Josh Norman was just the biggest piece added to the Washington Redskins secondary this offseason. What do all the new additions mean for some players, like Quinton Dunbar?
Norman was the obvious big fish this offseason for the Redskins. However, he wasn’t the only one to join the secondary, as David Bruton Jr., Greg Toler, Su’a Cravens, and Kendall Fuller all took up roles as well. For some players, this doesn’t mean much. Bashaud Breeland and DeAngelo Hall will still have very large roles in the defense for example.
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What about Dunbar though?
The undrafted rookie made huge strides in his game during his first year in the NFL. A wide receiver in college, he made the switch to cornerback to help the Redskins in training camp and the preseason. Dunbar didn’t make the team at the start of the year, but fought his way onto the roster and quickly found his role growing.
Last season, Dunbar collected 13 tackles, one interception, and five pass deflections in 11 games. His skills in coverage constantly improved, and he was soon one of the top cornerbacks on the Washington roster.
The video & close up replay of Quinton Dunbar INT in EZ. Watch the step to his left before recovering on replay! pic.twitter.com/ynV6Q19oFs
— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) December 3, 2015
However, at first glance, it looks as if Dunbar will be buried on the depth chart heading into the 2016 season thanks to all the new faces.
After all the Redskins moves, it looked as if Norman and Breeland would be the top two, while Will Blackmon, Fuller, and Toler would be fighting for the next three slots with Dunbar. This changed quickly however, as Blackmon switched over to the safety position. With Blackmon out of the way, it was just Fuller and Toler ahead of Dunbar. I believe Fuller may be a little harder to budge, but Toler was brought in as more of a depth piece than anything else, so Dunbar could move ahead of him before the season even starts.
All of a sudden, Dunbar is back in the mix every game.
Another important thing to remember is his size and speed. At 6’2″, Dunbar is the tallest of all the Washington defensive backs (tied with Bruton Jr. and Jeremy Harris). He also has blazing speed, which could absolutely come in handy covering some of the faster receivers in football (via John Keim of ESPN).
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Dunbar has the skills and potential to become one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL, and he’s already out there proving, with a fantastic day at camp on Wednesday (two interceptions) and a constant “get better” attitude.
Quinton Dunbar can potentially be a stud with more seasoning. Had a break up earlier & just picked off McCoy on a out-route diving INT.
— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) May 25, 2016
CB Quinton Dunbar with a diving interception on sideline. Believe McCoy w/ the pass. GREAT catch. He showed promise last year. #Redskins
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) May 25, 2016
The Redskins secondary will make major strides in 2016, and Dunbar will be right in the middle of it.