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Anyone who watched the Washington Redskins in 2016 knows which positions the team needs to add talent to in the upcoming draft. However, teams don't always use their draft picks to address positions of need.
However, many personnel decision makers instead prefer to use a best player available (BPA) approach, while others pay close attention and are heavily influenced by the contracts situations of the players on their roster. Teams often use a combination of these different strategies.
To see an example of when a team spurned using a premium pick on one of their greatest positions of need and instead used a BPA and contract focused approach we need look no further than the Redskins' first-round pick in 2016.
Washington desperately needed to address the defensive side of the ball last year (specifically the defensive line), but they instead chose to draft wide receiver Josh Doctson in the first round. Why would the Redskins do this when they already had one of the best wide receiver corps in the league? This was a group that featured Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson and up-and-coming slot receiver Jamison Crowder.
We know for a fact that Doctson was the highest graded player left on the Redskins' board. They have told us that, but what is also true and what they did not outright tell us, was that part of this decision was predicated on the fact that they did not want to pay a boatload of money to aging receivers Garcon and Jackson who were scheduled to hit free agency in the following offseason.
We all know what happened next. Garcon and Jackson moved on without much of a fight and they both received big deals.
With this in mind, I decided to take a position-by-position look at the contract situations (length, cap hits, structure, etc.) and ages of all the players on the Redskins' roster. Perhaps, in doing so, we can come away with a better understanding of the team's needs and gain some insight into the next surprise pick that the Washington Redskins might make.
METHOD & STRUCTURE
For each position, the number of players currently under contract and the number of players that I would project to make the roster if the season were to start today are listed.
In the tables, the names of players that I project to be starters are bolded and the names of those that are included but that would not make this hypothetical roster are italicized. There are only 11 technically starters on offense and defense in each game, but I have listed 12 so that a couple of other key players could be included. Players not included in the tables will be presented under the "not listed" heading for each position. The starters, backups and players that just missed the cut are sorted by 2017 cap hit.
Each year in the table, included player's cap hits, ages at the end of the year, cap savings if cut prior to the season and dead money total if cut prior to the season are listed. All cap savings and dead money figures are based on pre June 1st numbers. The year in which each player hits free agency has also been included.
The different types of contract situations you will see are: unrestricted free agent (UFA), restricted free agent (RFA), exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) and fifth-year option (5Y-Option). To learn more about the different types of free agency check out the following two links.
If you do not see a free agent designation for a player it's because the tables only go five years out (2021) and the player in question is not scheduled to hit free agency until 2022. No player on the team has a contract length of more than five years. In all of these cases the player will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
Under Contract: 3
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 3
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Kirk Cousins | Age | 29 |
30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| Cap Hit | $23.94M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $0/$23.9M | |||||
| Colt McCoy | Age | 30 |
31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Cap Hit | $3.6M | $3.6M | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $2.4M/$1.2M | $3M/$600K | ||||
| Nate Sudfeld | Age | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Cap Hit | $574K | $664K | $754K | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | $471K/$103K | $596K/$69K | $720K/$34K |
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There's not much to say about Kirk Cousins' contract situation that hasn't already been said. But I do think it would be wise to lock Cousins up now, as opposed to next offseason, so that they can part ways with him a bit sooner if he starts to physically break down in a few years. As it is, he'd be 33 at the end of a five-year contract if he signed one today.
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I'm totally against the Redskins using a first or second-day pick on a quarterback in the draft, but taking one later on might not be a bad idea. Colt McCoy currently has the third highest 2017 cap hit among backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Only fellow clipboard holders Brock Osweiler, who is only on the Browns' roster because they received a draft pick to take on his salary, and Drew Stanton, who is backing up an ancient and statuesque Carson Palmer, have higher numbers this season.
RUNNING BACKS
Under Contract: 5
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 3
Extra Players Listed: 2 (Mack Brown & Keith Marshall)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Chris Thompson | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $2.75M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $2.7M/$0M | |||||
| Robert Kelley | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $540K | $630K | RFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $540K/$0 | $630K/$0 | ||||
| Matt Jones | Age | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Cap Hit | $789K | $878K | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $489K/$300K | $729K/$150K | ||||
| Mack Brown | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $540K | ERFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $540K/$0 | |||||
| Keith Marshall | Age | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Cap Hit | $481K | $571K | $736K | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | $432K/$49K | $539K/$33K | $720K/$16K |
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As you might recall, I'm not the biggest fan of Robert Kelley being the Redskins' RB1. However, he is, at worst, a great backup runner, and it's nice to know that the Redskins will have control of his rights for the next three years and up until his age 28-season.
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Chris Thompson has a slight frame and a history of injuries, and next year he'll be a 28 year old free agent at one of the positions with the shortest shelf lives in all of sports. The Redskins don't have any other plus third-down backs under contract after this season, so they should strongly consider adding a RB with some decent pass-catching chops in the draft.
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The running back position has been devalued in recent years, but it wouldn't hurt for the Redskins to spend some more there. They have less than $8M committed on the books to running backs over the course of the next three seasons combined.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Under Contract: 9
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 6
Not Listed: Matt Hazel (2019 RFA, Age-25 Season, $540K APY), Reggie Diggs (2019 RFA, Age-24 Season, $540K APY) and Kendall Thompson (2019 ERFA, Age-25 Season, $510K APY)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Terrelle Pryor | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $6M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $0/$6M | |||||
| Josh Doctson | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $2.28M | $2.74M | $3.2M | 5Y-Option | UFA | |
| Save/Dead | ($5.3M)/$7.6M | ($2.6M)/$5.3M | $620K/$2.6M | |||
| Jamison Crowder | Age | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Cap Hit | $751K | $841K | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $479K/$273K | $705K/$136K | ||||
| Ryan Grant | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $743K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $690K/$53K | |||||
| Brian Quick | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $695K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$80K | |||||
| Maurice Harris | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $540K | $630K | RFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $540K/$0 | $630K/$0 |
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From top to bottom, the Skins have one of the best wide receiver corps in the league, but that all could change very quickly. Three of the six players projected to make the final roster are currently slated to hit the open market next March. Jamison Crowder could also become a free agent the following year.
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However, if Crowder's deal is extended then this unit definitely has some potential going forward. If so, they'd still have some level of contractual control over the trio of Crowder, Josh Doctson and Maurice Harris through at least the 2019 season. All three players will be 24 or younger until this coming November.
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The Redskins should strongly consider moving on from Ryan Grant and both giving more work to Maurice Harris and adding a sixth wideout later in the draft. Grant is entering the final year of his deal and carries a cap hit just $8K under Jamison Crowder's and nearly $50K more than Brian Quick's. The team controls the rights to Maurice Harris at a very reasonable price for the next three seasons.
TIGHT ENDS
Under Contract: 5
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 4
Not Listed: Wes Saxton (2019 ERFA, Age-24 Season, $510K APY)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Jordan Reed | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $5.74M | $10.3M | $9.72M | $10.3M | $9M | |
| Save/Dead | ($5.2M)/$10.9M | $4.9M/$5.4M | $6.1M/$3.6M | $8.5M/$1.8M | $9M/$0 | |
| Vernon Davis | Age | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| Cap Hit | $3.33M | $5.33M | $6.33M | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | ($4.2M)/$7.5M | $1.2M/$4.2M | $5M/$1.3M | |||
| Niles Paul | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $2.21M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1.9M/$333K | |||||
| Derek Carrier | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $1M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1M/$0 |
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The tight end position is more of a problem for Washington than it might appear to be at first glance. For starters, Jordan Reed could be another concussion or two away from retirement, and Vernon Davis was the third oldest tight end to play in a game last season.
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Top backups Niles Paul and Derek Carrier are both hitting free agency next year and will turn 29 and 28 years old respectively. Both of them have suffered major injuries in recent years.
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All four of these players will be 27 or older by the time the season kicks off.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Under Contract: 12
Tackles- 7
Guards- 3
Centers- 2
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 9
Tackles- 4
Guards- 3
Centers- 2
Extra Players Listed: 1
Tackles-1 (John Kling)
Not Listed:
Tackles- Kevin Bowen (2019 UFA, Age-24 Season, $540K APY) and Isaiah Williams (2019 ERFA, Age-24 Season, $510K APY)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Trent Williams | Age | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| Cap Hit | $15.12M | $13.95M | $14.95M | $14.75M | UFA | |
| Save/Dead | $2M/$13.1M | $4.6M/$9.4M | $9.3M/$5.7M | $12.8M/$2M | ||
| Brandon Scherff | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $5.79M | $6.75M | 5Y-Option | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | ($6.8M)/$12.5M | $6.75M/$0 | ||||
| Shawn Lauvao | Age | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Cap Hit | $5M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $4M/$1M | |||||
| Morgan Moses | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $1.97M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1.8M/$174K | |||||
| Spencer Long | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $1.95M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1.8M/$153K | |||||
| Arie Kouandijo | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $745K | $835K | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $485K/$261K | $705K/$130K | ||||
| Ty Nsekhe | Age | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Cap Hit | $690K | RFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $690K/$0K | |||||
| Vinston Painter | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | RFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Ronald Patrick | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $465K | $555K | ERFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $465K/$0 | $555K/$0 | ||||
| John Kling | Age | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Cap Hit | $465K | $555K | ERFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $465K/$0 | $555K/$0 |
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Three-fifths of the starting offensive line is due to hit free agency in 2018, and not one O-lineman that has taken a snap for the team will be under the age of 25 by next season's end.
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Shawn Lauvao is probably the team's sixth best offensive lineman, but he is the second oldest OL on the roster and has the third highest cap hit on the unit next season. There's $4M of cap savings (2nd highest savings if cut on the team) in it for the Redskins if they can find a ready-made replacement - or thereabouts - for Lauvao in the draft.
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Ronald Patrick has never played in an NFL game, but he was a backup center in college. The only reason that Patrick is on my projected roster is because Spencer Long is literally the only player under contract with any kind of an extensive history at the center position on the team, and Long is a converted guard himself. Besides Lauvao and Long, Arie Kouandijo is the only other guard or center on the roster than has taken an NFL snap, and he has struggled mightily in most of his regular season appearances. The Redskins must address their glaring lack of depth on the interior offensive line in the draft.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Under Contract: 8
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 6
Extra Players Listed: 2 (A.J. Francis & Joey Mbu)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Terrell McClain | Age | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| Cap Hit | $3.73M | $4.75M | $5.75M | $6.75M | UFA | |
| Save/Dead | ($3.5M)/$7.3M | $1M/$3.8M | $3.3M/$2.5M | $5.5M/$1.3M | ||
| Stacy McGee | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $3.19M | $4.8M | $4.8M | $5.8M | $6.3M | |
| Save/Dead | ($3.1M)/$6.3M | $1.6M/$3.2M | $2.4M/$2.4M | $4.2M/$1.6M | $5.5M/$800K | |
| Ziggy Hood | Age | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Cap Hit | $1.3M | $1.4M | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $1M/$300K | $1.3M/$150K | ||||
| Philip Taylor | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Anthony Lanier | Age | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Cap Hit | $540K | $630K | RFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $540K/$0 | $630K/$0 | ||||
| Matt Ioannidis | Age | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Cap Hit | $540K | $630K | RFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $540K/$0 | $630K/$0 | ||||
| A.J. Francis | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | $705K | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | $705K/$0 | ||||
| Joey Mbu | Age | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Cap Hit | $540K | $630K | ERFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $540K/$0 | $630K/$0 |
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Newly signed defensive linemen Terrell McClain (age-29 season), Stacy McGee (27) and Ziggy Hood (30) are making by far the most in 2017 on an APY basis on this unit. If for some insane reason the defensive line is not addressed in the draft, then expect these three to make up your Redskins' starting defensive line at the beginning of the season. In 2016, this trio combined for a meager 6 sacks, 10 TFLs and 16 QB hits combined. Those wouldn't even be truly great numbers for a single player, no less three of them.
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If the team does, in fact, use the draft to upgrade at the position, then they have the option to move on from any and all of McClain, McGee and Hood with relative ease. If they were to cut all three players after the 2017 season, they would save nearly $4M against the cap while only incurring a dead money charge of just over $7M.
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The Redskins would certainly love to see Anthony Lanier and Matt Ioannidis pan out. Both players are only 23 years old and will count just under $1.2M each over the course of the next two seasons. Washington will also be able to bring back Lanier and Ioannidis at a decent price in 2019, as both players are scheduled to become restricted free agents then.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Under Contract: 7
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 4
Extra Players Listed: 2 (Houston Bates & Lynden Trail)
Not Listed: Rufus Johnson (2019 ERFA, Age-27 Season, $585K APY)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Ryan Kerrigan | Age | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| Cap Hit | $11.7M | $12.45M | $13.95M | $11.75M | UFA | |
| Save/Dead | $2.1M/$9.6M | $6.1M/$6.4M | $10.8M/$3.2M | $11.8M/$0 | ||
| Preston Smith | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $1.58M | $1.84M | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $344K/$1.2M | $1.2M/$616K | ||||
| Trent Murphy | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $1.42M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1M/$393K | |||||
| Junior Galette | Age | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| Cap Hit | $800K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $800K/$0 | |||||
| Houston Bates | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | RFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Lynden Trail | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $465K | $555K | ERFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $465K/$0 | $555K/$0 |
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This is another position that looks good on paper, but that isn't as stable as you might think. Trent Murphy is suspended for the first four games of the year and Junior Galette might also receive a ban from the league office for his recent run-in with the law. Next offseason, Murphy and Galette will be free agents and will be preparing to enter their 28 and 30-year old seasons respectively.
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Preston Smith is under contract for two more years, but it's hard to know what to make of him at this point. After leading all rookies in sacks in 2015, Smith clearly experienced a sophomore slump last season. Despite starting in 15 more games and playing over 250 more snaps last year, Smith's numbers dropped in each of the following categories: sacks, QB hits, tackles for a loss, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and passes defended.
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Ryan Kerrigan has had an excellent career as a Washington Redskin, but has also never really been considered an elite edge rusher. This upcoming season will be his final one in his twenties, and there are countless studies that have shown that players see a dramatic drop in production when they enter their thirties. The team would save nearly $11M by releasing Kerrigan after the 2018 season while only incurring a dead cap hit of just over $3M.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Under Contract: 9
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 5
Extra Players Listed: 2 (Zach Vigil & Steven Daniels)
Not Listed: Khairi Fortt (2019 RFA, Age-25 Season, $585K APY) and Pete Robertson (2019 RFA, Age-25 Season, $510K APY)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Zach Brown | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $2.55M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1.9M/$700K | |||||
| Will Compton | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $1.8M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1.8M/$0 | |||||
| Mason Foster | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $2M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1.8M/$175K | |||||
| Martrell Spaight | Age | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Cap Hit | $674K | $764K | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $556K/$119K | $705K/$59K | ||||
| Chris Carter | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Zach Vigil | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | RFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Steven Daniels | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $484K | $574K | $739K | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | $426K/$58K | $536K/$39K | $720K/$19K |
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Per John Keim, the Redskins desperately want to improve their third-down defense, and there is a very strong chance that they select an edge rusher in the first round of the draft to help them do so. But as Rich Tandler recently pointed out, the Redskins ranked last in yards per rush allowed on first down in both 2015 and 2016. How can the defense expect to improve on third-down when they are getting gashed against the run on first down?
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Inside linebackers play a vital role in stopping the run on first down for any team. How will Washington stop the run on the early downs and in turn end up in more advantageous third-down situations if they don't have any inside linebackers to help them with the former? Four of the Redskins' top five inside backers (Zach Brown, Will Compton, Mason Foster and Chris Carter) are all scheduled to be free agents after this season, and all four players will turn 29 at some point next year.
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No position group on the Redskins is scheduled to have as many and as high of a percentage of its players become unrestricted free agents next year as the inside linebacker corps. Bruce Allen and company should strongly consider using a premium pick to address this position during this week's draft.
CORNERBACKS
Under Contract: 6
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 5
Extra Players Listed: 1 (Tharold Simon)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Josh Norman | Age | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Cap Hit | $20M | $17M | $14.5M | $15.5M | UFA | |
| Save/Dead | ($8.5M)/$28.5M | $8M/$9M | $8.5M/$6M | $12.5M/$3M | ||
| Bashaud Breeland | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $1.92M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1.8M/$122K | |||||
| Kendall Fuller | Age | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Cap Hit | $737K | $827K | $930K | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | $198K/$539K | $468K/$359K | $750K/$180K | |||
| Quinton Dunbar | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | RFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Dashaun Philips | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | RFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Tharold Simon | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 |
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Josh Norman will carry a whopping $20M cap hit in 2017. That number is set to only be exceeded by 11 players in the entire NFL. Nine of them are quarterbacks (including Kirk Cousins) and the other two are defenders (Von Miller and Justin Houston). Luckily for the Redskins, after this upcoming season, his cap hit will decline as his age increases. His cap number is set to drop by about $3M per year in his age 31 and 32-seasons. I don't expect a 33 year old Norman to be wearing a Washington uniform in 2020 when the team could save $12.5M by releasing him in the offseason.
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Four of the five other corners on the roster are scheduled to either be unrestricted (Bashaud Breeland and Tharold Simon) or restricted (Quinton Dunbar and Dashaun Philips) free agents in 2018.
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Kendall Fuller, on the other hand, is locked up for the next three seasons for a total cost of under $2.5M cap dollars. He just turned 22 in February, so there's a great deal of potential for improvement after a poor rookie campaign. Fuller was the sixth youngest cornerback and the ninth youngest defensive back to play in an NFL game last season. The Redskins would obviously love this cheap, young asset to develop into a starter or even a key backup.
SAFETIES
Under Contract: 7
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 5
Extra Players Listed: 2 (Josh Evans & Earl Wolff)
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| D.J. Swearinger | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $3.33M | $4.33M | $5.83M | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | ($2.7M)/$600K | $1.7M/$2.7M | $4.5M/$1.3M | |||
| Su'a Cravens | Age | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Cap Hit | $1.01M | $1.21M | $1.41M | UFA | ||
| Save/Dead | ($711K)/$1.7M | $497K/$711K | $1.1M/$356K | |||
| DeAngelo Hall | Age | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Cap Hit | $5.06M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $4.3M/$813K | |||||
| Will Blackmon | Age | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| Cap Hit | $1.08M | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $1M/$750K | |||||
| Deshazor Everett | Age | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | RFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | |||||
| Josh Evans | Age | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Cap Hit | $775K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $775K/$0 | |||||
| Earl Wolff | Age | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cap Hit | $615K | $705K | UFA | |||
| Save/Dead | $615K/$0 | $705K/$0 |
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Speaking of cheap, young assets, Su'a Cravens was the eighth youngest player to play in an NFL game last year regardless of position. Cravens and a soon-to-be 26 year old D.J. Swearinger are expected to be Washington's starting safeties next season. Both players are under contract for the next three years and will only count approximately $17M against the cap combined in that time. If the safety duo of Cravens and Swearinger pan out it could pay big dividends for the Redskins' defense.
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The situations of top backups DeAngelo Hall and Will Blackmon couldn't be more different from that of starters Cravens and Swearinger. Both Hall and Blackmon will be unrestricted free agents in 2018, and they were the seventh and twelfth oldest defensive backs to play in a game last year. Hall must either be released or take a massive pay cut before the season, because he currently has the ninth highest cap hit on the team in 2017 ($5M).
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Outside of Cravens and Swearinger, Deshazor Everett and Josh Evans are the two youngest players in the safety corps, but both of them are scheduled to hit some form of free agency next offseason. Neither player has made much of an impact on the field, but Evans has had a much greater opportunity than the younger Everett has had to do so (2,268 snaps to 76 snaps). Luckily for the Redskins, Everett is the one in this pair that will be a restricted instead of an unrestricted free agent.
SPECIAL TEAMS
SPECIALISTS
Under Contract: 3
On 53-Man Roster Projection: 3
| Player | Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Tress Way | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $1.5M | $1.8M | $1.9M | $1.9M | UFA | |
| Save/Dead | $500K/$1M | $1M/$750K | $1.4M/$500K | $1.6M/$250K | ||
| Nick Sundberg | Age | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Cap Hit | $1.1M | $1.1M | $1.1M | $1.3M | UFA | |
| Save/Dead | $443K/$610K | $610K/$458K | $778K/$305K | $1.1M/$153K | ||
| Dustin Hopkins | Age | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Cap Hit | $690K | UFA | ||||
| Save/Dead | $690K/$0 |
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Tress Way and Nick Sundberg are all locked up for the next four seasons; Dustin Hopkins, however, only has one year left on his deal. He will need to rebound from a down 2016 campaign if he hopes to remain in Washington long term. Don't be surprised if the team brings in some competition for Hopkins at some point this offseason.
*All statistics are courtesy of CSN Mid-Atlantic, ESPN, Over the Cap, Pro Football Reference and Spotrac*