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In the NFL, having quality backups is a key to success. Injuries happen all the time to key starters, and teams need capable guys to step up, and into the starting line-up without missing a beat. This obviously doesn't always happen, as losing a key player such as your starting quarterback, or franchise left tackle, can often crush a team's chances to be competitive week in and week out.
Regardless of the position, teams need depth across the board. This has been a major issue for the Redskins over the last decade, as prior GM's have minimized the draft in favor of pricy free agent signings. This does two things: 1)Minimizing draft picks, and/or trading away picks, doesn't allow the team to build a young, core group to develop behind the starters, and 2)It limits the quantity of players you can bring in as young free agent depth, when you spend a big chunk of your team's salary cap on one or two high priced players.
Scot McCloughan is a GM who believes in drafting young talent, and developing that talent to become contributors on the team. Scot uses free agency sparingly, filling in gaps where needed to provide starting upgrades, and backup depth.
Below is a look at our team if our backups became starters. Now, of course, this is the absolute extreme, but it does give us a look at the depth we have on this team.
Offense:
QB - Colt McCoy
RB - Chris Thompson/Silas Redd
WR - Ryan Grant
WR - Rashad Ross
WR - Laron Byrd
TE - Niles Paul/Derek Carrier
LT - Ty Nsekhe
LG - Arie Kouandjio
C - Josh LeRibeus(potential starter)/Austin Reiter
RG - Spencer Long(potential starter)
RT - Takoby Cofield
Defense:
DE - Kendall Reyes(potential starter)/Kedric Golston
NT - Jerrell Powe
DE - Ricky Jean-Francois/Ziggy Hood
OLB - Trent Murphy
ILB - Will Compton(potential starter)
ILB - Terence Garvin/Martrell Spaight
OLB - Preston Smith
CB - Quinton Dunbar
SS - David Bruton(potential starter)
FS - Kyshoen Jarrett(potential starter)
CB - Will Blackmon
In the comments section, let's discuss:
- Positions groups where depth is at its strongest
- Positions groups where depth is at its weakest
- Areas where we could lose a starter and not miss a beat
- Areas where you feel a reserve could take over as a starter
- A backup who has the most potential as a future starter for this team