Ryan

Anderson

Anderson is currently suspended six games for violating the league’s PED policy. Instead of holding onto him through the suspension, the G-Men opted to release him. Anderson figures to slot in as a depth option for any team that signs him.

This might actually help Anderson maintain his roster spot, as the ex-Football Team free agent addition was believed to be on the outside looking in of a 53-man roster spot. Anderson will be a pure depth option if he keeps his place and rejoins the club after his six-game ban is up.

Anderson, 26, recorded six sacks in 52 games for Washington over the past four seasons. He played rush linebacker in Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense, earning first-team All-SEC in his senior season at Alabama. Anderson now joins a Giants pass rush rated by Pro Football Focus as 2020’s 18th best.

Anderson, who has totaled nine tackles this year, is dealing with a knee injury. There are no other surprises among Washington’s inactives list.

Anderson picked up a thumb injury this week at the Senior Bowl and was forced to miss Thursday’s practice, but he had a solid showing before the injury on Tuesday. The linebacker does not seem to be as highly thought of as teammate Tim Williams, but he was a productive college player even on limited snaps before recording 61 tackles, 18.5 TFL, and 8.5 sacks as a senior. A defender who can get after the quarterback and stand up against the run, the Jets will not be the only team which “loves” Anderson.

Anderson (6’2/253) played rush linebacker in Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense, earning first-team All-SEC in a breakout senior year with a team-best 19 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and four forced fumbles. A technically-sound hustle player and known leader in Alabama’s locker room, Anderson’s biggest limitations are short arms (31 ½") and pedestrian athleticism, managing a 4.78 forty and sub-1-percent SPARQ score in pre-draft workouts. Anderson does check the “good football player” box and should contribute in a rotation and/or on special teams, even if he never develops into a three-down player. Trent Murphy, who logged nine sacks for Washington last season, is suspended the first four games for a PED violation.