Bold = Starter
Italics = Rookie
Strikethrough = Doesn’t make 53-man roster
Offense
QB: Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, Nate Sudfeld
This could be the last season we see Cousins as a Redskin as he goes into the season again on the franchise tag. Cousins has a lot of new targets, but is looking to put on a display to show the Redskins, and the rest of the league, why he is a franchise quarterback. McCoy stays around as the trusty, gunslinger backup. Because some of the young talent has been impressive, I think Sudfeld finds his way off the roster this year. He hasn’t done anything to impress or show big improvements, so I think he’ll be able to clear through to the practice squad
RB: Robert Kelley, Chris Thompson, Samaje Perine, Mack Brown, Keith Marshall, Matt Jones
Fat Rob maintains the starting RB position, coming off a solid rookie year. The Redskins draft Perine in the fourth round, making a powerful Thunder and Thunder backfield duo. Chris Thompson is brought back on a one year deal to handle the third down/change of pace duties. I think the Redskins will only go with 3 RBs, but I could see them going one less OL or CB to keep Mack, as he can provide solid help on special teams.
WR: Terrelle Pryor, Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson, Robert Davis, Maurice Harris, Ryan Grant, Brian Quick, Kendall Thompson
This WR corps looks very different than it did last year, and there is one big (pun intended) difference, HEIGHT. Redskins were 30th in the league last year in redzone TD percentage, and adding 6’4″ Terrelle Pryor could help improve on that. Crowder is the one returning figure from last season, having a breakout season from the slot position, and looks to go into this season as Cousins security blanket. Redskins’ fans are excited to get their first real look at the 1st round pick from 2016 in Doctson, as he spent all last season on IR. There are big expectations for him, as he looks to be thrown into the starting role. However, I am less than optimistic, as Doctson has shown an inability to stay healthy and, to me, a lack of enthusiasm for the game. Ryan Grant will make the team despite doing nothing to show he can play at this level, if only because of Jay Gruden’s love affair with him. The 6th round pick, Davis, continues the theme of size among the receiving corps. His size and ability to contribute on special teams gives him a great shot at making the final 53. That leaves Brian Quick, who has been disappointing since joining the team, on the outside looking in.
TE: Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle, Niles Paul, Derrick Carrier
TE is one of the most stacked positions for the Redskins, and they added more depth to that in the draft. When Reed is healthy, he is the second best TE in the league. Davis stepped up last season to show he still has a lot in the tank. The Redskins picked up a potential playmaker in the 5th round in Sprinkle, who is also probably the best blocking TE out of the bunch. Paul rounds out the TE core, filling in the role of H-back as well as backing up at TE.
T: Trent Williams, Morgan Moses, Ty Nsekhe, Vinston Painter
G: Brandon Sherff, Shawn Lauvao, Kyle Kalis, Arie Kouandjio
C: Spencer Long, Chase Roullier
This OL was one of the best in the league last year, and they stay intact. Williams was in top form last year as arguably the top LT in the league. Last year’s first overall pick, Sherff, seems be headed into a sophomore slump, but hopefully he can pick it up as the season gets rolling. Long looks to have taken a step back, after performing well taking over the center role last season. We will see how he bounces back after having his knee scoped. In the meantime, 6th-round Pick, Roullier has shown to be a very serviceable replacement and will go into the season as the team’s backup center. Nsekhe proved himself to be a starting quality, back-up LT. They chose not to address the biggest weakness (LG) in the draft, and 3rd year pro Kouandjio has shown he doesn’t have what it takes at that position. Undrafted free agent Kalis will take the backup guard spot.
Defense
DL: Jonathan Allen, Stacy McGee, Ziggy Hood, Terrell McClain, Anthony Lanier, Matt Ioannidis, A.J. Francis, Phil Taylor, Joey Mbu
The DL is the weakest section of this Redskins squad, but they made a big update in the 1st round. Redskins fans were holding their collective breath as offensive player after offensive player went early in the 1st round. As the 17th pick came, Allen was the obvious choice. We will see how things play out with his shoulders (would hate to have another situation like Doctson last year), but if he stays healthy, the Redskins got top 5 talent. I believe he takes that talent and earns himself a starting role at DE over one of the two, big free agent signing in McClain and McGee. Of those 2, McClain has been a big disappointment and could see his way off the roster. However, it looks like McClain will be thrown back into the mix as Taylor is out for the year with an injury and frankly he’s too expensive to cut. It is sad to see Taylor out, as he was making great strides during camp/preseason and was posed to take over the NT position. One person that had a lot of people talking during camp is Joey Mbu, but ultimately he won’t make the cut, but is a great candidate for the practice squad.
OLD: Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Ryan Anderson, Junior Galette, Chris Carter, Lynden Trail, Trent Murphy
The Redskins need to see continued growth from Smith, to finally have a quality pass rusher opposite Kerrigan. They may have found that in the 2nd round with Anderson. They were going to be without Murphy for the first four games with a PED suspension, but now will be without him for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Galette is posed to return from 2 years away from the field with injuries and show he can still be a dominant pass rusher. With the injury concerns of Galette and Smith, I see Carter making the roster, as he is also a great special teams contributor.
ILB: Zach Brown, Mason Foster, Will Compton, Martrell Spaight, Nico Marley, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Zach Vigil
The Redskins made one of their biggest moves in free agency signing Pro Bowler Brown from the Bills. Foster will end up getting the start at Mike over Compton. Harvey-Clemons is more of a SS than an ILB, but it looks like they are going to give him a chance to compete for a spot in a similar role Cravens had last year; ultimately I think he ends up on the practice squad. Marley is one that I hope I’m wrong about. At 5’8″ 200lbs, he’s definitely undersized for the position, but he’s shown a toughness, awareness, and a willingness to compete that would make him a solid special teams contributor.
CB: Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland, Kendall Fuller, Fabian Moreau, Quinton Dunbar, Josh Holsey
The Redskins managed to find 1st round talent in the 3rd with Moreau, in part due to the torn pec he suffered during his pro day. He impressed in his first appearance during the second preseason game, showing some splashes on special teams as well. Fuller looks to handle the nickel duties for now. He hopes to improve in his sophomore season, now reunited with his former college position coach, Torrian Gray. Given they went with 6 CBs at the start of last season, I think they will again and Holsey will earn himself a spot will his impressive preseason showings. However if the Redskins think they can sneak him through to the practice squad, we may see him cut in favor of depth at another position (i.e. 3 QBs or 4RBs).
SS: Su’a Cravens, Deshazor Everett
Cravens gets his first chance to focus on the strong safety position, after getting time last year at inside linebacker.
FS: D.J. Swearinger, Will Blackmon, Montae Nicholson, DeAngelo Hall, Fish Smithson,
The other big splash the Redskins made in free agency was signing Swearinger, the big hitting safety from the Cardinals. He takes the FS duties from a couple of veteran, former CBs, who will provide great depth and experience to the secondary; though it looks like Hall will start the season on the PUP list. Nicholson is the last of the rookies who have shown this preseason they deserve a spot on the roster.
K: Dustin Hopkins
P: Tress Way
LS: Nick Sunberg
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