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Over the next few weeks, Insiders Tarik El-Bashir and Rich Tandler will take a position-by-position look at the Redskins’ depth chart now that the team’s offseason program has concluded. 

Some battles are straightforward. Others could get complicated. This much, however, cannot be debated: A player is not on the 53-man roster until its finalized Sept. 5.

So who’s in? And who’s in jeopardy? Up today …

Position: Right guard

On the roster: Spencer Long, Arie Kouandjio

Likely to make the 53: Long, Kouandjio

Comment: Long was elevated to the top of the depth chart when the team released Chris Chester, who had played nearly every snap at right guard since coming to the Redskins as a free agent in 2011. He will be seeing his first extended NFL action when the Redskins face the Dolphins in Week 1. Oh, and for much of the game he’ll be lined up against Miami’s big and expensive free agent acquisition, Ndamukong Suh. That will be quite a welcome to the NFL and we will see what he is made of early.

Offensive line coach Bill Callahan thinks he has what it takes. “He was a third-round pick, he shows the potential to play that position,” said Callahan. “Coming out he was a very mobile, strong, athletic-type guard so putting him into that position and trying to elevate his skill level is challenging for all of us.”

Kouandjio was picked in the fourth round in May. He has a lot of rough edges to work out but the organization believes that he will work to improve his game. “Kouandjio is a detailed guy,” said Jay Gruden. “He loves football, man. He practices hard. He wants to hear every ounce of criticism, every ounce of coaching that he can get and he tries to translate that onto the next rep.”

The bottom line here is that the Redskins are very light in experience here but sometimes that happens when changes are made. Right guard is an area where it is not uncommon for inexperienced players to come in and succeed so the team just has to hope it has the right guys.

Battling for a job: None

Comment: The Redskins do not have any “camp fodder” type guards on the roster at this point. It looks like the plan is to give some guard snaps to backup centers Tyler Larsen and Austin Reiter to give them some position flexibility. Such a plan can work fine but the Redskins may scramble to find replacements if injuries strike.

Redskins position previews 2015:

• Center
• Right outside LB

2018 NFL Draft

Five safe draft picks for the Redskins

Sony Michel has what the Redskins need at running back

Redskins have drafted RBs, just not well

The 2018 NFL Mock Draft 9.0: One week away

Versatile DB Minkah Fitzpatrick could be too talented to leave on the board

Here is what you need to know on this Sunday, April 22, four days before the 2018 NFL draft.  

Five safe picks for the Redskins

Sometimes teams try to hit home runs with their draft picks. They may hit a few but they also will strike out a lot. Teams often are better off trying to hit solid singles and doubles. Here are five picks who would are unlikely to make many Pro Bowls but the Redskins would not regret the pick if they turned in the cards with their names on it. 

RB Kerryon Johnson, Auburn—I’m starting off here with a player who would be a safe pick in the third round. Of course, the Redskins don’t have a third right now but if they do swing a trade and get one, Johnson would be a good pick. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, which is one reason why he might be available in the third. He is a grinder who will be an upgrade over Samaje Perine and Rob Kelley. 

DL Vita Vea, Washington—There is plenty of hand wringing over whether Vea is a three-down player or just a base defense nose tackle. But even if he can’t rush the passer very well his floor is a player who can go a long way towards helping the Redskins stop the run, a chronic weakness. This is why a lot of fans and media are urging the Redskins to not overthink this and take a player that will, at a minimum, bolster one of their weakest areas. 

OL Billy Price, Ohio State—He started 55 games for the Buckeyes, the most of any player in the storied history of the program. He did suffer the partial tear of a chest muscle in the combine but that will be fully healed by training camp. When he’s ready, he’s an explosive, smart, and powerful player. Just plug him in at left guard and the Redskins’ O-line is set with all home-grown talent. 

LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State—He doesn’t have the ceiling that the more heralded Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds have. However, he may have a higher floor. Smith is undersized, and Edmunds will be highly drafted based more on potential than on production. At 6-4, 256, Vander Esch has plenty of size, and he racked up 141 tackles last year on his way to defensive player of the year honors in the Mountain West. 

 CB Isaiah Oliver, Colorado—The All-Pac-12 selection has the size and athleticism that add up to a safe pick in the second round. He needs some work on technique, but he has enough natural athletic ability—he competed in the decathlon—to be a productive cornerback right out of the gate. One other plus that fans will appreciate is that his strength is press coverage, not off man. 

Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page, Facebook.com/TandlerNBCSand follow him on Twitter  @TandlerNBCS.

Tandler on Twitter

Jonathan Allen also missed 11 games and Ioannidis was either out or playing in a cast for a third of the season. Also, again, DL available past the first round.

— Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) April 21, 2018

Timeline  

Days until:

—OTAs start (5/22) 30
—Training camp starts (7/26) 95
—Redskins @ Cardinals (9/9) 140

In case you missed it

• The Redskins week that was—All-Redskins mock, fast-fading interest in Dez
• Redskins' schedule "rest disparity" is very fair in 2018
• Clarifying the confusion about the Redskins' Week 16 game at the Titans

2018 NFL Draft

Five safe draft picks for the Redskins

Sony Michel has what the Redskins need at running back

Redskins have drafted RBs, just not well

The 2018 NFL Mock Draft 9.0: One week away

Versatile DB Minkah Fitzpatrick could be too talented to leave on the board

Here is what you need to know on this Saturday, April 21, five days before the 2018 NFL draft.  

The Redskins week that was

A look at some of the most popular posts and hottest topics of the week on Real Redskins and NBC Sports Washington. 

Should the Redskins pursue Dez Bryant? This topic was one like a meteor, very hot for a short period of time before it quickly faded out. It started to heat up as soon as the Cowboys cut Dez (about a month too late) and when it was reported that he wanted to play against Dallas twice a year it really picked up steam. But then people started to actually think and figured out that signing Bryant didn’t make much sense for the Redskins. Add to that the reports that the Redskins had no interest and would not look into signing Dez in the future and the Redskins fans quickly lost enthusiasm for the topic.

Seven-round Redskins mock draft—I think that most Redskins fans would be happy with this mock. Well, I’ll say some Redskins fans, most is a pretty strong word in this case. 

Is the draft pool deep enough for the Redskins to trade back? There is plenty of talk about the Redskins trading down in the first round to recoup the third-round pick they gave up in the Alex Smith trade. But they need to be careful. Many consider the draft to be top heavy and they may lose their chance to pick up an impact player if they trade back too far. The question then becomes one of quality vs. quantity. 

Three questions as offseason workouts get underway—There will be plenty more questions that we can ask about this team. But we don’t really know what to ask before the draft, particularly when it comes to the defensive line and running back. One the personnel settle into place we will know what we don’t know. 

Tweet of the week

On Chris Cooley’s thought that the Redskins might try to trade back and get Da’Ron Payne in the draft and the use the assets obtained to move up to get Derrius Guice. 

Interesting. They could move back from 13, get Payne and pick up a third. Then package their second and the third to move up to get Guice early in the second. Not sure he’ll be there but not a bad plan. https://t.co/socT0f6oFZ

— Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) April 17, 2018

This is related to the questions about trading back. On paper it looks like a good idea, assuming the Redskins want Payne. We’re pretty sure they would like to have Guice but we haven’t heard as much about the Alabama defensive lineman. 

I had many reply that Guice won’t be there in the second round. It’s possible, perhaps even likely, but you just don’t know. There was zero chance that Jonathan Allen would be there at No. 17 last year, right? 

Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page, Facebook.com/TandlerNBCS and follow him on Twitter  @TandlerNBCS.

Timeline  

Days until:

—OTAs start (5/22) 31
—Training camp starts (7/26) 96
—2018 NFL season starts (9/9) 141

In case you missed it

• Need to Know: Five pivotal games on the Redskins' schedule
• Clarifying the confusion about the Redskins' Week 16 game at the Titans
• Redskins' schedule "rest disparity" is very fair in 2018