Ryan

Kerrigan

Kerrigan spent his final season in Philly but signed a one-day contract with Washington to retire on the team he spent a decade with. He began his career as the 16th overall pick in 2011. A dominant pass-rusher at his peak, Kerrigan earned at least 13 sacks in four different seasons. The four-time Pro Bowl nominee ends his career with 99.5 sacks and 120 TFLs. Both of those marks go down as the franchise record for Washington.

The soon-to-be 33-year-old Kerrigan, who signed a one-year deal with the Eagles after Washington let him walk in free agency. He should serve as a rotational pass rusher in Philadelphia, just as he did last season in Washington. Kerrigan joins a Philadelphia front seven graded by PFF as 2020’s third best pass rushing unit; only the Rams and Steelers had a higher sack rate than the Eagles.

Thirty-three in August, Kerrigan signs with the Football Team’s NFC East rivals after saying last year he wanted to stay in Washington for the “long haul.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Bengals and Steelers also expressed interest in Kerrigan. For much of his ten years with Washington, Kerrigan was the team’s best pass rusher, recording double digit sacks in four seasons. He was largely phased out of in 2020 in favor of the younger and more effective Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Kerrigan joins a Philadelphia front seven graded by PFF as 2020’s third best pass rushing unit; only the Rams and Steelers had a higher sack rate than the Eagles. Adding Kerrigan could give Philadelphia the league’s premiere pass rush -- something to remember for fantasy managers who stream defenses.

Kerrigan has only played on more than half of Washington’s defensive snaps twice this year and the team only listed him as a starter once. He has still managed to net four sacks despite the decrease in playing time. Kerrigan has taken a back seat to Chase Young and Montez Sweat but is still producing when given the chance. He will likely be a priority free agent signing by many teams looking to add a veteran pass rusher in the spring.

In the Football Team’s upset win over the Eagles, Kerrigan made the most of his 22 defensive snaps. Working against a Lane Johnson-less offensive line, Kerrigan wreaked havoc with three pressures, two sacks, one QB hurry, and a fumble recovery. Now 32, Kerrigan is no longer an every-down player thanks to the wealth of talent off the edge for Washington. But he can still get after the quarterback.

Washington is absolutely loaded with young talent at Kerrigan’s position, namely two recent first-round picks in Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Even after them, 25-year old Ryan Anderson is sitting on the depth chart. Still, Kerrigan has been one of the most under-appreciated players across the league during his career, recording 90 sacks in 140 career games. He missed the first four games of his NFL career last season and is on the final year of his contract with zero guaranteed money remaining on the $11.6 million deal.

Washington could save $11.6 million against the cap if they chose to release Kerrigan before June 1. The long-time pass-rusher failed to play 16 games for the first time in his career in 2019 and had a career-low 5.5 sacks.

Former Mr. Irrelevant Caleb Wilson was rostered in the corresponding move. Already having lost his streak of 139 consecutive games earlier this year, Kerrigan suffered another injury, this time to his calf, in last week’s loss to Green Bay. Overall, he submitted 25 tackles, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble across 642 defensive snaps this season.

Kerrigan didn’t miss a game from 2011-2018, but he’ll be sidelined again in Week 15 against the Eagles. The absence of the Redskins’ longtime pass-rushing ace is great news for Carson Wentz and the entire Eagles offense.

He was ruled out in the second half. This looked like a serious injury, potentially something with his Achilles. There should be more on Kerrigan’s status after he gets an MRI.