As the 2020 NFL season gets underway, the Washington Football Team will open Training Camp tomorrow. As usual I will try to give my roster projections as Training Camp rolls along. Without preseason games, players will have less of an opportunity to prove themselves to Coach Rivera and his staff. If the season started today this is how I believe the team would look. Starters in Bold

 

OFFENSE

• Quarterback (2): Dewayne Haskins, Kyle Allen- This is how the quarterbacks will look going into week 1. Although Allen has experience in Turner’s system, Haskins is by far the better talent. The new development is Alex Smith being cleared to practice but was put on the PUP list by the team. Smith’s recovery is nothing short of amazing but he is nowhere near ready to play football. Being on the PUP list will allow him to be in meetings and workout with the team. Steven Montez is a raw talent who is likely a practice squad member.
• Running Back (5): Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, Antonio Gibson, Bryce Love, J.D. Mckissic- This is by far the deepest position on the team and the toughest battle. The biggest lock here is Gibson by virtue of being a draft pick of Rivera. Guice is talented but has been injured three times in his short career. Peterson is a future Hall of Famer but isn’t getting any younger. Bryce Love wasn’t put on the PUP list so he should be ready to go. This will be interesting to see who makes the cut .
• Wide Receiver (5): Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gandy-Golden, Steven Sims, Cam Sims, Trey Quinn. This group along with the tight ends are the thinnest group on the team. McLaurin was a revelation and is a clear future star. Steven Sims took over in the slot and showed amazing separation and game breaking ability. Kelvin Harmon was supposed to be the other starter but he tore his ACL and will miss the season. The team tried to sign Amari Cooper but he decided to stay in Dallas. Cody Lattimer was signed but he had an off-season incident he is now on the Commissioner’s Exempt List until his legal matters are cleared up. That leaves unproven players and Antonio Gandy-Golden who has plenty of potential. The team will look into bringing a veteran receiver in. Side note, Antonio Gibson can lineup at receiver and expect that to happen.
• Tight End (3): Logan Thomas, Thaddeus Moss, Richard Rodgers: This is another unproven group. The team’s TE corps last year was beset by injuries and left Jeremey Sprinkle as a starting TE. While a solid blocker his receiving left a lot to be desired. Thomas, the converted Virginia Tech QB should start off the season as the starter while Moss transitions to the pro game. If Rodgers is healthy, he would make a solid third tight end leaving Sprinkle on the outside. 
• Offensive Line (9): Morgan Moses, Brandon Scherff, Chase Rouiller, Wes Martin, Cornelius Lucas, Saahdiq Charles, Keith Ismael, Wes Schweitzer, Paul Adams. This group has seen some changes as well. Moses, Scherff, and Rouiller should be locked in; while Martin/Schweitzer and Lucas/Charles battle for the left side positions. Geron Christian starts on the outside looking in at the moment and has to prove himself to the new coaching staff. 

DEFENSE

• Defensive Line (8): Chase Young, Da’Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, James Smith-Williams. This group is locked in expect for that 4th defensive end spot. The advantage I give to Smith-Williams is he is a draft pick of the current staff. Ryan Bee, Jordan Brailford, and Nate Orchard are also fighting for that last DE spot. Caleb Brantley opting out for the season solidifies the interior linemen.
• Linebackers (7): Thomas Davis, Jon Bostic, Cole Holcomb, Shaun Dion-Hamilton, Ryan Anderson, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Khaleke Hudson. Depending on the amount of safeties the team wants to keep, this is the seven I believe are locks to make the team. With Ruben Foster placed on the PUP list the team could go seven and wait to see how he progresses. Davis should start in the middle with Bostic at strong and Holcomb at weak, but that can change. Anderson although listed at LB with probably be more of a rusher.
• Cornerbacks (6): Fabian Moreau, Kendall Fuller, Jimmy Moreland, Ronald Darby, Aaron Colvin, Danny Johnson. Here is another group with a few question marks. Moreau played well when outside, Moreland played the slot last year and Fuller excelled in the slot here in the past. Darby and Colvin will be fighting to back up the outside while Danny Johnson should be Moreland’s backup.
• Safeties (5): Landon Collins, Sean Davis, Troy Apke, Deshazor Everett, Kamren Curl. This group should be fully entrenched as long as the team decides to keep 5 safeties. Curl would be leaning the system and a special teamer while Apke would be Davis’ backup and Everett as Collins backup.

SPECIALISTS (3)

• Kicker- Dustin Hopkins
• Punter- Tress Way
• Long Snapper- Nick Sundberg These guys are locked in.

Offense 24, Defense 26, Specialists 3