The Washington Redskins have a solid quarterback in Alex Smith, but few notable playmakers for him to work with. They must get him help.
No matter how poor or successful a team’s season was, there are always major offseason questions on the front burner. The NFL turns over too much for even the best teams to advance a calendar year unscathed. Let’s continue the team-by-team overview with the Washington Redskins.
Few teams pulled a harder course change this offseason than the Washington Redskins. They let franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins walk and made a big splash to trade for and extend veteran Alex Smith. The problem is that last year was Smith’s best season thanks mostly to his choice to heave the ball down the field and scrap his game-manager moniker.
Except that particular Chiefs roster had star playmakers at all three levels of the offense. Washington does not. Can they get Smith the help he needs?
Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate the Washington Redskins in today’s NFL Sports Debate.
Todd Salem:
The best part of the Redskins offense is the line. We are still waiting for the Paul Richardson breakout and the healthy Josh Doctson campaign. Jamison Crowder fell off the map in 2017. The running back position is particularly egregious, and tight end Jordan Reed is simply never healthy. I don’t see how Smith would possibly push this roster over the top.
There are pieces to like on defense, though the unit needs work. It was very poor against the run last year and could use another pass rusher after failing to come away with much of anything in free agency. The secondary also failed to replace the pieces that left it. The bottom line is that the defense could be solid enough to compete but certainly not good enough to carry a below-average offense. And in the worst-case, both sides of the ball perform below average.
I don’t see the makings of a playoff team here, even though I like Smith as a player. Is he even better than the baseline Cousins put up with this roster? Cousins never won anything, but he made throws, showed enthusiasm and grit, and occasionally carried an offense devoid of game-breaking talent.
The 13th overall pick will be an important one but arguably less important than Washington stocking up on useful pieces throughout the draft. The franchise really needs to come away with three or four starters to make the Smith plunge at all logical. If it doesn’t, neither Smith nor Jay Gruden will be around for the next time the Redskins do make the postseason.
Dan Salem:
I’m not sure how they keep doing it, but the Washington Redskins repeatedly find themselves devoid of enough talent to be anything better than average. They had finally found a player worth keeping, but refused to sign him long term. That player was Kirk Cousins. Even he barely got them to winning records, but he did it. One player is never enough. Now they have Alex Smith, who is very good at playing quarterback, but is still only one player. Consider me dubious of Washington’s ability to get over the hump in 2018.
If something will save this team from missing the playoffs this season, its the NFL Draft. Washington owns high picks in both rounds one and two, starting with the 13th overall selection. They can not miss and desperately need players who can make an immediate impact on the field. With their strong offensive line and a reliable quarterback, the Redskins offense then has a chance to overachieve.
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I’d personally be a bit nervous if I was a fan of Washington. They have some foundational pieces, but need to rebuild their talent pool. Yet Smith is not a rebuild quarterback. He could potentially be a bridge quarterback, if the Redskins bottom out this season and draft one high in 2019. I suppose Washington could also trade up from pick 13 to grab one of the top four passers in the upcoming draft this year. Smith would be an excellent mentor to a young quarterback. Fans don’t want to hear that, or think about it. But with the Eagles and Cowboys leading the NFC East, Washington must do something to get ahead.