Here is what you need to know on this Friday, May 4, seven days before the Washington Redskins hold their rookie minicamp.
Redskins on the bubble—Offense
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 offense. We’ll look at the defense in the next few days.
Players predicted to make it who are on the bubble:
QB Kevin Hogan, RB Rob Kelley, WR Maurice Harris, WR Robert Davis, OL Tyler Catalina, OL Todd Bergstrom
Bubble dwellers on the outside looking in:
RB Kapri Bibbs, WR Brian Quick, WR Trey Quinn, OL T.J. Clemmings, OL Kyle Kalis.
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.
—I think they would like Hogan to earn a roster spot, but he needs to show them something to lock one up. He could be a less expensive alternative to Colt McCoy as the backup quarterback in 2019. If he doesn’t show that potential and Jay Gruden decides he’d rather have a sixth receiver or a tenth offensive lineman, Hogan could be gone.
—Some are saying that Bibbs should get the last running back spot over Kelley because he is a more natural fit if third-down back Chris Thompson can’t play. Samaje Perine can back up Derrius Guice. That’s not bad logic and we’ll see how it works out.
—I got tweets from some fans telling me that I was wrong to leave Quinn off the roster because he is a lock. I hope they will forgive me if I think that a player who was passed on 255 times in the draft is something less than a lock. He will have to earn a job. There is a pretty good chance that he will do it but it’s far from certain. Let’s talk about him again a week or two into training camp.
—Last year I didn’t think that Quick would make the team and he did. In March I didn’t think they would re-sign him, but they did. So maybe I’m underestimating his chances in thinking he’s one of the longest of long shots among the players on the bubble.
—There are a few fans who let me know that Kalis will make it over Catalina. That’s not an unreasonable opinion. I had Kalis on and Catalina off on my final roster projection last year, but Gruden said that they kept Catalina because of his ability play tackle if necessary. The acquisition of Geron Christian might make that versatility a little less important so we’ll see if Kalis can win the battle the second time around.
—When I first wrote up this bubble list yesterday afternoon, I considered putting OL Orlando Franklin on it. Although he is getting up there in age a bit, I figured that a 30-year-old with 89 career starts would have a shot at making the team, but late in the afternoon, the team announced that he had been released. Something has gone wrong for a player who started 16 games for the Chargers in 2016. Whatever it is, Franklin’s bubble has burst.
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
The #Redskins’ season opener at Arizona is a pick ‘em game, per https://t.co/Lk6rQJaAC4 with an over/under of 44. I’ll take the over, pass on picking a winner.
— Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) May 3, 2018
Timeline
Days until:
—Rookie minicamp (5/11) 7
—OTAs start (5/22) 18
—Training camp starts (7/26) 83
The Redskins last played a game 124 days ago. They will open the 2018 NFL season at the Cardinals in 128 days.
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