Jordan Reed is still in the concussion protocol, and the Redskins are likely going to release him in the coming weeks ahead of free agency.
Six months after suffering his seventh documented concussion in a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed is still in the concussion protocol, working to get completely healthy.
According to a new report from The Athletic‘s Rhiannon Walker and Ben Standig, the team will likely cut ties with him before that day ever comes, saying “Reed is another veteran and cap-saving cut to watch for. He is still a member of the roster, for now, but a move is expected to come.”
The Athletic reported on Monday morning that Reed is still working to navigate through the protocol, but the fact that he hasn’t been cleared by a multitude of doctors as of yet is highly concerning, especially when you take Reed’s troubling history with head injuries. Now, with TE Vernon Davis already retired, and Reed struggling to get healthy as much as he ever has, the Redskins will likely pull the plug on the entire position soon, and start anew.
If the franchise cut Reed or he retired, that would save Washington $8.5 million and move the estimated $52.9 million in cap space to $60.8 million, according to OverTheCap.
The questions facing the Washington Redskins at tight end aren’t getting any easier.
Vernon Davis retired and the unknown that is Jordan Reed continues to weigh heavily on the situation.
Over the weekend, Redskins head coach Ron Rivera told The Athletic’s Rhiannon Walker that Reed is still in concussion protocol:
“A great example is the tight end position. Vernon Davis is retired. Jordan Reed is still going through the concussion protocol. He’s a very veteran guy. We have an opportunity to bring in a guy like Greg Olsen — so that’s one of the positions where we have identified, said ‘Hey, we do need to have a veteran guy at that position one way or another?’”
That’s a huge revelation considering Reed suffered the concussion during a preseason game, then had a setback while trying to make a comeback.
It’s an even bigger red flag considering Reed’s long history with head injuries.
Reed wasn’t one of the Redskins’ cuts recently alongside big names like Josh Norman. But at just 29 years old, it wouldn’t be too surprising for the veteran tight end to weigh retirement.
The Redskins have a call to make either way, as Reed has two years left on his deal at a big price tag. New coaches have stressed how important the position is to the incoming offense, which could leave Reed on the outs.
The Redskins seemingly kicked off the 2020 offseason on Friday after cutting bait with some players, who what’s the next domino to fall?
For the first time this offseason, the Washington Redskins made some roster moves on Friday morning that signifies the new regime is making themselves at home.
It was reported on Friday morning that the Redskins cut ties with both cornerback Josh Norman and wide receiver Paul Richardson Jr., both of which were expected to happen this offseason. Now, with the two veteran players on their way, what does that mean for the Redskins salary cap? And on top of that, should we expect any more moves to be made in the near future? Let’s break it down.
Heading into the 2020 offseason, the Redskins were projected to have just under $40 million available in cap space. With the release of Norman (due $15.5M in 2020) and Richardson Jr. (due $8.5M in 2020), the Redskins will be able to increase that total number by about $19 million, according to Over the Cap, giving them almost $60 million to work with this offseason.
While Norman and Richardson were the two most obvious cuts that the Redskins could make, there are a few more players on the docket who shouldn’t get comfortable. Another expected route to cap-relief is reaching a settlement with TE Jordan Reed, who has been unable to see the field much over the past few seasons due to injury. Reed missed the entire 2019 season due to a concussion he suffered in the preseason, and many have encouraged him to retire this offseason. If the Redskins are able to part ways with his contract, they will free up another $8.5 million.
Aside from Reed, there are a couple of players who know they could be released, but it’s probably unlikely to happen due to their standing with the team. I’m talking about Ryan Kerrigan and Adrian Peterson. Kerrigan is entering the final year on his contract, where he is due $11.5 million. It seems pretty obvious that the Redskins don’t want to pay an aging edge rusher that type of money going forward, especially if Chase Young is drafted in April, relegating Kerrigan to a situational role. Some people with knowledge of the situation have posited that the Redskins will choose to re-structure Kerrigan’s contract, which will extend his time in Washington while alleviating his cap-hit per year. Team owner Dan Snyder is said to be very close to Kerrigan, so it feels unlikely that they would cut him loose.
Another one is Ryan Kerrigan. If no FO changes, would stick around with an extension. People who know Snyder well predicted this: Will Extend him, but lower cap hit. If draft Young, would be in Chris Long type role… Kerrigan wants to stick around.
Peterson is in a similar position to Kerrigan — he may not have the time-tested loyalty in Washington, but the immense respect is certainly there. At age 34, AP has one year left on his contract with the Redskins, but they have a team option on the deal that they technically don’t have to pick up. Peterson has been an incredibly solid piece of the offense over the past two seasons as he’s stepped up in the wake of injuries to RB Derrius Guice. If the Redskins were to retain Peterson, it would only come as a $3 million hit to the cap.
Though the offseason technically started for the Redskins back in December of last year, it feels like today marked the official beginning of the 2020 NFL year in Washington. The new regime is cutting bait with old players and starting to build a roster of their own. Now things are going to get interesting.
Olsen may be too old for Washington to rest their future on, but his ability to help groom a younger tight end could be great for Redskins.
When the news broke on Monday evening that former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen would meet with the Washington Redskins as a prospective free agent this week, many fans probably had an uneasy feeling.
And who could blame them? Olsen is a 34-year-old, injury-riddled veteran pass-catcher who is definitely past his prime. Sound familiar? After having been front and center for the Jordan Reed experience over the past several years, it’s understandable why Washington fans aren’t quick to hoist their hopes and dreams on an aging tight end who has shown an inability to stay healthy throughout the season; that just doesn’t fit with the narrative of change that has been ever-present since Team President Bruce Allen was fired in December. In order for the Redskins to move forward, they simply cannot sign Olsen and stick him in their TE1 position, hoping that he can stay healthy and shore up that position in 2020.
That doesn’t mean they can’t sign him, though…
The truth is, Olsen would be a highly valuable asset for the Redskins offense. Washington would do well to bring him into the building this offseason to be a part of the TE room, but with a caveat — he can’t be the only part of the TE room. In order for the Redskins to truly convince the world that they’re moving forward, they have to avoid past mistakes, such as putting all of their eggs in the basket of an injury-prone and aging tight end. If Washington were to sign Olsen, it would only make sense for them to also draft a young TE in April, and start a grooming process within the building. That’s where Olsen’s value really comes in, as he is one of the most well-respected veterans in the NFL, and he could undoubtedly help a rookie get accustomed to the league.
It would probably be hard for Olsen to pass up on this opportunity, as well. It’s been rumored that he may be considering retirement soon, if not this season, and what the future holds for the 34-year-old is unknown. It could be a TV career, or it could be in the coaching realm. If he were to stay in the game as a coach, what better place to start than in Washington with his longtime coaching staff working under Ron Rivera?
Olsen is also set to meet with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks this week, so him coming to Washington is anything but set in stone. But before you fire off your tweet’s saying that Olsen is too old, and doesn’t fit with the Redskins, just take a second to think about the value he could bring. He may not fit as the No. 1 TE for the future in Washington, but as a veteran presence to help a rookie who is being inundated by the NFL world at large? It would be hard to find someone more cut out for the job.
No team can save more money via making a cut at the tight end position this year than the Washington Redskins thanks to Jordan Reed’s contract.
As noted in the tweet above from Spotrac, Reed leads the way in all potential savings with an $8.5 million mark.
Reed is on the book for a cap hit north of $9 million in each of the next two seasons as he heads into his age-30 season. He missed all of this past year after suffering an injury in the preseason, besides the obvious missed time in the years prior.
There is a reality where the high-upside tight end decides to hang up the cleats outright this offseason after another concussion.
While the Redskins aren’t hurting in projected offseason cap right now (about $40 million), it wouldn’t hurt to free up another sizeable chunk.
With a new coaching staff and some money to spend, the 2020 offseason could be the most important for the Redskins in years.
The Washington Redskins are in a solid position as they look to enter the offseason, which is set to really get underway after Sunday’s Super Bowl LIV. With a new coaching staff, an encouraging core of young players, and several pieces who are set to enter the prime of their careers, there is a good chance that the Redskins could find themselves competing for a spot in the playoffs in the near future.
Something that will only further help this quest is making the right calls during the 2020 free agency period, which is set to begin on March 18th, at 4 p.m. ET. As it stands now, the NFL Salary cap is expected to increase this season to somewhere between the range of $196 million $201 million, which gives Washington approximately $48 million in cap space to work with. However, a few roster decisions concerning veteran players can be made to nearly double that available cap space, and make the Redskins real players at the negotiating table. Here’s our ranking of the most pertinent moves that Washington should choose to make this season.
No. 7 — Cut CB Josh Norman (Saves $12.5 Million)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 01: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins embraces head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers before their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
This seems like the easiest decision that the Redskins can make this offseason, and it should be the first thing on their to-do list. Norman’s time in Washington probably didn’t go exactly how he envisioned it, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t a valuable and loyal member of the team for several years.
After signing a $75 million contract with the team in 2016, making him the highest-paid CB in the NFL, Norman started to show his age a bit down the stretch, and it culminated in him getting benched for a number of rookies, practice players, and guys signed off of the street at the end of the 2019 season. The writing has been on the wall for Norman this past year, and it seems that he will likely be searching for a new team ahead of the 2020 season.
However, there is a slight chance that he stays in Washington, no matter how much the fans may disagree with the decision. The only argument to be made for keeping Norman is that his former coach in Carolina, Ron Rivera, is now in Washington, and he has shown the ability to put Norman into areas of high success in his career. Still, it seems like the best place for the 32-year-old defensive back is somewhere other than the nation’s capital.
It’s nearly impossible to find a starting-caliber tight end on the Redskins roster, so they’re basically a lock to sign one in free agency.
For ay team who is not still currently competing in the playoffs — meaning any team outside of Kansas City, Tennessee, San Francisco, or Green Bay — now is the time to be assessing your roster and building a gameplan for the offseason draft and free agency period.
For the Washington Redskins, it’s hard to argue against the notion that filling the void at the tight end position should be the biggest goal for the team this coming year. Of course, the offensive line needs help, and a couple more players on the defense and in the receiving corps could be highly beneficial, but giving a young quarterback like Dwayne Haskins a tight end to bail him out of some situations might be the bests gift you could give him.
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Looking back at the 2019 season, the Redskins put on a masterclass of how to waste a position, and it wasn’t all by their own doing. Veteran tight end Jordan Reed sat out the entire season after suffering his seventh documented concussion, and fellow TE Vernon Davis, who turned 36 this year, missed the last 12 games with a concussion as well. That left Washington to trot out a combination of Jeremy Sprinkle, Hale Hentges, Jerome Cunningham, and Caleb Wilson. Those four players combined for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 18 catches.
So with that being said, where do the Redskins go at the position? Many believe that — and are encouraging — Jordan Reed will retire this offseason, and the same fate could be true for Davis, who is also a free agent this year. At this point, choosing a TE on the roster to step into the starting role is bordering on negligent for the Redskins, which leaves free agency and the draft to fill the position. When new offensive coordinator Scott Turner talked to reporters earlier this week, he all but confirmed that the team will look to free agency to get the job done.
“Right now, the tight end is very important to our offense,” Turner said, via Redskins.com. “We’re evaluating everything. We’re going to try and get as much talent as we can on offense. You look at that in different ways, obviously what is on the roster currently, but then we will look in free agency and we’ll look in the draft. Those are the different avenues to acquiring talent and we’re open to all of that.”
It’s important to note that the NFL Draft is also a valuable option, but with the Redskins virtually a lock to spend their No. 2 pick on Chase Young, and the absence of a second-round pick, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to draft a rookie tight end capable of making a difference in his first year with the team.
All of this doesn’t mean that all six (!!) unproductive TEs will be out as soon as 2019 contracts expire in March. Hentges showed some promise late in the season, and he could do well to fill a backup role in the offense. As for the rest, it’s hard to find a starter in the mix. For that, the Redskins will undoubtedly have to look to the open market to be successful.
The Redskins desperately need to find someone to step up at the TE position, and it’s likely they’ll look to fill that need in free agency.
For any young quarterback, arguably the biggest asset that you can have to help him on offense is a reliable tight end that is able to get him out of a jam over the middle. If there’s anything that Washington Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins didn’t have in his rookie season, it was a reliable tight end.
Jordan Reed was lost for the season after suffering his seventh documented concussion, and Vernon Davis also missed a lot of time due to injury. That left Haskins to rely on Jeremy Sprinkle and Hale Hentges; hardly anything to write home about for a rookie passer.
So, going into Haskins’ second year in the NFL, what’s one roster move that the Redskins could make that would greatly bolster their offense’s potential? Sign a high-profile tight end in free agency, and give their young QB a safety valve over the middle.
But who would they sign? Here are a few names to look out for.
Hunter Henry | Los Angeles Chargers | 25
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 15: Hunter Henry #86 of the Los Angeles Chargers catches a pass while defended by free safety Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 15, 2019 in Carson, California. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 39-10. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Henry has been a great player for the Chargers over the last several years after he was drafted in the second round in 2016. Taking over for an aging Antonio Gates, Henry burst onto the scene with eight touchdowns in his rookie season, and he had 652 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games this season.
With 17 career touchdowns, Henry has proven that he can be a dynamic threat over the middle and down the seam, though he does have a bit of an injury history that could be cause for some concern for Washington fans. However, that injury risk could help knock down his price a bit on the open market this year, and when healthy, Henry has shown that he can be an absolute difference-maker.
Austin Hooper | Atlanta Falcons | 25
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 27: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons stiff arms Marquise Blair #27 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second half of an NFL game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Hooper has been highly productive as of late, with six touchdowns and 787 yards in 15 games with the Falcons this season. On top of that, Hooper has publically said that he is yet to receive a contract offer from Atlanta this season, which means that he could very well be available on the market. That won’t come at a cheap price though, as the top TE’s in the league are signing for roughly $9-10 million per year.
For the added dimension that Hooper could bring to the Redskins’ offense, though, that number is extremely worth it. Hooper has a large body that makes him a solid blocker in both the run and pass game and his ability to go up and get the ball makes him a dynamic threat in the red zone.
Eric Ebron | Indianapolis Colts | 26
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 27: Eric Ebron #85 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball after a catch in the game against the Denver Broncos during the third quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Ebron is a difficult player to scout, as he’s shown both an incredible ability to make plays in high-pressure situations, but also a distinct knack for disappearing down the stretch. With a very up-and-down career since being drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2014, Ebron had one of the worst seasons of his career this year with the Colts, hauling in only one touchdown and 248 yards in 13 games this year. However, he put on a show in 2018, when he had 66 catches for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Colts have already said that they don’t plan on bringing Ebron back into the mix next season, so he will definitely be available on the open market this season, and his recent down year will cheapen his price tag. For whatever team is willing to take the risk, Ebron will be available.
There’s a way that the Redskins can become a contender in the NFC East as soon as 2020, and all it takes is ridding the roster of some aging and expensive talent.
After it was announced this month that the NFL’s 2020 Salary Cap was likely to increase to somewhere between $196 and $201 million next season, it probably caused many fans of the Washington Redskins to do some research and find that the team will have approximately $48 million of cap space this coming offseason.
However, there are several moves that could make that number grow even higher for the Redskins, and that increased flexibility might behoove them in other areas this offseason, as they look to find an elite coaching candidate to fill their vacancy at the top stop.
According to NBC Sports JP Finlay, if Washington were to make these five roster moves this offseason, it could potentially clear up $50 million in extra cap-space, giving the Redskins more than $90 million to work with. As it stands now, that would be the third-most in the NFL. Here’s what Washington would need to do:
Cut CB Josh Norman | Saves $12.5 million in 2020
Cut WR Paul Richardson | Saves $6.5 million in 2020
Cut or reach an injury settlement with TE Jordan Reed | Saves $8.5 million in 2020
Trade LB Ryan Kerrigan | Saves $11.7 million in 2020
Trade LT Trent Williams | Saves $12.75 million in 2020
All of those roster decisions seem highly possible, and any logical franchise would likely pull the trigger instantly. However….well, I don’t need to say it.
Not only would this freed-up cap-space allow the Redskins to be highly active in free agency, but the added flexibility could be a huge selling point for any coaching candidate who may be wary of stepping into a difficult position in Washington. As it stands now, the Redskins have a stubborn owner, an incompetent general manager, and a whole host of players who are either injured or refusing to play taking up more than half of their cap space. You’d have to be a fool to willingly take on that job.
However, with a few of the moves we mentioned earlier, the Redskins could rid their roster of aging and expensive talent, spend on committed players who are in their prime and surround their talented young core with playmakers who are coming into their own. You pair that with the right coach, and suddenly you have a contender in the NFC East on your hands.
All of this can be done with a few roster decisions and a commitment to the future. Any logical franchise would do it…
A projected 2020 salary cap between $196- and $201 million will give the Redskins room to work in free agency is they rid of some contracts.
The NFL informed clubs today that projections for the 2020 salary cap are in the range of $196.8 million to $201.2 million. This marks a 40% increase from five years ago in the 2015 season ($143.3 million).
Per a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 2020 NFL Salary Cap is projected to increase to somewhere between the range of $196.8 million to $201.2 million.
The increase marks a significant jump from where it was back in the 2015 season, when the cap sat at $143.4 million.
According to Rapoport, this is the 7th consecutive year where the cap is projected to climb more than $10 million per club, year over year. Since 2011, the cap has increased roughly 65 percent and $76 million per club.
The Washington Redskins currently have just over $163 million committed to the 2020 salary cap, which would leave them with approximately $40 million in salary cap going into the new year. This number could also grow if they are to cut ties with aging and expensive players like Josh Norman, Trent Williams, Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis.
