NFL free agency isn't technically over, but the fireworks have ended. More players will get signed but the biggest contracts have already been handed out, the fattest checks already written.
That means it's a decent time to look at projected starters for the Redskins. Of course things can change, particularly by what happens later this month during the NFL Draft, but of 22 players in the Washington starting lineup, many of the spots seem quite settled.
These are just projections. Players will get hurt, trades could happen, there will be additional guys signed. Still, the Redskins are working to rebuild their house, and a few weeks into the official 2020 NFL season, the framework has been laid down.
Projected Offensive starters
QB: Dwayne Haskins - 2nd year with Redskins - The 15th overall pick last year gets his first real offseason as starter. Or sort of an offseason as the Coronavirus has ended all official team gatherings for now. Yes, Kyle Allen will challenge Haskins, but Week 1 of the regular season, the former Ohio State star will be under center.
RB: Adrian Peterson - 3rd year with Redskins - Washington picked up the veteran runner’s contract for 2020 and Ron Rivera has spoken highly of the future Hall of Fame. If Derrius Guice gets back to full health he will take the top spot, but that’s an if for now. J.D. McKissic will shine as the third-down back, and maybe more, for Scott Turner’s offense.
WR: Terry McLaurin - 2nd year with Redskins - Duh. He’s a stud. Washington’s best draft pick in a long time.
WR2: WRX - ? - This might belong to Kelvin Harmon, but right now, that’s anything but a lock. The Redskins tried hard to sign Amari Cooper and might still be working in the trade market or at the draft to get another wideout to start opposite McLaurin.
WR3: Steven Sims - 2nd year with Redskins - Showed a lot of potential as a rookie but needs to work on routes and his hands. Explosive playmaker though.
TE: Logan Thomas - 1st year with Redskins - Thomas played 16 games last year in Detroit, and while Richard Rodgers has more name value and touchdown production on his resume, he hasn’t started a game since 2017. Thomas will come in healthy and considered the better blocker, which for now might be enough to win this competition. This is BY FAR the Redskins weakest position group, and maybe a Trent Williams trade or the NFL Draft will produce a viable starting candidate. For now? It’s not pretty.
RT: Morgan Moses - 7th season with Redskins - Owner of the longest consecutive start streak on the Redskins, Moses will make his 81st start at right tackle this fall. Not much to discuss here.
RG: Brandon Scherff - 6th season with Redskins - The only debate is if Scherff will have a long-term deal by September. He’s the Redskins best offensive lineman and has already signed his franchise tag for 2020.
C: Chase Roullier - 4th season with Redskins - Roullier has started 37 games for the Redskins in three years. Not bad for a 6th-round pick out of Wyoming. He keeps the job.
LG: Wes Martin - 2nd season with Redskins - Some might think newly signed free agent guard Wes Schweitzer gets this job but don’t let the glitzy contract numbers fool you. Sure, Schweitzer technically signed a three-year, $13 million contract, but the reality is Washington only guaranteed $4 million and none of it carries over beyond this year. He’s a backup swing guard. Martin performed reasonably well as a rookie last year filling in for Scherff, and he wins the left guard job outright this summer in Richmond.
LT: Cornelius Lucas - 1st season with Redskins - A pleasant surprise for the Bears in 2019, he started eight games at a productive level in Chicago last year. He’s also huge. HUGE. Lucas is listed at 6-foot-8 and 327 lbs., but was considered a project coming out of Kansas State back in 2014. Now after six years in the NFL and a healthy full season in Chicago, it seems like Lucas has figured out how to use his body somewhat effectively. Listen, he’s not Trent Williams, nobody is, but Williams isn’t playing for this team ever again. The Redskins could draft a tackle and Rivera won’t be scared to play a rookie, but that won’t happen until the third round at the earliest. Lucas can play, maybe at a similar level to what Donald Penn delivered last year. Geron Christian could and should push for this job, but when he has gotten on the field before, it hasn't been all that impressive.
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