July is important in the NFL for two key reasons:
- heartbreaking injuries that affect NFL rosters
- watching the drama for players who are “on the bubble”
Let’s face it; there’s no question about players like Kirk Cousins, Josh Norman, Ryan Kerrigan and Terrelle Pryor. Those guys are making the roster.
But training camp provides opportunity for late round draft picks and undrafted free agents to make an impression and earn the right to live the dream.
Rob Kelley springs to mind.
I thought I’d anticipate Training Camp, which starts on 28 July, according to my diary, by looking at the bottom of the roster. One common way to look at the interesting camp battles is to find key positions (Left Guard: Shawn Lauvao, Arie Kouandjio, Chase Roullier) and analyze the players’ relative strengths, weaknesses, experience and value to the team.
I want to ask the question a bit differently today. One way to identify the ‘value’ of players on the roster is to look at the salary cap hit. The Redskins have 8 players with a salary cap hit of $615,000 this season, and they represent #51 to #58 on the roster in terms of cap hit. That means that these guys are likely to be among the “bubble” players in camp, and their fates may be determined by ability & willingness to play special teams, or by injuries to other players.
Here’s the list of 8 players, and their position on the Redskins depth chart (according to Our Lads):
Quinton Dunbar - backup CB
Deshazor Everett - one of nine total safeties - listed as #4 on FS list
Houston Bates - part of a strong & deep LB corps - listed #4 at WLB behind Kerrigan, Ryan Anderson, Zach Vigil and ahead of Nico Marley
Dashaun Phillips - listed #3 LCB behind Breeland & Fabian Moreau - CB group also includes Josh Norman, Dunbar, Fuller, and Holsey
A.J. Francis - DL, listed as #3 LDE behind McClain & Iaonnidis
Earl Wolff - listed as #3 SS behind Cravens & Montae Nicholson, and ahead of Josh Evans
Phillip Taylor - Veteran NT, listed behind McGee, and ahead of Mbu & Pipkins
Vinston Painter - Backup OT, in competition with Ty Nsekhe
That’s 7 defensive players and one offensive lineman.
It’s unlikely that all eight of these players make the final 53-man roster at the end of Training Camp.
Which players on this list do you think will make the team? Which ones don’t make the cut?
Are there any other really interesting camp battles you are looking forward to?
Poll
Which position will offer the most interesting camp battle?
This poll is closed
-
13%
Inside Linebacker
-
16%
Left Guard
-
8%
Left Outside Linebacker
-
18%
Running Back
-
25%
Nose Tackle
-
13%
Cornerback not named Josh Norman
-
2%
Other