The Washington Redskins have an elite left tackle in Trent Williams and received a surprisingly strong 2013 season from veteran right tackle Tyler Polumbus, who played considerably better than most journeymen players who are generally billed as swing tackles. But even though Polumbus was a secret star for the Redskins at RT last season, they probably aren’t comfortable on counting on a repeat performance from him in 2014, especially with Mike Shanahan gone. Shanahan, if you recall, absolutely loves Polumbus and stuck with him after his putrid 2012 season; it looks like Shanny got that call right in the context of the ’14 season.
Anyway, Polumbus is also 29 and, more importantly, in a contract year, and he could easily sign elsewhere next offseason if he does have a repeat performance. As such, the Redskins need to look at mid-round options worth developing at tackle in order to use them as replacements for Polumbus to maintain a solid partner for Williams.
Per a source close to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, former Stanford Cardinal star offensive tackle Cameron Fleming visited the Redskins today, and this is a trip well-worth keeping in mind going forward. Fleming makes a great deal of sense as a mid-round pick at OT for the Redskins behind their current starting tandem of Williams and Polumbus, especially since some view him as a sleeper. If the Redskins want him, then it would make sense for them to use the 66th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, as Fleming has a third-round grade with additional value due to the emphasis placed on the offensive tackle position. He’s a big guy and was part of a steady Stanford line that included top guard prospect David Yankey and likely 2015 NFL Draft blue-chipper Andrus Peat, and he figures to be entrenched as an RT. Fleming is a quality draft prospect in his own right, even if he isn’t rated as highly as Yankey or Peat.
