Re: Burner's Burning Questions: Free Agency, Mocks, Camps, OTAs, Roster Predictions,
Burner's Burning Questions: Free Agency, Mocks, Camps, OTAs, Roster Predictions, 2019
Greetings from BBQ to everyone here at BGO. We hope you had a good weekend. Hello to everyone on social media. We'd love to have you as a member here and become part of the family.
OTAs, mini-camp, rookie camp, and the draft have passed into the history books. Training camp will be here later next week. We'll continue to cover it all and give everyone at BGO the best coverage possible.
BBQ continues our off-season evaluations and today we will take a look at the outside linebackers/edge rushers. Feel free to scroll back in this off-season blog and see what we have said about free agency, the draft, and take a look at what your fellow Redskins fans think of the team transactions over the last several months. BBQ will continue to take a look at each position and provide analysis over the next few weeks. Feel free to offer your own analysis as we go along.
- Days until Training Camp: 9
- Days until the first preseason game: 23
- Days until the Regular Season Opener (Eagles): 54
- Days until the Cowboys game: 61
- Days until the Giants game: 82
Let's get right to it!
Outside Linebackers/Edge Rushers:
Ryan Kerrigan
Ryan Kerrigan continues to be one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL. His motor never quits and while he may not put up massive numbers, it's the solid consistency Kerrigan displays each year and that makes him one of the NFL's elite. The Redskins have more talent and depth this season and that should help Kerrigan from carrying too much of a workload. BBQ forecasts 11 sacks, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.
Montez Sweat
Don't be surprised if Montez quickly asserts himself as the best outside linebacker/pass rusher on the team. He has the supreme talent to be a double digit sack specialist for a decade or more. Too, look for him to be effective against short passes, screens, and slants. If Sweat remains in a Redskins uniform for the duration of his career, he will go down as one of the all-time greats for the team. BBQ forecasts 10 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries – with one being returned for a touchdown.
Ryan Anderson
Ryan Anderson was chosen in the second round of the 2017 draft and most pundits rated him as a third or fourth rounder. BBQ had him rated as a late third rounder, but former general manager Scot McCloughan made the move. Anderson has not lived up to his lofty draft status, but the Alabama product improved in his second season. Anderson looks to continue his backup role and will likely give Sweat a rest at times. This season needs to be Anderson's time to make positive strides. BBQ forecasts 3 sacks and 1 fumble recovery.
Marcus Smith, Marquis Flowers, Cassanova McKinzy
Can Marcus Smith live up to his 2014 first round potential or will he come up short again? This could be his last chance to make any kind of impact in the NFL. Marquis Flowers has been mostly a special teams player in recent years, but he will need to demonstrate better skills at OLB. Cassanova McKinzy was thought to be nothing more than a camp fodder type of athlete, but he flashed some good skills as the season progressed. He could have the inside track to a roster spot over Smith and Flowers.
Others
Andrew Ankrah will be a longshot to make the roster, but he might be good enough to find a place on the practice squad.
Jordan Brailford
Fans and pundits may think Jordan Brailford has a place on the roster due to being a 2019 seventh round draft pick. That's hard to argue, but the competition will be undoubtedly spirited and intense. The Oklahoma St. product will need to step forward quickly as a rookie and prove himself in training camp and the preseason.
There is our latest look at roster position evaluations for this off-season. We will feature another position later this week.