5 Washington Redskins Players Who Should See Their Roles Expand in 2015

At this point in the pre-draft process, it's tough accurately predicting which Washington Redskins players will enjoy expanded roles in 2015. A best guess would involve five members of the current roster, including a free agent added by new general manager Scot McCloughan this offseason.

A better place to start though, is probably to say where the Redskins have room for a breakout player or two. There is certainly an opening at running back, specifically for a dual-threat speedster to handle third-down duties.

Sticking with the offense, two young linemen appear to be getting every chance to make a good second impression and challenge some struggling incumbents. The fate of the offense, and the team in general, could well depend on a second-year leap from both blockers.

Defensively, McCloughan and the team are ready to ask a lot from a special teams lifer and backup defensive back. If the new man can win a starting safety job, many fans may breathe a little easier regarding the state of this secondary.

Finally, the proliferation of mock drafts tying Washington to a highly rated pass-rusher might be making some forget about the presence of a touted pick from a year ago.

Find out which five players on the roster have the best chance to do more for the Redskins in 2015.

Jeron Johnson, S

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

He's made just one start in four years, but unless Jeron Johnson routinely trips over his own shoelaces during offseason activities, he'll win a starting role in Washington. That's how much this team needs help at the position.

His competition won't be particularly strong. If Johnson can't beat out Duke Ihenacho, Phillip Thomas, Akeem Davis and Trenton Robinson, McCloughan should have some explaining to do.

In fairness, the ex-Seahawks special teams destroyer has a major advantage over many of that field. Namely, Johnson is versatile enough to flip to both strong and free safety.

Head coach Jay Gruden recently emphasized that as a key quality for modern defenses, one Washington remain eager to incorporate, per Redskins.com writer Stephen Czarda:

"

You want them to be interchangeable. You know, with the change of strengths and people going in motion and the no-huddle stuff, you want to be able to have safeties that can do both. And that’s what drew us to Johnson from Seattle, that he can do both.

"

Considering Washington needs help at both positions, Johnson's flexibility only strengthens his case to start. So does his experience on a highly competitive, winning roster.

McCloughan is certainly enamored with the idea of Johnson bringing some of Seattle's aggressive bravado to Redskins Park, per CSN Washington reporter Tarik El-Bashir:

"

I told him, ‘Bring what you guys did out on the practice field in Seattle. Bring that competitiveness, that everyday we’re the championship team.’ He has that mentality. He wants that mentality. You’ll see. He’s a good football player.

"

That shouldn't be a problem for a player who shared a position group with Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, two of the most formidable and cocksure safeties in football.

At this stage, Johnson's 5'10", 212-pound frame and appetite for delivering a wallop lend themselves well to the strong safety position. Mike Jones of The Washington Post has already suggested this will be his most natural spot for the Burgundy and Gold.

But that experience at free safety, along with Gruden's desire to move players at the position around, could create a lot of options on draft day for the Redskins. The team will need those options to get the most from a relatively modest class at the position.

Chris Thompson, RB

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

At the moment at least, the path is clear for Chris Thompson to prove he has the niche skills to merit a key role in this offense. The fifth-round pick in 2013 can showcase his speed and pass-catching talent to win the job as third-down running back.

Gruden intends to give Thompson "first crack" at winning the job, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post: "Chris [Thompson] came in last year at the end and did some things, and we’re hoping that he can come back and stay healthy in the offseason and give us a little jolt back there."

A truly versatile weapon out of the backfield has been missing from this offense. Roy Helu Jr. offered glimpses of his potential in the role, but he was rarely afforded enough opportunities to thrive.

It's also true Helu, for all his flexibility and resourcefulness, wasn't the most explosive athlete. By contrast, Thompson is a natural pocket-edition pace merchant.

He's a sudden and shifty runner with the acceleration to transform routine runs into big gains in an instant. Thompson also has tremendous potential as a receiver.

In rare extended action, he caught three passes for 22 yards against the New York Giants in Week 15. That mini haul included a nine-yard scoring grab after Thompson expertly timed a late release to beat the blitz.

Yet despite the obvious potential, there are even more glaring question marks. Most notably, Thompson has struggled to stay healthy during two seasons in the pros.

Jones cited "back, knee, shoulder and hamstring injuries (some requiring surgery)," dating back to his college days. It might be a tough sell for 5'8", 193-pound Thompson to prove he can handle weekly NFL beatings and still stay fresh.

Another challenge will come from what could be a very crowded competition. Jones also quoted Gruden endorsing the depth and quality at the position in this year's draft class:

"

It’s a very deep running back draft in my opinion, and we’re excited to add another piece at some point, hopefully. We have seven picks. Hopefully one of them will be a running back, or a free agent to compete. There are some good free agents that haven’t been signed yet. But, giving Chris an opportunity, Silas, Alfred, that’s where it starts. And we’ll add some more later on for competition.

"

One free agent who could appeal is versatile veteran Pierre Thomas. ESPN Redskins reporter John Keim cites an unnamed source stating the team have "expressed interest" in the 30-year-old.

If Thomas arrives in D.C., no running back on the roster can match his experience and expertise catching passes, running between the tackles and helping out pass protection.

But even a seasoned runner as distinguished as Thomas can't offer the lightning-in-a-bottle game-breaking speed Thompson possesses. If he can translate that talent to the offense on a regular basis, Gruden won't be able the leave the half-sized hare out.

Spencer Long, G

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Spencer Long appeared in only five games after Washington used a third-round pick to land him in the 2014 NFL draft. But the interior blocker, who can play guard or center, is still being counted on to push for more playing time in his second season.

Long's best chance for more reps will surely come at right guard. That's where slight and uninspiring 32-year-old Chris Chester somehow keeps his job after four seasons of largely mediocre performances.

Chester's ability to channel his inner Houdini is making waves already this offseason. Despite his very obvious culpability as a member of the 2014 line that surrendered 58 sacks, Chester is still well thought of by Gruden.

The coach recently made it clear Chester and Long are "two good right guards." Their presence makes Gruden "feel good about that spot," according to ESPN's John Keim.

But surely Chester isn't long for this roster? Not when he's been pushed around by every even-barely-competent defensive tackle he's faced in the last two seasons? Not when he's carrying a $4.8 million cap hit for this year, per Spotrac.com?

Perhaps the real question is can Long beat him to the starting job? At 6'5" and 311 pounds, the 24-year-old certainly offers more size inside.

That's something that will appeal to new O-line coach Bill Callahan. In a separate ESPN report, Keim noted how Gruden is expecting Callahan's arrival to lead to a "more physical, downhill approach" on the ground.

Keim correctly anticipates that will mean "finding bigger guys who can move." That should mean Long gets an extended look as Chester's replacement.

His CBS Sports draft profile described him like this:

"

He is a nasty mauler with aggressive hands and is the type of blocker who fights through the echo of the whistle and grinds on every snap. Long shows good quickness off the snap, can get to the second level and wastes little time attacking, but has stiff hips and lacks ideal flexibility when he gets out in space.

"

Those strengths and weaknesses make him a natural fit for a blocking scheme based more on hat-on-hat power and drive than mobility. That's just what the Redskins will transition to more often under Callahan and Gruden.

Morgan Moses, T

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Spencer Long isn't the only 2014 third-rounder in line for more playing time in his second season. Tackle Morgan Moses will be given the chance to join him on a revamped right side of the line.

Like Long, Moses struggled to make an impact as a rookie road grader. In fact, he only saw the field in eight games and made just one start.

But despite the uninspiring debut campaign, Moses will get the chance to compete for the starting job at right tackle. Gruden believes it will be a good fight between an improved Moses and Tom Compton, who was re-signed during free agency, per 247Sports.com's Jamie Oakes:

"

Morgan is a young kid, man. He played left tackle his last few years at Virginia, and the transition to the right side wasn’t as smooth as we’d like. But I think with a year under his belt, I think he’s got chance to be a good, solid right tackle for us.

"

Similar to Long, Moses has the greater size the Redskins are coveting in the trenches this season. He's listed at 6'6" and 318 pounds, but he carries those pounds on a wide frame.

If he picks up the nuances of technique, this is a blocker with the potential to splatter opponents in the running game and engulf pass-rushers within a significant wingspan.

Of course, much will depend on Moses' health. His rookie season ended abruptly due to a Lisfranc injury. Recently, CSN Washington's Tarik El-Bashir offered a positive update on the player's recovery.

The Redskins seem determined to get the most from the investment they made in Long and Moses last offseason. That thinking clearly played a role in the decision to overlook fixing the offensive front during free agency.

Both Moses and Long have the chance to prove they merit that risk. Yet like most of the players on this list, their chances will either be reduced or increased by events on draft day.

Trent Murphy, OLB

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

If you follow most mock drafts, it's easy to believe any chance Trent Murphy had to earn an expanded role came and went last season. He hardly made the most of Brian Orakpo missing nine games through injury.

The player Washington used a second-round pick to draft a year ago notched a mere 2.5 sacks. That modest total came after Murphy led college football in sacks with Stanford in 2013.

No wonder then that a number of mock drafts have the Redskins using the fifth-overall pick on an edge-rusher.

Yet there are still reasons to believe this ex-Cardinal ace can make a greater impact during his second season. For one thing, Gruden hasn't been shy about talking up Murphy's potential, per Redskins.com writer Jake Kring-Schreifels:

"

Trent has great hands. He needs to develop more strength. He's very young up top and he'll get a lot stronger. He has the hands, he has the hips, he has the flexibility to get a good pass rush. We have to continue to work on his get off and some of his strength, which I think we can develop that. From a talent standpoint and toughness standpoint I like Trent. I think he has a bright future.

"

Murphy's experience flip-flopping between defensive end and rush linebacker in Stanford's multiple-front schemes could be invaluable to new Washington defensive coordinator Joe Barry. He intends to transition this team to a more attack-oriented, multiple-front system.

Murphy fits the profile of the front-seven players Barry will need to make a more expansive brand of defense work. But he also has niche skills the Redskins won't want to leave off the field.

In particular, Murphy has shown a flair for repelling the run. While he didn't feel the collars of quarterbacks too often as a rookie, the 24-year-old did routinely set a hard edge in the running game and showed no fear in the tackle box.

It's possible Barry might want to keep Murphy on the field for base downs, before turning to a more explosive pressure specialist in nickel and sub-package sets.

ESPN's John Keim sees this is a realistic scenario, one where Murphy is joined by a dynamic, first-year pass-rusher. The competition between the two could only be good for Washington's D.

What McCloughan does during his first draft in charge will naturally have implications for the players on this list. As things currently stand though, every member of this quintet has a great opportunity to show coaches they merit more significant roles in the new season.