Washington Redskins should add an edge rusher in free agency
The Washington Redskins lost Preston Smith in free agency. While the draft is deep with edge rushers, the team should also add a veteran to the mix.
Preston Smith was a second-round pick of the Washington Redskins back in 2015. On the second day of the NFL’s legal tampering period before free agency, the Green Bay Packers came to terms on a four-year deal worth up to $52 million to lure Smith away from Washington. Now, the Redskins are down one starter from a defense that took major steps forward in 2018.
In his four years, Smith played in all 64 games. He started two games as a rookie before starting every game in each of the last three seasons. Smith was a durable player who got solid pressure on the quarterback and even made a few game-changing plays during his time in Washington. However, the Redskins saw Smith as someone who was probably going to be overpaid in free agency and decided against bringing him back.
Playing opposite of Ryan Kerrigan, Smith had 24 sacks in four seasons. He had two seasons where he recorded eight sacks, yet it’s the near-misses that frustrated many. Smith did get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and he was solid against the run. But he wasn’t player Washington was willing to break the bank on, especially with the upcoming draft rich in pass-rushers.
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Picking No. 15 in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Redskins should be in a position to grab a good pass-rusher. But will one of the premier rushers like Montez Sweat or Brian Burns already be gone? Quite possibly. We know Nick Bosa or Josh Allen won’t be there. If so, Washington can pick up someone like Jachai Polite later in the first round if it moves down or perhaps someone like Jaylen Ferguson in Round 2.
That’s why the Redskins should be looking to add a veteran pass-rusher now. The best on the market is Justin Houston. At 30 years old, Houston has 78.5 career sacks in Kansas City but was released earlier this week in a cost-cutting move. Houston finished with nine sacks in 2018. Houston’s health also played a part in Kansas City’s decision to release him.
The Redskins should be in contact with Houston’s agent. See what he would cost on a short-term deal. We know Washington can afford him because the team was trying to sign C.J. Mosley before he chose the Jets on Tuesday.
If not Houston, what about Nick Perry, who Green Bay released this week after signing two players, including Smith? Perry isn’t going to put up big sack numbers, but he is solid against the run and gives the team a solid veteran so it doesn’t have to force the first pick on a pass rusher.
Other veterans such as Shaq Barrett or Shane Ray, both recently of Denver, could be solid options. Ray, a former first-round pick has been a disappointment. Perhaps a change of scenery could do him good? Barrett is a solid player who isn’t going to put up eye-popping numbers but could do well in a rotation with Kerrigan, Ryan Anderson and perhaps a young player. Barrett would be a good option that will not break the bank and still give you solid production.
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The Redskins made a big investment in improving their secondary with the signing of Landon Collins. And it’s clear with the resources Washington has put into its defensive line over the last three years it values interior pressure. You still need to have an outside rusher opposite of Kerrigan and signing one in free agency could help a defense that faltered late last year, take another step toward respectability in 2019.