5 Washington Redskins Who Will Be on the Roster Bubble in 2015

Scot McCloughan may still be moving furniture into his new office at Redskins Park. But Washington's general manager should already be thinking about some of the tough decisions he's going to have to make to trim a 4-12 roster.

Specifically, McCloughan should be concerned with four members of a failing defense. A pair of veteran linemen could be put out to pasture, depending on who succeeds Jim Haslett as coordinator.

Meanwhile, two defensive backs could be cut loose from a porous secondary. Wholesale changes are long overdue in the defensive backfield. Dumping a high salary and a big reputation would be a great start.

Over on the offense, McCloughan may look to save some money by ditching a guard who's under-performed during four seasons.

Here are the players likely to find themselves on the roster bubble this offseason.

All Salary Cap figures via Spotrac.com.

Stephen Bowen, DE

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Despite problems staying healthy, Stephen Bowen still has a lot to offer a 3-4 defense. He's beefy, tough to move and stout against the run. Bowen also has some skill as an interior pass-rusher from a nickel front.

But for all his positive attributes, Bowen is also 30 and carrying a major hit in 2015. Bowen will account for $8.02 million against this year's cap, per Spotrac.com.

The same site also indicates how the former Dallas Cowboys starter will be a free agent in 2016. That gives Washington's front office some room to negotiate.

McCloughan could look to restructure Bowen's 2015 deal if it means keeping an experienced and competent 3-4 defensive end around. This will be especially relevant if reported favorite Wade Phillips lands the job as defensive coordinator.

Bowen played for Phillips in Dallas. He understands the nuances of the ageing play-caller's attacking, one-gap scheme.

Alternatively, the Redskins could take the opportunity to release Bowen this offseason. That would remove his pending $5.4 million salary from the cap.

It's not as if Washington isn't well-stocked along the D-line. Fellow end Jarvis Jenkins is a free agent, along with nose tackle Chris Neild.

However, Chris Baker, Jason Hatcher, Kedric Golston and Frank Kearse are still around. They're joined by another veteran lineman who, like Bowen, could find himself on the bubble.

Barry Cofield Jr., NT

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Barry Cofield Jr. is another injury-hit D-lineman who's carrying a hefty salary into the offseason. McCloughan has already made one statement that could have ominous implications for Cofield's future in D.C.

Real Redskins blogger Rich Tandler noted a statement made by McCloughan in 2010 when he was general manager of the San Francisco 49ers: “I’ll never lose sight of this and maybe I’m a dinosaur in this, but it’s a big man’s game.”

Tandler noted how Cofield might not fit with that philosophy: "And if the Redskins stick with the 3-4 defense it’s hard not to be very pessimistic on the future of Barry Cofield, who is not the traditional big-body nose tackle that is usually in the middle of the line in that scheme."

That's not an unreasonable assumption to make. After all, when McCloughan spoke back in 2010, he had already helped assemble a gigantic D-line in San Francisco.

The 49ers' trenches were populated with monsters in the form of Justin Smith, Aubrayo Franklin and Isaac Sopoaga. Franklin weighed in at 6'1" and 320 pounds, while 6'2" Sopoaga tipped the scales at 330 pounds.

The 6'4", 303-pound Cofield doesn't compare favorably. That 303 figure is probably generous, but there's no denying Cofield has never quite fit the hulking prototype to anchor a 3-4.

However, just like with Bowen, Cofield's future could hinge on who takes over this defense in the wake of Haslett's resignation. Some play-callers, including Phillips, will make room for a lighter man over center. Cofield's ability to create pressure and quickly slant could be very useful in the right scheme.

Yet what's telling is how Cofield was rarely played on the nose once he returned from injury last season. That could be an indication the regime of head coach Jay Gruden doesn't believe Cofield can anchor this defensive front.

If that's the case, then Cofield's future could be decided by brass tacks. Then McLoughan might want to consider the 30-year-old's injury record.

Cofield missed eight games and made only three starts last season. He also played hurt for most of 2013.

McCloughan will certainly consider the $4.55 million Cofield is owed in 2015, as well as the $5.55 million he's due in 2016. Dumping the ex-New York Giants Super Bowl winner this offseason would eliminate a $7,677,500 cap hit.

Chris Chester, G

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It's hard not to believe Chris Chester has played his last game for the Redskins. Signed as a free agent in 2011, the one-time Baltimore Ravens rotation player hasn't made the grade as a starter in D.C.

As if four years of underachievement isn't enough, Chester is also carrying a high cap figure and certainly doesn't fit with McCloughan's view that the game is won by big guys.

That's a view also shared by Gruden. He utilized more beef in the trenches when he ran the offense for the Cincinnati Bengals.

That's bad news for Chester, the 303-pounder who has been routinely overpowered during the last two seasons. The 32-year-old will also account for a $4.8 million cap hit this year.

With guard one of the strongest positions in free agency, Gruden and McCloughan ought to be able to find interior blockers more suited to their philosophy. A player such as San Francisco 49ers starter Mike Iupati, whom McCloughan drafted, will certainly appeal. As will Bengals guard Clint Boling thanks to his experience working with Gruden.

There are too many factors against Chester to think he'll still be on the roster once the new season starts.

Tracy Porter, CB

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Do the Redskins really want to pay Tracy Porter $2.25 million in 2015? Sure, the secondary needs all the help it can get. However, 28-year-old Porter hardly provided any of that last season.

He missed 13 games and made only one start. There's no denying Porter can contribute when he's healthy, but he's yet to prove he can make it onto the field enough.

At his best, Porter is physical and opportunistic in outside coverage. He's also excellent on the blitz from the slot.

As a former Super Bowl winner with the New Orleans Saints, Porter also offers valuable experience at a position which boasted young starters in 2014. Youthful pairing David Amerson and Bashaud Breeland probably need a steady veteran around as part of the rotation.

But Porter has done little to prove he's that guy. That could count against him when McCloughan starts thinking about where he can save some money this offseason.

DeAngelo Hall, CB

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Some may rate Hall as Washington's best cornerback. But he's still a 31-year-old coming off a pair of serious injuries and scheduled to earn at least $4 million for each of the next three years.

Can you say restructure? McCloughan certainly should.

Hall tore his left Achilles twice in 2014. In his absence, rookie fourth-rounder Breeland showed plenty of promise. In fact, Breeland probably did enough to enter the new season as the team leader at his position.

His performances may convince the front office they can move on without Hall. Yet one problem is the inconsistency experienced by 2013 second-round pick Amerson.

He certainly isn't the budding young star Breeland is. There's also the small matter of Porter's future and the status of E.J. Biggers as a pending free agent. This cornerback rotation is looking dangerously thin.

However, considering McCloughan has called the draft a "lifeline," he's just as likely to look for young reinforcements. It doesn't help that Hall plays exclusively on the same side Breeland appears to have made his own.

Unless the veteran former Pro Bowler agrees to a restructure, he'll be gone.

Bubble Candidates Reflect the Roster's Biggest Problem

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With four of five players operating on that side of the ball, this list is obviously skewed toward the defense. That's only natural considering the unit is the biggest problem on the team.

It's also where the easiest decisions can be made. It's easy to make a case for severing ties with players such as Bowen, Cofield and Hall.

Yet it's not as simple over on the offense. For instance there's no quarterback on this list, despite major question marks at the position.

But McCloughan has already indicated he'll give Robert Griffin III a strong look, per ESPN 980's The Sports Fix (h/t Scott Allen of The Washington Post). He even suggested potential open futures for backups Kirk Cousins and free agent Colt McCoy:

"

I can tell you this, knowing this, him coming out of college, I was very impressed, especially with his deep-ball accuracy. It was very impressive, and [his] athleticism and all that. But even with Kirk, I felt positive with him coming out of Michigan State, I liked him quite a bit too. I thought there was a difference between him and Robert. But even McCoy was a dang good college player. I mean, all three of them won games.

"

Of course, there's an element of not committing to anything and keeping options open, that's only natural for a guy who's just got the job. However, Gruden has already indicated there could be a competition under center during the offseason.

It's simply too soon to make a call on any quarterback on the roster.

The rest of the offense, at least in terms of the skill positions, takes care of itself. A running game featuring Alfred Morris and a receiving corps boasting DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Andre Roberts, forms as good a supporting cast as any in the NFL.

But it's defensively where the main calls have to be made. That's where McCloughan can trim the cap figure and start to revamp a unit that has held this franchise back for too long.