The official departure of Will Compton was a reminder that the Washington Redskins remain in the market for a linebacker despite the recent signing of Pernell McPhee.
The defense has lost Compton and Trent Murphy, and Junior Galette was told the team was no longer interested in his services. The starting lineup of Ryan Kerrigan, Mason Foster, Zach Brown and Preston Smith remains intact with McPhee rotating in. Ryan Anderson figures to be more in the mix as well. But that’s not enough for a 16-game NFL season.
Murphy signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Buffalo Bills to end his three-year stint with Washington after being selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. Compton signed with the Tennessee Titans on Monday.
[ Will Compton calls decision to leave Redskins for Titans ‘hard as hell’ ]
The prevailing thought has been that the Redskins will address the defensive line with the No. 13 pick in the draft. Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea has been the selection in some mock drafts. A defensive playmaker such as Florida State safety Derwin James has also been a popular guess, but linebacker is very much in play depending on who’s available.
[ Injury put Nick Chubb under the radar, but he could be a gem in the NFL draft ]
Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds is a rare blend of speed and size at 6-foot-5, 253 pounds. His 4.54 40-yard dash was the fifth fastest among linebackers at the NFL combine. He led Virginia Tech with 109 tackles, 14.0 for loss and added 5.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and three fumbles forced. Edmunds is widely regarded as the best linebacker in the draft and could still be available at No. 13.
Edmunds was a Dick Butkus Award finalist. The linebacker who won that award could also tempt the Redskins. Georgia’s Roquan Smith is a three-down linebacker that can do everything. He had 137 tackles, 14.0 for loss, 6.5 sacks and 20 quarterback pressures. His 4.51 40-yard dash was the second best at the combine. Smith’s slight size at 6-1, 236 pounds may be his biggest flaw, but he’s quick to the ball. Smith is the type of player the Redskins would have to consider despite having starters in place. Plus, Preston Smith is slated to be an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
If quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield, running back Saquon Barkley, defensive end Bradley Chubb, guard Quenton Nelson and cornerback Denzel Ward all go before the Redskins are up at No. 13 — as most mock drafts predict — that gives the Redskins a strong shot at either Vita, James, Edmunds or Smith.
Offseason workout schedule announced
As the draft draws closer, so does the opportunity for players and coaches to start working together again. The Redskins’ offseason program will begin on April 16 with rookie minicamp on May 11-13. OTA workouts are scheduled for May 22-24, May 29-31 and June 4-7. Mandatory minicamp runs June 12-14.
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