Here is what you need to know on this Sunday, May 6, five days before the Washington Redskins hold their rookie minicamp.
Redskins on the bubble—Defense
I published my first prediction of what the Redskins’ 53-man roster will look like earlier this week (offense, defense). But not all of the players predicted to make the roster are equal. Some are locks to make it while others are on the bubble. And there are players who I don’t predict will make it right now who have a shot and are also on the bubble.
Let’s take a look at the players on the bubble (defined as someone who at least a 25 percent chance of making the 53-man roster but less than about a 75 percent chance) on Defense. We looked at the offense on Friday.
Players predicted to make it who are on the bubble:
DL Stacy McGee, DL Ziggy Hood, ILB Josh Harvey-Clemons, ILB Shaun Dion Hamilton, CB Josh Holsey, CB Greg Stroman
Bubble dwellers on the outside looking in:
DL Phil Taylor, ILB Martrell Spaight, S Fish Smithson
Two things to note here. This is a snapshot of the situation right now. Players can move on and off the bubble as the offseason program and training camp unfold. Also, right now, there are no rookie free agents included. I need to get a look at them on the field before assessing their chances of making it.
—McGee and Hood are caught in the numbers game on the defensive line. After adding two in the draft, the Redskins have five locks to make the roster. If they keep six like they did last year, either McGee or Hood has to go. They could keep seven, leaving room for both of them.
—It’s ironic that Taylor, who has suffered from injuries virtually his entire career, likely needs to see a player or two get injured for him to have a realistic shot at the roster.
—A year ago, the Redskins traded up in the sixth round to draft Chase Roullier. Although many were skeptical that he would make the 53-man roster, he did, and he eventually became the starting center. This year they traded up in the sixth to get Hamilton. That doesn’t make him a lock to make the roster but apparently, they saw something they liked in him as they did in Roullier. He could well replace Spaight for one of the backup jobs, but Spaight won’t go out without a fight.
—Holsey and Stroman are listed as on the bubble because they are seventh-round picks from the last two years and shouldn’t be locks. But Jay Gruden said that they likely will keep six corners and as of right now, Holsey and Stroman are CB-5 and CB-6.
—The Redskins like Smithson but it’s hard to see where the opening for him is. I think fourth-round pick Troy Apke is close to a lock and Deshazor Everett gained a lot of valuable experience last year as he filled in for the injured Montae Nicholson. Maybe he can perform well enough to persuade the Redskins to keep five safeties.
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.
Tandler on Twitter
After looking at various tweets from beat writers covering the rookie camps of the Jets (Sam Darnold) and Browns (Baker Mayfield).
Don’t get me wrong, I think the #Redskins absolutely did the right thing in trading for Alex Smith. But the blogger in me (and that’s a lot of me) regrets missing the opportunity to dissect every move of a top-10 rookie QB and fans going wild. https://t.co/eILKt7BR05
— Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) May 4, 2018
Timeline
Four-time Redskins Pro Bowl linebacker Ken Harvey was born on this day in 1965.
Days until:
—Rookie minicamp (5/11) 5
—OTAs start (5/22) 16
—Training camp starts (7/26) 81
We have reached the midway point of the Redskins’ offseason. The Redskins last played a game 126 days ago. They will open the 2018 NFL season at the Cardinals in 126 days.
In case you missed it
- The Redskins week that was—Roster projection, high fan approval of Guice and Payne
- Redskins' revamped rushing D will get a strong Week 1 test
- Examining the Redskins' roster bubble—Offense