The NFL Trade Deadline is now just a few hours away, and though the Washington Football Team has a few assets on the roster that they could likely flip for some late-round draft picks in the future, an overwhelming feeling has arisen that they will stay pat.
Staying pat for Washington means that veteran DE Ryan Kerrigan will likely still be on the roster 24 hours from now. With many people believing that he was the most likely to be traded away, head coach Ron Rivera said on Monday that not only is he unlikely to be traded, but also that he’s hopefully going to get more playing time going forward.
“I feel we got to play him a little bit more and I plan to,” Rivera said Monday via the Washington Football Talk Podcast. “Look at what he’s done in terms of his career and look at what he’s done in a short period with us. Snaps per production is way up there.”
Though Kerrigan stands as the franchise all-time sack leader, his playing time has plummeted this season thanks to the addition on Chase Young and the emergence of Montez Sweat. A report came out on Sunday that Kerrigan had requested a trade to a team that had more of a need for him, which is understandable for a player of his stature who obviously still has a lot left to give.
Despite this, Rivera desperately wants to keep Kerrigan around, simply because he provides a great mentor and leader in the locker room for a host of young players to look up to.
“Look at the way he handles himself, extra work, role model for young players,” Rivera said. “That’s the kind of guy you want around.”
