Washington Redskins: Su’a Cravens trade is addition by subtraction

Losing a former second-round pick after just two years is tough. But in the case of Su’a Cravens, the Washington Redskins did the right thing.

The Washington Redskins finally traded former second-round pick Su’a Cravens on Wednesday, shipping the safety to the Denver Broncos for a pair of draft choices and swapping picks in two different rounds in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft. On the surface, this was a disastrous trade for the Redskins. Cravens was on a cheap contract and had three years remaining on the deal. However, getting rid of Cravens was absolutely the right move for the Redskins.

Cravens had been passed on the depth chart by Montae Nicholson and alienated not only the coaching staff and front office, but his fellow players, too. Sure, his teammates could’ve and likely would have forgiven him had he came back and shown the commitment needed for the job. But how could they trust him? In just over one year with the team, Cravens quit twice. And he briefly quit on his team in college, too.

Do you trust this guy? Is this the kind of guy you want on your team? For Denver, it’s a good trade. The risk is minimal. If he becomes a solid player, you have a good piece for cheap for the next three years. If he does as he usually does, you can cut him and move on. No risk involved for the Broncos.

Another question facing Cravens is what is his true position? He played a hybrid linebacker role during his rookie season and wasn’t happy in that role. He also played the same position in college, yet wanted to transition back into a full-time role at safety in the NFL. Will that happen in Denver or do the Broncos envision him in a similar role to the one he played during his rookie season?

For the Redskins, it’s good to get this situation behind them. Allegedly, Cravens wasn’t going to report to the team. Not sure he had any leverage there and how many young players in the same position as Cravens would even threaten to hold out? It again speaks of his maturity.

Cravens’ use of social media can be maddening, too. After suffering a concussion during his rookie season, Cravens went on social media to say his vision was permanently damaged and he would never be the same again. Of course, that proved not to be true. Speaking of social media, how about his bizarre reaction to the trade.

https://twitter.com/iammsuzy/status/979027807249432576

It’s easy to be critical of the Redskins here. Another former high draft choice is gone. However, this is not entirely their fault. You can blame Scot McCloughan, though. The former general manager famously known for his scouting instincts, didn’t get a feel for Cravens and his commitment to the game during the interview process back in 2016. And what about the red flags of him quitting at USC?

Next: NFL Free Agency 2018: Biggest steal for each team

Cravens made one significant play during his time with the Redskins, picking off Eli Manning to seal Washington’s first win back in 2016. Other than that, his tenure was forgettable and will go down as yet another draft bust. But trading Cravens was the right move and it happened at the right time. The Redskins did not want him back and getting anything for him is better than the alternative.