The Washington Redskins had a tumultuous 2018 season. One of the few positives has been the defensive line. Clearly that’s the group to build around.
In the grand scheme of things, a 7-9 record isn’t all that bad. It’s clearly not a winning record, or something that would lead a team to the playoffs. Things could’ve been worse though — especially considering the injuries that the Washington Redskins dealt with in 2018. One of the reasons they were able to stay afloat was their defensive line.
The defensive line of the Redskins features young talent everywhere. There are three studs and a project that could be great if given time.
Tim Settle is the project. A rookie out of Virginia Tech, the defensive tackle is an absolute unit at 6-3, 328 pounds. He’s got deceptive speed and handwork and at just 21 has plenty of time to work on his game.
Matt Ioannidis is the surprise of the group. He definitely had potential when drafted, but becoming a fantastic pass rusher in addition to his great run stopping has made him a monster. Ioannidis is only 24 and just had easily his best season in the NFL, recording 7.5 sacks.
Jonathan Allen was the first-round pick for the Redskins in 2017. An injury severely limited his rookie year though, as he only appeared in five games, recording just one sack. This year, Allen was healthy and ready to make an impact. He racked up 61 tackles and eight sacks in his year 23 season.
Finally, there’s the Redskins first-round pick of 2018, Da’Ron Payne. The 21-year old recorded 56 tackles and five sacks in his rookie year. He was a menace in the run game and added three pass deflections. He’s only going to get better and could be considered elite in no time.
The Washington Redskins 2018 season left a lot to be desired. There’s a clear building block in place though. A defensive line that features not just youth, but immense talent.