Early Projections for Washington Redskins' Final 53-Man Roster
The long road to the start of the Washington Redskins' 2015 NFL season is slowly winding down. Free agency and the draft are now in the rearview mirror.
Even so, while Washington may be done collecting talent, the team now has to undergo the process of trimming down its roster to 53 players.
The preseason and training camp will surely be determining factors when it's all said and done. But for now, let's take a crack at projecting the Redskins' final 53-man roster.
Quarterback (3)
1 of 10
Candidates
- Robert Griffin III
- Kirk Cousins
- Colt McCoy
- Connor Halliday
There isn't much of a quandary here. Based on their play last season, Robert Griffin III and Colt McCoy are all but assured a spot on the roster.
More than qualified to be a third-string quarterback, Kirk Cousins' place on the team is only cloudy because of his contract status. He's entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Knowing Cousins has little incentive to return past this season, the team would be wise to gauge his value on the trade market.
But as the Washington Times' Tom Schad tells it, the phone isn't ringing off the hook with potential suitors on the other end:
"The #Redskins have not fielded any formal trade offers on Kirk Cousins this offseason, per Scot McCloughan: http://t.co/wagmmjJAvq
— Tom Schad (@Tom_Schad) April 28, 2015"
With Griffin's injury history making it imperative the team carries three quarterbacks, sans a trade, Connor Halliday is the odd man out.
Verdict: Griffin, Cousins and McCoy.
Running Back (4)
2 of 10
Candidates
- Alfred Morris
- Silas Redd
- Chris Thompson
- Matt Jones
- Trey Williams
- Michael Hill
- Jordan Campbell
- Darrel Young
Washington's running game reached new lows last season. The NFL's top rushing team as far back as 2012, it finished last year 19th in rushing yards.
While the team has aspirations to recapture its past success on the ground, if this offseason is any indicator, it won't be by the same means.
The 'Skins hired offensive line coach Bill Callahan away from the Dallas Cowboys. And with his arrival, the team will have more of an emphasis on power runs.
Speaking to ESPN's John Keim, head coach Jay Gruden confirmed the team would be moving away, although not completely, from the zone-running scheme it used in the past now that Callahan is on board.
"And the running game he brings is more a physical, downhill approach that we employed some last year, but not as many as we could," he said.
Lead back Alfred Morris will have to adjust to the new scheme, but in Silas Redd and, more specifically, Matt Jones, the team has the physical backs it needs for Callahan's scheme.
Minus Roy Helu, though, the 'Skins are missing a back who can contribute in the passing game.
Ideally, Chris Thompson would be the player Washington could turn to on third downs. He has elite speed (4.42 40-yard dash, per NFL Draft Scout) and is elusive in space. His durability is a concern, though.
Verdict: Morris, Redd, Jones and Young.
Receiver (6)
3 of 10
Candidates
- DeSean Jackson
- Pierre Garcon
- Andre Roberts
- Ryan Grant
- Jamison Crowder
- Evan Spencer
- Reggie Bell
- Tony Jones
- Colin Lockett
- Rashad Ross
- Tyler Rutenbeck
The top of Washington's receiving depth chart remains unchanged. DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Andre Roberts all return to head the team's receiving corps.
In Ryan Grant and Jamison Crowder, the Redskins have two promising receivers who figure to see action in the slot. And in the case of Crowder, they have a player who can supplant Roberts in the return game.
Looking to the bottom of the depth chart, the glaring lack of size is concerning. The Skins did draft the 6'2", 208-pound Evan Spencer, but just one of their remaining receivers, Tyler Rutenbeck, is over 6'1".
A capable contributor on special teams, Spencer will round out the team's receiving corps as a developmental prospect.
Verdict: Jackson, Garcon, Roberts, Grant, Crowder and Spencer.
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Tight End (3)
4 of 10
Candidates
- Jordan Reed
- Niles Paul
- Logan Paulsen
- Chase Dixon
- Je'Ron Hamm
- Devin Mahina
Firmly entrenched at the starting tight end is one Jordan Reed. Then again, that's only when he's healthy. He's played in just 20 of 32 career games.
On the heels of a new three-year pact with the team, Niles Paul provides the team with insurance against another Reed injury.
After him, though, the picture gets murky. Entering his sixth season with the team, Logan Paulsen will face competition from Chase Dixon, Je'Ron Hamm and Devin Mahina.
Of the bunch, undrafted free agent Mahina figures to be his chief challenger. The 6'6", 251-pound Mahina has size, and, per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, the ability to be an asset as a blocker if he rights his footwork.
Paulsen's $2.1 million cap hit, per Spotrac.com, is a bit pricey for a third-string tight end. But the injury history of Reed makes it necessary for Washington to go with the proven player here.
Verdict: Reed, Paul and Paulsen.
Offensive Line (9)
5 of 10
Candidates
- Trent Williams
- Morgan Moses
- Brandon Scherff
- Tom Compton
- Shawn Lauvao
- Spencer Long
- Chris Chester
- Josh LeRibeus
- Arie Kouandjio
- Kory Lichtensteiger
- Austin Reiter
- Takoby Cofield
- Brey Cook
- Tyler Larsen
The Redskins return the starting lineup they ended last season with up front. But trust that changes are coming. No. 5 overall pick Brandon Scherff and former third-round pick Spencer Long both will vie for starting jobs.
Knowing that incumbents Chris Chester and Tom Compton rated out as Washington's worst offensive linemen in Pro Football Focus' ratings in 2014, you have to like their chances.
Looking to the bench, recent draft picks Arie Kouandjio and Austin Reiter should have a leg up on the competition. General manager Scot McCloughan said it after the draft; they're tailor-made to play in Callahan's system:
"McCloughan on offensive line coach Bill Callahan: "We tailored our draft picks (to) what fits his system," regarding power vs. zone runs.
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 4, 2015"
Rounding out the offensive line will be Morgan Moses and Tom Compton. Josh LeRibeus has struggled with conditioning in spurts. And simply put, at no time has he looked like a former third-round pick during his time in Washington.
In regard to Chester, save his making the move over to center to give the team a big offensive line across the board, his days are numbered.
With a cap hit of $4.8 million, according to Spotrac.com, he's much too expensive to keep on board as a backup—especially in favor of players who could have a long-term future in D.C.
Verdict: Williams, Moses, Scherff, Compton, Lauvao, Long, Kouandjio, Lichtensteiger and Reiter.
Defensive Line (7)
6 of 10
Candidates
- Jason Hatcher
- Ricky Jean-Francois
- Chris Baker
- Stephen Paea
- Frank Kearse
- Terrance Knighton
- Kedric Golston
- Robert Thomas
- Corey Crawford
- LaKendrick Ross
- Travian Robertson
Injuries hampered Washington's defensive line in 2014. Top free agent Jason Hatcher and Barry Cofield headlined this very issue.
Bolstered in the offseason by the additions of Stephen Paea, Ricky Jean-Francois and Terrance Knighton, the defensive line now sports the depth to sustain itself amid such injuries this go-round. This was part of the reason the Redskins passed on Leonard Williams in the draft after all.
So when looking to a Robert Thomas, a Corey Crawford or LaKendrick Ross, injuries are their only ticket onto the roster.
Verdict: Hatcher, Jean-Francois, Baker, Paea, Kearse, Knighton and Golston.
Linebacker (9)
7 of 10
Candidates
- Ryan Kerrigan
- Trent Murphy
- Preston Smith
- Adam Hayward
- Jackson Jeffcoat
- Will Compton
- Perry Riley
- Keenan Robinson
- Martrell Spaight
- Dyshawn Davis
- Ja'Gared Davis
- James Gayle
- Terrance Plummer
- Trevardo Williams
With Brian Orakpo's departure, Ryan Kerrigan is now the headliner at linebacker for Washington. A one-man show as a pass-rusher at times last season, he'll look be looking to sophomore Trent Murphy and rookie Preston Smith to ease the burden on his shoulders.
Moving inside, the trio from last season of Will Compton, Perry Riley and Keenan Robinson will welcome rookie Martrell Spaight into the fray.
An ace on special teams, you can also pencil in Adam Hayward onto the team.
Undrafted a year ago, Jackson Jeffcoat flashed his talent in what little time he saw in 2014.
In three games, one start, he did record one sack and an interception. This production alone doesn't warrant him having a spot on the roster in 2015. But with a strong camp, in addition to contributing on special teams, he'll fight his way onto the roster.
Verdict: Kerrigan, Murphy, Smith, Hayward, Compton, Spaight, Riley, Jeffcoat and Robinson.
Cornerback (5)
8 of 10
Candidates
- David Amerson
- DeAngelo Hall
- Bashaud Breeland
- Chris Culliver
- Tracy Porter
- Justin Rogers
- Courtney Bridget
- Tevin Mitchel
You'd think otherwise, but the Redskins actually return a host of familiar faces from Football Outsiders' worst pass defense last season.
Washington may have brought Chris Culliver aboard in free agency, but Bashaud Breeland, David Amerson, Tracy Porter and DeAngelo Hall all return. With the latter two returning from injury, neither Hall nor Porter is certain to even make the team.
As ESPN's Field Yates details, Hall's base salary for 2015 is now nonguaranteed. In the case of Porter, according to Spotrac.com, the team could save north of $2 million with his ousting.
Between his penchant for missing games—he's played a full season just once in his career—and the presence of rookie Tevin Mitchel to replace him as the No. 5 corner, Porter is the odd man out.
Verdict: Amerson, Hall, Breeland, Culliver and Mitchel.
Safety (4)
9 of 10
Candidates
- Dashon Goldson
- Jeron Johnson
- Phillip Thomas
- Trenton Robinson
- Duke Ihenacho
- Kyshoen Jarrett
- Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith
- Akeem Davis
Washington struggled mightily with Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark manning the starting safety spots last season. Marred by blown assignments and missed tackles, the team's defense routinely surrendered big plays.
It gave up 65 plays of 20-plus yards.
Enter Dashon Goldson and Jeron Johnson.
Goldson himself is prone to miss tackles, and Johnson is relatively unproven, as Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas blocked him in Seattle. Regardless, you can't say a change wasn't needed here.
Looking at the depth behind them, there figures to be a battle royal.
In some form or another, Akeem Davis, Duke Ihenacho, Trenton Robinson and Phillip Thomas all saw action on the team last season. Then there's sixth-round pick Kyshoen Jarrett.
Eyed for his contributions on special teams, according to ESPN's John Keim, look for Jarrett to beat out Davis and Robinson for one of the backup spots.
A battle of two players who've been set back by injury in their brief careers, Ihenacho will snag the final spot from Thomas. It was two years ago, but the 14 starts Ihenacho has under his belt is valuable when you consider Goldson is the lone safety with extensive starting experience.
Verdict: Goldson, Johnson, Jarrett and Ihenacho.
Special Teams (3)
10 of 10
Candidates
- Kai Forbath
- Ty Long
- Tress Way
- Nick Sundberg
Not much in the way of change is on the horizon for Washington's special teams.
Both long snapper Nick Sundberg and punter Tress Way are unopposed in the way of challengers at the moment. The same can't be said for Kai Forbath.
Ty Long, formerly of Alabama-Birmingham, will compete with Forbath for the starting gig.
Bouncing back from a rough 2013 campaign, Forbath connected on 24 of his 27 field-goal attempts. He will have to continue to make progress on his kickoffs—the team was 28th in touchbacks last season, per ESPN's John Keim—but this is Forbath's job to lose.
Verdict: Forbath, Way and Sundberg.
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