Free Agency, The Mock Drafts, 2017 (Continual Updates)
Greetings from BBQ. Summer is trying to bust down the doors of Spring and OTAs start tomorrow. Training camp will be here before you know it. Today, and for the rest of the offseason, we combine the free agency and draft/UDFA portions of this blog. It will only be updated now when there are changes to the roster.
After training camp opens, BBQ will have periodic roster/practice squad predictions. Feel free to offer your opinions and predictions. Who will make the roster? Who will get cut? Will there be any surprises? Will we add any other free agents?
We continue to list candidates that could be released, but will discontinue it after OTAs. However, we will also no longer list players from last year that have not been re-signed.
We take the latest chatter from Redskins Park and media pundits as BBQ tries to formulate what could happen in the coming days, weeks and months.
Free Agents Obtained:
A.J. Francis, DT
Phil Taylor, DT
Earl Wolff, SS
Terrell McClain, DE/DT
Stacy McGee, DE/DT
D.J. Swearinger, FS
Terrelle Pryor, WR
Chris Carter, LB
Brian Quick, WR
Zach Brown, ILB
John Kling, OT
Free Agents Re-signed:
Nick Sundberg, LS
Junior Galette, OLB
Vernon Davis, TE
Kirk Cousins, QB (Could still get a long term deal)
Ziggy Hood, DE
Vinston Painter, OT
Ty Nsehke, OT
Chris Thompson, RB
Dashaun Phillips, CB
Will Compton, ILB
Contract Extension:
Morgan Moses, RT
Draft Picks:
Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama (Signed)
Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alamama (Signed)
Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma (Signed)
Montae Nicholson, FS, Michigan St. (Signed)
Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas (Signed)
Chase Roullier, G/C, Wyoming (Signed)
Robert Davis, WR, Georgia St. (Signed)
Josh Harvey-Clemons, LB/SS, Louisville (Signed)
Josh Holsey, CB, Auburn (Signed)
Undrafted Free Agents:
Tevin Homer, CB
Brandon Banks, DE
Ondre Pipkins, DT
Tyler Catalina, G
Kyle Kalis, G
Nico “Muggsy Bogues” Marley, LB
Fish Smithson, FS
Levern Jacobs, WR
James Quick, WR
Zach Pascal, WR
Possible Cuts, Cap Savings, Candidates For Restructure:
Will Blackmon, FS - (Unknown - $1.0 Mil saved if cut)
Derek Carrier, TE - (Possibly cut - $1.075 Mil saved if cut)
Matt Jones, RB – (Very likely cut - $1.218 Mil saved if cut)
Ryan Grant, WR – (Possibly cut – $690K saved if cut)
Mack Brown, RB – (Unknown - $540K saved it cut)
Zach Vigil, ILB – (Unknown - $615K saved if cut)
Matt Ioannidis, DE/DT – (Unknown - $540K saved it cut)
DeAngelo Hall, FS – (Possibly cut - $4.25 Mil saved if cut)
Niles Paul, TE – (Unknown - $2.0 Mil saved if cut)
Offseason Updates:
The Redskins have announced the offseason practice schedule:
OTAs
May 23-25
May 30-June 1
June 5-8
Veterans Mini Camp
June 13-15
Training camp opens July 27 in Richmond, VA.
It is highly unlikely that the Redskins bring back the following players: Greg Toler, Duke Ihenacho, Cullen Jenkins, Donte Whitner, and Kedric Golston.
Maurice Harris continues to receive praise this offseason from the front office and coaches. He was clutch on a substantial number of third down conversions in 2016. Look for him to have an increased role in 2017.
UDFA guard Tyler Catalina is turning heads at Redskins Park. It’s too early to anoint him as a candidate to make the roster, but he is a player to watch.
The 49ers worked out former Redskin Kedric Golston late last week. No word on a potential signing.
Golston was the last remaining player for the Redskins to be a teammate with Sean Taylor.
The Redskins now have about $4.1M in cap space for 2017. If that amount carries over to 2018, they will have nearly $59M in cap space. Add at least $12M to that figure for next year with the expected cap increase.
Rich Tandler thinks the chances of signing Kirk Cousins to a long term deal by July 15 is less than 10%. John Keim puts it at less than 50%. Both reporters believe that they will part ways next offseason.
If the Redskins are looking for a last minute free agent or two, here are a few to consider:
Dan Williams, DT – No more than a one year deal should be considered. No guarantees of making the roster, but he could be worth a shot.
Gerald Hodges, ILB – A team friendly three or four year deal is reasonable. He is young, very good in run support, and solid in pass coverage.
Dan Carpenter, K – This would be to motivate Dustin Hopkins only. Carpenter would be released late in the preseason, but there is nothing wrong with giving the starting kicker a little extra in the motivation department.
Gary Barnridge, TE – If the Redskins move on from Niles Paul and are willing to carry four tight ends, then Barnridge makes a lot of sense. He is still very productive.
Personal Thoughts:
BBQ is not sure that D.J. Swearinger is the answer at free safety. He is more of a strike and could struggle at times with his somewhat new position. He has played free when needed and had mixed results.
I think it is possible that Fabian Moreau and Montae Nicholson start the 2017 season on the PUP list or go to IR – a redshirt season.
The defensive line will not be greatly improved in 2017. Sure, Jonathan Allen is a significant upgrade, but that makes the line only marginally better. The new players and holdovers are no better than what the Redskins had last year. I expect more troubles and struggles on the line.
BBQ is mildly surprised that Gerald Hodges is still a free agent. He is a good inside linebacker and would represent an upgrade at 26 years of age. His contract would be reasonable.
BBQ now believes that DeAngelo Hall will be released. There are many defensive backs on the team and he would be a cap casualty.
BBQ also thinks the middle linebacker position will continue to be a weakness. Zach Brown is an obvious upgrade, but Will Compton has reached his ceiling in our opinion.
When looking at some of our statements about the Redskins defense, we think it will be a middle of the pack unit. That represents an upgrade over last year.
We will continue to have updates as needed.
See you as we go along.
Hail To The Redskins!