Wide Receiver
The top of this position group is as good as any on the team, with Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims leading the way. However, after that, it gets a bit dicey. Kelvin Harmon can definitely become a solid player in the near future, and the Redskins also picked up Cody Latimer in free agency. Still, it’s hard to instill that much confidence in the reserves because we haven’t seen exactly what they can be yet. It won’t be at all surprising to see Washington try to add a solid WR in the draft, which can hopefully help this position group rise above the middle of the pack.
No. 5 — Linebacker
The defensive front-seven is a solid group in Washington, but let’s separate the linebackers form the defensive line for the sake of this exercise. Even without the potential return of Reuben Foster, a core of Thomas Davis, Cole Holcomb, and Ryan Anderson project to be highly productive, and when you add in a rotation of Jon Bostic, Shaun Dion Hamilton, and Nate Orchard, it gets that much better. In a solid defensive line-up, the linebacking core can definitely hold its water.
No. 4 — Special Teams
It often goes overlooked, but the Redskins are set when it comes to special teams. Punter Tress Way is a Pro-Bowler who stands as one of the best marksmen in the game, and K Dustin Hopkins is a solid kicker who can be relied on in big moments. Long-snapper Nick Sundberg is also a steady asset who is a great locker room guy. No holes in this special teams unit.
No. 3 — Defensive Backs
The secondary was a major point of contention for the Redskins going into the 2020 free agency period, but Washington did a great job of adding assets who can help the team win now. With Landon Collins standing as the leader, the Redskins signed FS Sean Davis to replace Montae Nicholson, and they also added both CB Ronald Darby and CB Kendall Fuller to the edges, shoring up the outside. With both Fabian Moreau and Jimmy Moreland taking strides towards bigger roles, the secondary is definitely a strength for the Redskins now, and it will go a long way to helping the defense keep the team in games.
No. 2 — Running Backs
This ranking is done more based on potential than production, but I feel very strongly that the Redskins will see some great improvement from their running back group this season. Adrian Peterson, always the steady veteran, will lead the way, and Derrius Guice has shown that he can be a truly dynamic asset if he’s able to stay healthy. The Redskins also have Bryce Love set to return after missing his rookie season, and his performance in college has me incredibly excited for what he can do in the NFL. On top of all that, the Redskins added both J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber to the roster in free agency — two players who have shown solid production in short spurts, but they’ve struggled to find the right fit in the league. If they can find a home in Washington, the stable of running backs for the Redskins could be one of the best in the NFL.
No. 1 — Defensive Line
Was there ever a doubt that the defensive line is the best group on the roster? The Redskins are completely stacked on the front line, and it has a chance to get even better with the expected selection of DE Chase Young in the NFL Draft — a generational talent who is currently the heavy favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. Just think of some of the names Washington has on the DL depth chart: Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, Matt Ioannidis, Caleb Brantley, Tim Settle. The ability to rotate guys in and out without missing a beat when it comes to talent level is going to make the Redskins defense something to behold in 2020. With three strong position groups all working together under Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera, Washington has something special cooking on that side of the ball.
