Tag: Montez Sweat

ESPN suggests Redskins keep Ryan Kerrigan, restructure contract

The Redskins have a big decision to make with Ryan Kerrigan this offseason, and they might ask him to take less to stay in Washington.

One of the biggest decisions for the Washington Redskins to make in 2020 is regarding what to do with linebacker Ryan Kerrigan going forward.

Kerrigan, who is 31 years old and due $11.7 million in 2020, is in an interesting place in his career. With just one year left on his contract, he’s likely to stand by and watch as the Redskins draft DE Chase Young with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft — a person who is likely to relegate him into a backup role in Washington.

Some, including us, believe that it would be best for the Redskins to try and trade Kerrigan to a contending team, allowing him to play for a title in his remaining years. However, when you factor in his age, money owed, and the fact that his contract will be up soon, it could be next to impossible to find a suitable team to take Kerrigan off their hands.

ESPN’s John Keim, though, is suggesting that the Redskins hold on to Kerrigan, restructuring the final years of his contract and keeping him on as a situational pass-rusher alongside Montez Sweat and Young.

But rather than simply cutting Kerrigan (or trading him, though he would not fetch much because of his age and salary), they can offset his cost by lowering his base salary this year but tacking on another season. He could then fill a role a la Clay Matthews with the Rams or Chris Long when he was with the Patriots and then Eagles — situational pass-rushers. Also, owner Dan Snyder likes and respects Kerrigan quite a bit. That’s important here, too.

It may be hard to convince Kerrigan to late less money on a year-to-year basis while adding to his contract and agreeing to play a new position, but there’s always a possibility. At the end of the day, things definitely won’t be the same for Kerrigan in 2020.

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Terry McLaurin trusts Redskins front office to make best decision with Chase Young

McLaurin played with Chase Young in college, and he knows how dynamic of a player he can be when given the chance to succeed.

The Redskins have spent the last several years under the notion that they are the ‘Alabama North’ of the NFL, not due to their success rate, but rather their personnel. With a number of former Crimson Tide players on the current roster, such as Daron Payen, Jonathan Allen, Landon Collins, and Ryan Anderson, Washington has been able to keep a steady connection to one of the best football programs in all of college football.

Now, though, they might be turning into the ‘Ohio State East’ of the NFL, considering the recent trend of draft picks over the last couple of years. With players like Dwayne Haskins, Terry McLaurin, and now potentially Chase Young, there is a new shade of red setting up shop in Landover, MD.

This run of former Buckeyes not only keeps a relationship between young players as they enter the NFL, but it also allows members of the Redskins to offer insights on draft prospects who they played with in college. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Nick Bosa, a DE out of Ohio State this past year, and now they’re in the Super Bowl. McLaurin sees Young having a similar effect on the Redskins, should he be drafted there.

“Chase has those same intangibles, just the physical gifts that he has,” McLaurin said, via the Redskins Talk podcast. “He’s probably a more solid Montez Sweat. You see how big Montez is, so to have another guy on the edge like that, I think this is just a really unique opportunity.”

The Redskins drafted Sweat in the first round of the 2019 draft, and he had a solid rookie year, finishing the season with seven sacks. Now, Washington will have the option to pair another DE with him in the first round, following along the footsteps of what the 49ers have done in the recent drafts.

“I trust the front office to make the best decision for our team,” McLaurin said.

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Ron Rivera praises Kyle Smith and Redskins scouting department for draft success

The Redskins have hit big in the draft recently, and Ron Rivera says that Kyle Smith and the scouting department deserve all credit.

After the much-needed front office change at the end of 2019, the Washington Redskins are currently operating without a general manager.

They don’t seem to be any worse for the ware, with Kyle Smith, the VP of Player Personnel, heading up the pyramid power chart in the front office. Smith, who was in charge of running the past two NFL Drafts for the Redskins, as well as leading the scouting charge at this year’s Senior Bowl, seems to have his finger on the right pulse and has led some in the building to say that the team “is in good hands,” according to The Athletic.

His work on the draft has also led new head coach Ron Rivera to take notice, and feel comfortable with where things are heading in Washington.

“The thing that really stood out in my mind is just how many of those players have played as starters and competed in meaningful snaps,” Rivera said during an interview Thursday with “The Team” 980 radio station. “It was a big number. You see the big number, and you see how much those guys have played as they did you feel positive about what those (scouts) have done in terms of scouting players, picking players, and those players (becoming) what they anticipated them being.”

It’s hard to argue with the results. ESPN ranked the Redskins as the No. 1 most productive rookie class in 2019, headlined by Terry McLaurin, Dwayne Haskins, and Montez Sweat. Now, going forward, they are set up for another slam dunk in the draft with the No. 2 overall pick, where Smith can either choose to take Ohio State’s Chase Young or trade the pick for a heaping haul.

The team has been relatively quiet when it comes to hiring a GM down the road, but there was mention that they would wait until April’s draft is in the rearview mirror. That gives Smith a couple more months to prove that he’s the man for the job, and a solid draft in a couple months will seal the deal.

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ESPN ranks Redskins as No. 1 most productive rookie class in 2019

Washington was forced to rely on their rookies in 2019, and it led ESPN to rank them the most productive group of young players in the NFL.

They may have ended the 2019 season as the second-worst team in the NFL, but the Washington Redskins had a rookie class unlike any other this past season. With a number of prominent young players actually making a difference on the field, it’s no wonder that the Redskins were named as ESPN’s No. 1 most productive rookie class in the NFL in 2019.

Just think of all the first-year players who saw the field and got a load of experience under their best this past year. You’ve got quarterback Dwayne Haskins, wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Steven Sims Jr., and Kelvin Harmon, plus Wes Martin getting a look at right guard. Then on defense, there’s Montez Sweat rushing the edge, Cole Holcomb becoming an impact player at linebacker, and cornerback Jimmy Moreland turning some heads out on the numbers.

With that much production from a rookie class, there’s obviously some high expectations for the grown going forward.

According to ESPN, the most valuable pick for the Redskins in the 2019 NFL Draft was obviously McLaurin, who was selected in the third round with the 76th overall pick. McLaurin finished the year with the highest receiving grade (86.5) by a rookie receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2015.

With a new coaching staff and some recent success in the draft, look for the stock for Washington to continue to rise as they try and hit on more young players, starting with a likely pick of Chase Young with the No. 2 pick in 2020.

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What will the Redskins decide to do with Ryan Kerrigan in 2020?

It would make a lot of sense for the Redskins to move on from Kerrigan this season and focus on Montez Sweat and Chase Young, but will they?

Do you remember that scene in Draft Day when Brian Drew, Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, was upset with the general manager of the team (Kevin Costner) because he was expected to draft college-standout QB Bo Callahan (a stand-in for Johnny Manziel) early in the draft, virtually ending Drew’s reign as the starter?

Didn’t see it? You should, it’s fun.

Anyway, that’s probably how Washington Redskins edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan is starting to feel, don’t you think?

He once was a golden boy in Washington, but he could very well be seeing his time with the Redskins come to an end. Though he still is a fan-favorite for many, a down year in 2019 has left him with one year left on his contract and an inkling of doubt that he can be what he once was in D.C. On top of that, Washington has the No. 2 pick in the draft, and they’re expected to take a young and dynamic edge rusher out of Ohio State, giving them two first-rounders capable of getting the job done when you consider they drafted Montez Sweat in 2019.

So where does that leave Kerrigan? Like we mentioned earlier, he has one year left on his contract, where he is due $11.5 million in 2020, and he’s 1.5 sacks away from breaking the Redskins all-time career sack record. But will he get the chance to do it in Washington? Kerrigan hopes so.

“Certainly, I want to be here,” Kerrigan said when cleaning out his locker after the season, via Redskins.com. “This is my home now. I’ve been here for nine years. I’ve been through some good seasons, I’ve been through some bad ones. I want to be here through the good and the bad. I love Washington, D.C. I love the Redskins. I want to be here.”

For Kerrigan, his first hope needs to be that the new coaching staff in Washington wants to keep him around for one last year and give him the chance to earn his next contract. Of course, it’s would be easy for the team to trade him away, considering his value is at its highest right now with a year left before he’s free to leave. There’s also the very, very slight chance that the Redskins don’t end up drafting Chase Young, but that seems too risky to bank on.

Whatever happens, it will need to play out over the next couple of months. In Draft Day, Kevin Costner went with his gut and decided not to draft the obvious player. If life were a movie, we’d definitely get a chance to see Kerrigan’s career continue in Washington.

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Redskins ‘potential’ doesn’t impress new DC Jack Del Rio

Del Rio knows that the Redskins have a lot of talent on defense, but unless that brings results on the field it doesn’t mean much.

Much has been made about the need for Washington’s offense to take the next step into relevance with such a young core of high-ceiling players, but in order for the team to see instant results, it’s the defense that needs to step up to the plate.

After being projected by some to finish as a top-10 defense in 2019, the Redskins did nothing but disappoint. They finished the year ranked 27th in the NFL when it comes to total yards allowed and total points given up, and they were dead last in the league when it comes to third-down conversions, allowing opposing teams to move the chains 49 percent of the time.

With a stacked defensive line, a young and budding defensive secondary, and a potentially solid core of linebackers, the Redskins have great potential to be good in 2020. However, don’t mention that to Jack Del Rio, the new defensive coordinator in Washington. He doesn’t want to hear anything about potential. All that he cares about is results.

“It’s interesting to me that so much is made this time of year with thoughts on potential, Potential really doesn’t matter,” Del Rio said, via The Athletic.“It doesn’t really amount to much. To me, it’s more about what we can get done and the work that we’re willing to put in and the idea that ‘Look, we’re going to become a respected unit, OK?’ We’ve got to learn how to commit to doing what is best for each other and what is best for this football team.”

Del Rio has a point. Montez Sweat and Chase Young have the potential to be a force on the outside, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, but it doesn’t mean squat if they’re rendered irrelevant by NFL offensive lineman. Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen have had their potential raved about for years now, but until it amounts to something on the field, how much is that helping the Redskins?

“I believe in having a defense that understands where it belongs, that is accountable to each other, that plays hard, that plays fast, that plays physical, that plays tough,” Del Rio said. “That toughness is not just a physical toughness but a mental toughness as well. We have a ways to go, and the communication is going to be important, and the understanding of how we all fit together is going to be important. Those are just some of the principles that I believe in.”

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Redskins could consider drafting Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons ahead of DE Chase Young

It’s a foregone conclusion that Washington will draft Chase Young at No. 2, but Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons might be a better fit for Redskins.

Ever since the Washington Redskins locked up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, it has almost been a foregone conclusion that they would select Ohio State defensive end, Chase Young. With the Cincinnati Bengals seemingly a lock to draft LSU’s Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick, it seems almost too easy for Washington to just take Young — who is thought to be a generational talent and quite possibly the best player in the 2020 draft class — and move on with it.

However, there was one player in the College Football National Championship that put a stamp on his career year, and he just might be good enough to warrant a look from the Redskins before April rolls around.

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That player is Isaiah Simmons, a linebacker out of Clemson. Before the National Championship game, Simmons was already recognized as the top linebacker in this years’ draft class, and many expected him to be selected somewhere in the top-10, maybe even the top-5. However, his seven tackles, one sack, and instrumental effect on the game Monday night might have caused a few people in Washington to rethink their no-brainer pick of Young.

Here’s the case for drafting Simmons over Young. If you’re Washington, you don’t really need another edge rusher, with Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan already on the roster. Add in the breakout year that Ryan Anderson had in 2019, and you’re pretty much set at that position.  However, a major position of need for the Redskins is at linebacker alongside Reuben Foster and Cole Holcomb. This draft pick would then suit need over talent, and they could be set with a stout defense for years to come, should Kerrigan get back to his dominant ways after a down year in 2019. In his time at Clemson, Simmons finished with 148 total tackles, 11 sacks, and four interceptions. Comparatively, Young finished his career with 68 total tackles and 30.5 sacks at Ohio State.

Still, many — including us — believe that with the No. 2 overall pick, it is better to draft the player with the most upside and figure out a fit later. Young is thought to be a future Hall-of-Fame talent, and the Redskins’ move to a 4-3 defense under Jack Del Rio is a perfect fit for him to succeed alongside Sweat. Still, Simmons’ performance in the CFP Title game should at least be noticed in Washington, as they now have two defenders who could completely change the outlook of their defense in 2020 and years to come.

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Redskins key to defensive success is embracing the pass rush

One of the areas of strength for the Redskins is the defensive line, where they will need to rest their focus in order to succeed.

By virtually any metric you use in 2019, the Washington Redskins’ defense underachieved. After being projected by some to finish as a top-5 or top-10 defense in the NFL, they wrapped up the season with the following stats:

  • Yards per game — 385.1 (27th)
  • Points per game — 27.2 (27th)
  • 3rd down conversion % — 49 (32nd)
  • 1st downs per game — 22.1 (28th)

Like we said…any metric. This is one of the reasons why Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio have been brought into the organization to help shore up the defense and turn around the losing ways in Washington. In order to do so, the two highly-respected defensive coaches plan to change from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3, hoping that it will better fit their personnel, and allow them to do one thing above all else;

Rush the quarterback.

“It just makes sense to have them covering less and rushing more,” Del Rio said, via Redskins.com. “I’ll keep it as simple as that.”

When you take a look at the defensive depth chart for the Redskins, one of the position groups that stands out is the defensive line. Just look at this group of players that Del Rio will likely be able to work with next year.

  • Ryan Kerrigan
  • Montez Sweat
  • Chase Young
  • Matt Ioannidis
  • Daron Payne
  • Jonathan Allen
  • Ryan Anderson

Are you going to try to tell me that this unit will have a tough time getting to the quarterback snap after snap? That seems like a stretch. In the years past, Washington has tried to focus on the changing of the guard in the NFL, and scheme their defense to be more fit to cover the pass and focus less on getting to the QB. That mentality is no longer, under the new leadership, where both coaches want to stress the importance of putting pressure on the opposing backfield via the edges.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of players thus far, and their mentality is that they want to make it right,” Del Rio said. “They want to work, and that’s what it’s going to take.”

For any team to succeed, the best thing a coach can do is look at his personnel and scheme his gameplan in order to fit his roster. In Washington, the defensive line is stout, and the rush on the edge is downright dangerous. You want to win? You take advantage of that. Look for those sack numbers to go up next year, and with them, the defensive rankings as well.

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Why Jack Del Rio says a 4-3 defense is the obvious choice for Redskins

Del Rio’s first big move as the DC was saying Washington would transition to a 4-3 defense, which he says is an obvious fit for personnel.

When Jack Del Rio was hired as the new defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins, one of his first moves on the job was to commit to a 4-3 defensive scheme, rather than the 3-4 scheme that the Redskins have been running in the recent past.

So for non-football lifers, what does this mean? Let’s break it down.

The first step to understanding the difference between a 4-3 and 3-4 defense is getting comfortable with the personnel changes it brings. A 4-3 consists of four defensive lineman and three linebackers, while a 3-4 is the opposite. In a 4-3, the quarterback pressure is created mainly by the lineman, where a DT typically draws a double-team, and the rest of the line is free to play with a one-on-one matchup. In a 3-4, which is how the Redskins have lined up for years now, the pressure is created by the linebackers out on the edge. This role was filled by both Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat in 2019. A change to the 4-3 would likely see them move to the defensive end position, rather than an ‘edge-rusher’ distinction. So how would this help the Redskins?

“You’ve got guys like Montez Sweat, [Ryan] Kerrigan,” Del Rio said, via NBC Sports Washington. “These are guys that are some of your premier edge rushers. It just makes more sense to have them covering less and rushing more. I’ll keep it as simple as that.”

It helps by putting Kerrigan and Sweat — and quite possibly Chase Young — in a position to succeed more. While they are now operating out of a linebacker position, where they are occasionally asked to drop back into coverage, the new scheme would as them to focus on the thing: get to the quarterback.

“When Ron and I talked about the roster, talked about the fit, talked about the people we have here,” Del Rio added, “for both of us, it was obvious that a 4-3 would be a good fit.”

Whether or not Kerrigan stays with the team is a different conversation, but the fact remains that in order for the Redskins to get the most out of their defensive roster, a 4-3 is the scheme to go with.

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Should the Redskins trade away their No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Redskins are likely to take DE Chase Young with the second-overall pick in April, but there is a chance that they trade it as well.

The Washington Redskins are owners of the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, where they are expected to select Ohio State defensive end, Chase Young.

Young is said to be a generational talent who is the best pass-rusher to come out of Ohio State in the past decade. Considering that Ohio State has produced both Nick and Joey Bosa in recent years, that is a profound statement. So with the Cincinnati Bengals expected to take Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick, it becomes a no-brainer for the Redskins to select Young, right?

Well, almost.

This is where you have to truly assess how valuable the No. 2 pick is, and look around at what else is on the board — not for Washington’s sake, but for everyone else’s desire. We feel confident in saying that, should the Redskins use their No. 2 pick to draft a player, it will be Young. However, there is a case to be made that they should trade that pick away for a heaping haul. Here’s the case.

This draft class is ripe with QB talent, and there are a number of teams in the NFL who are in need of a new quarterback. Off of the top of your head, I bet you can name at least 5 teams who would like to leave the 2020 draft with a new quarterback. The Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Denver Broncos. Throw in the possibility of the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing their signal-callers in free agency, and that list grows. The point is, there are a number of teams who would like to draft a high-end QB, and it’s likely that you’ll need to snake the Miami Dolphins — who have the No. 5 pick — in order to draft Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, who declared for the draft on Monday.

This is where the Redskins come into play. After trading away their second-round pick in 2019 as part of a move up to draft DE Montez Sweat in the first round, they are depleted when it comes to draft picks this year. If they were to trade away their No. 2 pick, they could likely receive the other team’s first-round pick this year, as well as at least a couple of mid-round picks, plus an additional late-round pick in the future. The team could then draft for need —another wide receiver, or potentially a left tackle — with their first-round pick. That doesn’t look bad to a new coach who is looking at his future.

Of course, the prospect of adding Chase Young to your already stout defensive line also looks pretty appealing, and it would be hard to pass up on a game-wrecker who has the chance to completely turn around your defense.

This is not an article that is advocating for the Redskins to trade away the No. 2 pick; in fact, we have been quite vocal about our desire to see the team draft Young. With an extraordinary talent like that available to you, take the player and worry about the fit later. The point is, there is at least a question as to what the Redskins will do. It’s unlikely that they trade away the pick for an impressive haul, but it’s at least a possibility.

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