As we approach less that two weeks until the Washington Football Team faces the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field, the next biggest hurdle will be paring the roster down to 53 by Saturday at 4pm. Without the luxury of preseason games, practice will be the deciding factor in who makes the team. The team only had 80 players in camp versus the standard 90 so there will not be as many cuts. Last year I was 51 of 53 on correct players, so lets see if I can beat that this year. For my previous predictions click here and here. Starters in listed in bold.

 

OFFENSE

 

Quarterback (3)- Dewayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Alex Smith. Coach Rivera today named Haskins as the starter for the team in 2020. This seriously was never in doubt based on the work Haskins did in the off season. Haskins received all of the first team reps during camp and Allen was never a challenge. I have Alex Smith included in the 53 just because he a valuable resource for Haskins. There is a chance that Smith is on back on PUP to be given a few more weeks to work into shape but I doubt that at this point.

Running Back (5)- Adrian Peterson, Antonio Gibson, Bryce Love, Peyton Barber, JD McKissic. This group I think is final and I see all five making the team. Peterson will be the official starter but all can contribute for the team. I don’t subscribe to the latest rumors on Love not making the team. If anyone is in trouble it will be McKissic.

Wide Receiver (6)- Terry McLaurin, Stephen Sims, Dontrell Inman, Antonio Gandy-Golden, Cam Sims, Troy Brown. The top four are solidly on the team. The fifth and sixth spots are up to grabs between Cam Sims, Troy Brown, and Trey Quinn. Cam Sims is a big target who can help on special teams. Brown can fits multiple roles and being a late signee has a skill set that this staff prefers. That leaves Quinn on the outside without a role. Sims and Gibson take the returner roles, and Sims is better in the slot. Quinn was a favorite of the last staff so I see him losing out. Also Jonathan Johnson will be on the practice squad.

Tight End (3)- Logan Thomas, Marcus Baugh, Jeremey Sprinkle. The IR designation for Thaddeus Moss showed that Moss wasn’t healthy and the flyer they took on him didn’t work, at least for this season. The emergence of Baugh, who went to Ohio State with Haskins, has moved him to number 2 behind Thomas. That leaves the third spot between Richard Rodgers and Sprinkle. Sprinkle is an excellent blocker, younger, and can contribute on special teams. That gives him a slight edge over Rodgers.

Offensive Line (9) Morgan Moses, Brandon Scherff, Chase Rouiller, Wes Martin, Geron Christian, Keith Ismael, Cornelius Lucas, David Sharpe, Michael Liedtke. This is the group that has given Coach Rivera much angst with depth looking shaky. They have brought a lot of players in to challenge for spots. Saaddiq Charles is fighting an injury so IR is a good bet for him to heal and then me moved to the active roster slowly. However behind the starting line depth is a serious issue.

 

DEFENSE

Defensive Line (7) Ryan Kerrigan, Da’Ron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Montez Sweat, Chase Young, Jonathan Allen, Tim Settle. This is best unit on the team by far and the most locked in. These are the four I see listed as starting, but Young will play a ton of snaps and so will Allen. Allen had a leg injury so they can ease him back healthy.

Linebacker (7)- Thomas Davis, Jon Bostic, Cole Holcomb, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Shaun Dion-Hamilton, Ryan Anderson, Khaleke Hudson. The name missing from here is Ruben Foster. Foster has been with the 3rd team defense mostly all of the time during camp. He was cleared but Foster is not where he needs to be. I believe the team will try to PUP him to give him more time to heal. However he could be released as well. Anderson will be with the defensive line so that leaves the other six for the linebacking corps.

Cornerback (6)- Ronald Darby, Kendall Fuller, Jimmy Moreland, Fabian Moreau, Aaron Colvin, Greg Stroman. Darby and Fuller seem to be the starters mostly likely in base defense with Moreland playing the slot in Nickel. Moreau is a fine back up which leaves Colvin, Stroman, Danny Johnson, and Simeon Thomas fighting for two spots. Johnson will probably be on the practice squad with Thomas.

Safety (4)- Landon Collins, Troy Apke, Sean Allen, Kamren Curl. With the addition of Alex Smith to the roster, a spot comes off somewhere. This is where I believe it will come from. Deshazor Everett is the odd man out at this second, however Allen has been relegated to backup so he might be at risk as well of being cut. This spot and the 5th running back is the positions to watch out for.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker- Dustin Hopkins, Punter- Tress Way, Long Snapper- Nick Sundberg

 

Offense 26

Defense 24

Specialists 3