Safety Su’a Cravens is expected to return to the field in 2018. Will it be with the Washington Redskins? It shouldn’t be.
When the Washington Redskins selected Su’a Cravens in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he was supposed finally give the team a true playmaker at the safety position. To say that hasn’t happened would be an understatement.
As a rookie in 2016, the Redskins played Cravens in a hybrid dime linebacker role similar to how the Arizona Cardinals employ Deone Bucannon. There were some good moments, such as the game-winning interception Cravens had on the Giants and Eli Manning early in the season.
However, there were plenty of lows, too. Cravens suffered a concussion and missed several games. He then went on social media to say his vision was permanently damaged without consulting with the team. It was later revealed not to be true.
Then, late in the season as Cravens was nursing an arm injury, then-general manager Scot McCloughan urged Cravens, who was playing ping pong with his teammates, to try and play in the final game of his rookie season. Cravens refused. There was also the incident where he didn’t show up to team headquarters.
Do we sense a theme here?
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Last summer, just as the season was set to begin, Cravens informed the team he was planning to retire. After the team had already made its final cuts with the season just a week away. To say the team and his teammates were angry would be an understatement.
When the season began, Cravens, who is from Los Angeles and an alum of USC, was on the sideline for a Trojans game. Washington executive Doug Williams happened to be there, too. The next day, the Redskins would play the Rams in the same stadium, yet Cravens didn’t show up to support his teammates. This rubbed many the wrong way.
Now, Cravens decided he wants to play football again and the Redskins have him under contract for three more years. So, should head coach Jay Gruden and the team welcome him back with open arms?
Absolutely not. Whether or not Cravens was dealing with personal issues, he walked out and quit on his team. Football is the ultimate team sport. Regardless of what players will say publicly, that was a hard pill to swallow. Now, the Redskins must find some way to move on from Cravens or this situation will continue to follow them.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Wednesday the Redskins and Broncos were negotiating a trade that would send Cravens to Denver. This must happen. The Redskins aren’t going to get fair value for Cravens. His personal issues — and commitment issues — will always follow him. That hurts Washington. But allowing this situation to continue throughout the offseason and into the season would be much worse. Work with Denver to get a conditional mid-round pick and never look back.
The #Broncos are in talks to trade for #Redskins S Su’a Cravens, sources say. They are the team most interested and the likely landing spot for the talented former 2nd rounder, though no deal is done yet.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2018
Next: NFL Free Agency 2018: Dream target for each team
Cravens’ immaturity put himself and the Redskins in this position. Washington didn’t mishandle Cravens regardless of what you may hear. There’s plenty of dysfunction that surrounds Washington’s front office, yet team president Bruce Allen and company still tried to help Cravens. Ultimately, the timing of his decision last summer sealed his fate with the Redskins and the team must move on now.