No. 7 — LB Mychal Kendricks
Linebacker is a major area of need for the Redskins, but they are reportedly expected to help shore up the position by bringing back Jon Bostic, who played well for them last season after being brought in on short notice in the offseason. Still, another veteran LB couldn’t hurt, and my favorite FA option has been Mychal Kendricks.
Kendricks has had a solid career in the NFL, and his nose for the football inside the box makes him a valuable addition to run-stopping efforts. In his past two seasons with the Seahawks, he has stepped up as a strong playmaker at inside linebacker, with 90 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He also has shown a little bit of ability to get out into coverage, defending five passes with one interception in Seattle, to go along with his three interceptions during his six years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kendricks is coming off of back-to-back one-year contracts in Seattle, the last of which was worth $4 million. 2019 was an average season for the 8-year veteran; he improved on a disappointing 2018, but it could be considered a down year compared to the numbers that he used to put up in Philadelphia. The Redskins could likely sign him to a short, two- or three-year deal that is easy on the salary cap, and allow him to help grow a young and promising defense. His stats don’t exactly line up with his name recognition, but this signing would surely get Redskins fans jazzed about the upcoming season. A linebacking rotation that consists of Kendricks, Reuben Foster, Cole Holcomb, and Jon Bostic is nothing to bat an eye at.