Free Agency, The Mock Drafts, 2017 (Continual Updates)
Greetings to all. Summer is knocking on the door and the weekend rookie camp has come and gone. As we continue to look at free agency and the recent draft, today will be devoted to evaluating eighteen veterans who could be on the roster bubble.
These evaluations are highly subjective, but we will attempt to look into the future and see if any of these players will be cut or if they remain for another season. Who will survive another season? Who will ultimately be cut? Who will be a surprise cut? Will a player or players be traded?
OTAs arrive next week and will continue until the middle of next month. We’ll also provides updates and observations as they become available.
Let’s get right to it.
Veteran Evaluations
Quinton Dunbar, CB
A fan favorite for the last couple of seasons, but Dunbar has struggled at times and has impressed as well. He’ll need to show more improvement in OTAs and training camp.
BBQ Prediction: He will make the roster and should continue to improve.
Bashaud Breeland
This summer is very important for Breeland. He could slip on the depth chart by late August. Is he a candidate to be traded before the season begins? Could he be a surprise cut? Probably not, but BBQ can’t make that claim with 100% confidence.
BBQ Prediction: He will make the roster, but anything beyond this season is not a given.
Dashaun Phillips, CB
Phillips seems to show up late in the season as a needed replacement for corners who are injured. He likely gets cut by late summer and his tenure as a Redskin is probably over – at least until an injury or two occurs by December.
BBQ Prediction: He likely won’t make it to the final fifty-three, but any injuries could bring him back – unless he is with another team.
Matt Ioannidis, DE
It’s probably unfair to put him on this list, but is the team willing to invest in him another season? The bottom line is that the former fifth rounder needs to show significant improvement in the coming weeks. There are new additions to the defensive line and Ioannidis needs to see where he fits in.
BBQ Prediction: He probably makes the cut, but could go to the practice squad when Trent Murphy and Fabian Moreau are added to the roster during the season.
Arie Kouandjio, G
Is he finally ready to step into a starting role? He started two games last year – struggled in the first one and did a decent job in the second game. This is likely his “prove it” year.
BBQ Prediction: It depends on how quickly the draft pick and UDFAs develop, but his roster spot is safe for now.
Shawn Lauvao, G
Is the injury bug behind him? Can he last the season? He is free agent after the 2017 season and is unlikely to return – unless it is at the vet minimum and as a backup. Don’t expect Kouandjio to push him. His job at left guard is safe for now.
BBQ Prediction: We already gave it away in the last sentence, but an injury in the preseason could change everything.
Dustin Hopkins, K
The team hasn’t brought in another kicker to challenge Hopkins and while that is normally a good sign, the team certainly hopes he will be improved over last year. Kickoffs are great, but more consistency is needed on field goals.
BBQ Prediction: His job is safe, but Hopkins needs to prove that kicking field goals is not a nail biting thing for the team.
Houston Bates, OLB
Can Houston Bates bounce back from a torn ACL? He could be caught in a numbers game at linebacker – there are a bunch of them right now. He needs to continue to shine as a special teams player. It’s realistically the only way he can remain on the roster.
BBQ Prediction: He probably falls just short of making the roster and likely heads back to the practice squad – unless another team adds him to their roster.
Junior Galette, OLB
Simply put, he needs to stay healthy. Another injury means his career (or lack thereof) in Washington is over. Galette, with his history of personal issues, is also one misstep away from being released. It’s now or never.
BBQ Prediction: An injury this summer or in the preseason ends his so called career as a Redskin. Ditto for any major personal issue. Otherwise, he makes the cut.
Trent Murphy, OLB/DE
One more substance abuse infraction will cost him an entire year and his time in a Redskins uniform. He had a solid 2016, but needs to do so again after returning from his suspension.
BBQ Prediction: His roster position is safe, but Murphy needs to stay clean. He likely gets a second round tender in 2018, so look for him to be in a Redskins uniform until early 2019.
Preston Smith, OLB
Can he overcome the party life and lackluster performances of 2016? He truly could be on the bubble this summer and certainly has a short leash. Could he be a candidate for the trading block? Don’t rule it out.
BBQ Prediction: He stays on the roster and is the likely starter at left side OLB. Reports suggest he is in better shape this offseason and that could be a good sign.
Martrell Spaight, ILB
It’s unlikely he will crack the starting lineup – ever. He only makes the roster with his special teams play – which is actually a strength for him.
BBQ Prediction: He really could be in danger of getting cut. Needs to shine on special teams, but it may not be enough.
Matt Jones, RB
He was rumored to be on the trading block before and during the draft. His days of being in a Redskins uniform is numbered and if there is no trade, then he will probably be released.
BBQ Prediction: He is likely gone and is hanging by the last thread.
Deshazor Everett, FS
Adding UDFA Fish Smithson all but put Everett on notice. With Will Blackmon as the backup at free safety and D.J. Swearinger as the starter, Everett is pretty much on the outside looking in.
BBQ Prediction: One of the hardest hitters on the team, but that alone is not enough to save his job.
DeAngelo Hall, FS
After the additions in free agency and post-draft, the free safety position is crowded. It looks as if the end of the line has come for DeAngelo Hall. Injuries over the last two seasons have sidelined him for prolonged stretches and that can’t be ignored.
BBQ Prediction: Would it surprise anyone if he gets injured in training camp or the preseason? His days are numbered.
Derek Carrier, TE
When the Redskins selected Jeremy Sprinkle in the fifth round, it meant that Derek Carrier’s roster spot was in serious jeopardy. The Redskins would save just over $1 million if he is cut. He could be released in early June.
BBQ Prediction: Read those last two sentences again.
Niles Paul, TE
The addition of Sprinkle could also mean that Niles Paul is on the chopping block sometime this summer. If Paul can continue to prove his worth as a special teamer and part time fullback, then he may stay. Injuries have taken a toll in recent seasons and that will be examined as well. Too, the Redskins can’t ignore the $2 million in savings if Paul is released.
BBQ Prediction: We put this at 50-50. Flip a coin.
Ryan Grant, WR
The receivers are getting taller and faster. Grant is neither. Never a fan favorite, but he has persisted and always found a way to make the team. That time may finally be running out.
BBQ Prediction: We don’t rule out a return and BBQ also puts the odds at 50-50.
Some of these observations could be too optimistic. Some could be too pessimistic. How do you think the Redskins careers of these players will continue to unfold? Which ones have reached the end of their careers? Which ones will the Redskins jettison? Feel free to agree or disagree. Too, feel free to post any of your career evaluations and expectations of these Redskins veterans.
We’ll continue our offseason examinations of the roster later this week. We will look at players who could step up and may have a surprisingly good season in 2017. It will also be the final look at player evaluations. Feel free to scroll back to see our previous evaluations over the last couple of weeks.
OTAs start soon and we’ll have daily reports during these sessions. When OTAs end in mid June, BBQ will have the first roster of fifty-three and practice squad prediction. Then we will take a break of about five weeks. When training camp arrives we will have daily updates and additional roster predictions. We’ll also post any free agency updates as needed.
See you as we go along.
Hail To The Redskins!