Over the weekend, we highlighted a player on the Washington Redskins defense who could work to find a new role this upcoming season and try to transition to a new position in a 4-3 scheme that is being brought in by Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio. His name is Ryan Anderson, and he had some great showings in 2019. Because of the scheme change, his position might be in question, but with both Rivera and Del Rio’s propensity to bring up his name this offseason, it seemed that there was a spot for him somewhere on the defense.
Or maybe has it been a tactic to boost his trade value? The Athletic’s Ben Standig seems to think it should be, as he’s recently called for the Redskins to trade away Anderson and bring in a position of higher need. According to Standig, other teams have inquired about a potential trade for Anderson.
I’m not proposing adding anyone—the opposite. Specifically, and after conversations with league sources, they should trade Ryan Anderson.
This angle isn’t casting doubt on the fourth-year linebacker, who played inspired football for stretches last season – though he remains a position enigma. Rather, after considering several factors, it’s about acknowledging a reality: Anderson won’t play here in 2021.
With the ability to play on both the defensive line and as an outside linebacker, there are several places where Anderson could fit in, but few where he’d likely rise to the top of the depth chart. He wouldn’t sniff a starting spot at DE with Chase Young, Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan taking up much of the workload, and the linebacker spot is pretty well occupied as well. It may be tough to find playing time if he were to stick around, simply for no other reason that the Redskins are strong enough at the positions not to need him.
Where they do need help is anywhere else on the field. Wide receiver, left tackle, and tight end come to mind, and while they likely won’t receive a viable starter at any of those positions with an Anderson trade, they at least could get something valuable in return for a player that is little more than excess production at this point.
If he sticks around in Washington, Anderson has the skillset to be able to contribute to the defense and find spots to make his presence felt. However, we saw in 2019 that when he’s been given the opportunity, he usually takes advantage of it and puts up numbers. There may be more of an opportunity for Anderson to grow outside of the Redskins organization, which could leave everyone better off down the road.
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