Latest On Jordan Reed
- Redskins coach Jay Gruden says “nothing earth-shattering” came from Jordan Reed‘s visit to see a specialist on his toe (Twitter link via Mike Jones of The Washington Post). The team is not publicly discussing Reed’s timetable for a return, but if the comment is to be taken at face value, then that could be an overall good sign for the tight end.
Offseason In Review: Washington Redskins
The Redskins narrowly missed earning a second consecutive postseason appearance in 2017, as a tie with the Bengals in London ended up costing Washington another playoff berth. That frustration seemed minor compared to the upheaval that began on the first day of free agency, when the Redskins fired general manager Scot McCloughan and began a summer-long saga of unfruitful negotiations with quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Notable signings:
- Kirk Cousins, QB: One year, $23.944MM. Fully guaranteed. Signed franchise tag.
- Vernon Davis, TE: Three years, $15MM. $7.5MM guaranteed.
- Terrell McClain, DL: Four years, $21MM. $7.25MM guaranteed.
- Stacy McGee, DL: Five years, $25MM. $6.25MM guaranteed.
- D.J. Swearinger, S: Three years, $13.5MM. $6MM guaranteed.
- Terrelle Pryor, WR: One year, $6MM. Fully guaranteed.
- Zach Brown, LB: One year, $2.3MM. $700K guaranteed. $2.3MM available via incentives.
- Ziggy Hood, DL: Two years, $2.7MM. $300K guaranteed.
- Chris Carter, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Brian Quick, WR: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Chris Thompson, RB: One year, $2.746MM. Signed second-round RFA tender.
- Will Compton, LB: One year, $1.797MM. Signed original round RFA tender.
Kirk Cousins has played the free agent game perfectly: assigned the franchise tag for two consecutive seasons, Cousins has now raked in nearly $44MM from 2016-17, and will earn another ~$34.48MM if the Redskins use the franchise tender again in 2018. Exerting all his leverage, Cousins rejected an offer from Washington that the team claims included $53MM in full guarantees, noting that he wanted more time to evaluate an organization that has seen considerable turnover both on the field and in the front office.
While Cousins clearly isn’t the league’s best quarterback, he’s going to be paid like it next season, either through another franchise tag, an extension with the Redskins, or a free agent deal with another club. Over the past two seasons, Cousins has completed 68.3% of his passes while averaging more than 4,500 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. That level of production will earn a quarterback a massive contract on the open market — especially given that Cousins’ former offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, is now the head coach of a quarterback-needy 49ers club — and Cousins will easily clear the $27MM per year mark if he reaches unfettered free agency.
Cousins will be throwing to a new group of wideouts that includes former Brown Terrelle Pryor, whom the Redskins landed on one of the best value free agent signings of 2017. Pryor is only 28 years old, and posted 77 receptions, 1,007 yards and four touchdowns in his first season as a wide receiver. Given that he was a quarterback until 2016, many clubs seemed reticent to invest in Pryor despite his excellent statistics, but Washington took the plunge. It’s a worthwhile risk, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Redskins attempt to extend Pryor in-season if he continues his run of receiving success.
While receiver Brian Quick may not even make Washington’s final roster, veteran tight end Vernon Davis could play a key role for the club after re-signing on a three-year pact. Starting tight end Jordan Reed has had difficulty staying healthy during his four-year career (four missed games last season), and has already been placed on active/PUP with a toe issue. Davis, who looked finished in Denver two years ago, put up 44 receptions for more than 500 yards in his first season as a Redskin. While he still can’t block (bottom-10 among tight ends in the run game, per Pro Football Focus), Davis is a serviceable starter if Reed is sidelined again.
On defense, the Redskins sought to beef up a defensive line that ranked just 27th against the run, according to Football Outsiders‘ adjusted line yards metric. While Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain should do just that along Washington’s front, both signed contracts that can be escaped relatively easily. McClain, notably, is two years older than McGee, but received a larger guarantee, a larger signing bonus, and a longer contract than the former Raider. While both interior defenders will see time up front on a rotational basis, both players could see their deals effectively turn into effective one-year pacts.
At the second level, Washington made an addition that rivals its signing of Pryor in terms of value, inking linebacker Zach Brown to a one-year deal. Finally utilizing the speed and athleticism that made him a second-round pick in 2012, Brown played 91.2% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps a year ago while posting 149 tackles, four sacks, and one interception. That performance earned Brown second-team All Pro honors, but his market never developed, as interest from the Raiders, Dolphins, Colts, and incumbent Bills never materialized into a deal. Landing a linebacker of Brown’s caliber for just $2.3MM is an absolute steal.
Like Brown, safety D.J. Swearinger is a former second-round draft choice who never put it all together until 2016, when he started 12 games for Arizona and graded as the NFL’s No. 9 safety, per PFF. Swearinger, who is already drawing praise for his work in Washington, is expected to line up next to Su’a Cravens (yet another ex-second-rounder) in the Redskins’ secondary. The Redskins ranked 25th in DVOA against tight ends last season, so the club is hoping Swearinger can help cover the middle of the field.
Redskins TE Jordan Reed Suffers Injury
Redskins tight end Jordan Reed went to Charlotte to see a specialist about his toe injury, head coach Jay Gruden announced. There is currently no timetable for his return. 
[RELATED: Redskins Sign RB Kenny Hilliard]
When he’s on the field and mostly healthy, Reed is one of the game’s most dynamic tight ends. Unfortunately, injuries have set Reed back throughout his career. Most notably, the 27-year-old has dealt with concussion issues as well as a separated shoulder that sidelined him late in the 2016 season. The team was hoping that his toe issue would clear up quickly, but one can’t help but wonder if this latest ailment could cost him time in 2017.
Reed earned his first Pro Bowl nod last year as he recorded 66 catches for 686 yards and six scores. The Redskins are counting on him more than ever this year after losing both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson to free agency.
The Redskins have depth at tight end, but Vernon Davis and Niles Paul do not offer the same kind of elite athleticism as the 6’3″, 237 pound Reed. The presence of fifth-round pick Jeremy Sprinkle also gives the team some additional padding, but they’ll be at a distinct disadvantage if they are without Reed to start the season.
Redskins Sign RB Kenny Hilliard
The Redskins have signed free agent running back Kenny Hilliard. To make room, fellow running back Keith Marshall has been cut with an injury designation. 
[RELATED: Safety David Bruton Retires]
Hilliard first joined the Texans as a practice squad player in 2015 and circled back to the taxi squad late in the 2016 season. He signed a futures deal to remain with the club in the winter, but he was cut in May as the team added tackle Breno Giacomini and a handful of undrafted free agents. We have yet to see him in a regular season game, but he did post four 100-yard games during his time at LSU.
The speedy Marshall suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s practice, an especially rough break considering that he missed his entire rookie season with an elbow injury. Marshall was said to be having a strong offseason and projected to be the fourth and final running back on the team’s roster.
Marshall’s injury could mean that Hilliard will slide in as the Redskins’ RB4. In theory, this may also give the Redskins an opportunity to work Matt Jones back into the game plan.
Keith Marshall Out For Season
- Redskins RB Keith Marshall tore his right patella tendon and will miss the 2017 season, per John Keim of ESPN.com. Washington selected Marshall in the seventh round of the 2016 draft, but he missed the entire 2016 season with an elbow injury. He now will have to wait until 2018 to get his NFL career on track.
Redskins Sign Jeremiah McKinnon
- The Redskins announced that they’ve signed defensive back Jeremiah McKinnon while waiving/injured DB Lou Young. Young appeared in six games for Carolina a season ago.
Trent Murphy Underwent Offseason Foot Surgery
- Redskins outside linebacker Trent Murphy underwent offseason surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot, according to JP Finlay of CSN Mid-Atlantic. Murphy is now healed, but he still won’t factor into the Redskins’ early season plans as a result of the four-game performance-enhancing drugs suspension the NFL handed him in April. When he returns in Week 6 (the Redskins have a Week 5 bye), the nine-sack man from 2016 will look to continue that strong production in a contract year.
Redskins Sign E.J. Bibbs, Waive Houston Bates
- The Redskins have signed tight end E.J. Bibbs and waived linebacker Houston Bates. Bibbs’ only action to this point came as an undrafted rookie with the Browns in 2015, when he appeared in seven games and picked up one reception. Bates is more experienced, having collected 24 appearances with the Redskins from 2015-16. Although he didn’t make a dent on defense during that time, Bates did lead the Redskins in special teams snaps (293) last season.
Safety David Bruton Retires
David Bruton is done with football. The former Broncos and Redskins safety confirmed that he is not seeking work for the 2017 season. 
“I’m burnt-out, definitely worry about my health,” Bruton said (via ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold). “Another season was cut short by a concussion [in 2016] — that’s six. I’m a guy who likes to use his brain. Especially back in school, I need as many brain cells as possible with all these science classes. It came down to health, and I’ve definitely had my time in the league. I’m ready to move on.”
The longtime special-teams captain of the Broncos also acknowledged that he had less passion for the game than when he started out. After playing 108 career games – 104 with the Broncos, four with the Redskins – Bruton is appreciative of his time in the NFL, but he’s also had enough.
In 2015, Bruton set career highs in several categories, including tackles (43), interceptions (two), and passes defended (seven). He left Denver the next year, joining the Redskins on a three-year, $9MM deal prior to the 2016 season. Unfortunately, a concussion put him out of commission in October, leading the Redskins to release him in December. Bruton auditioned for the Ravens after getting cut, but he tells Legwold that the audition “did not go well at all, because I just didn’t have it in me anymore to do it.”
We here at PFR wish Bruton the best in retirement.
Brian Quick Not A Redskins Roster Lock
- Free agent addition Brian Quick isn’t likely to act as one of the Redskins‘ top four wideouts next season, meaning his roster spot could be in danger, details John Keim of ESPN.com. If Quick isn’t a contributor on offense, he’d need to be a factor on special teams, something he hasn’t been throughout his career. Washington inked Quick on a minimum salary benefit contract that contained just $80K in guarantees, so cutting him wouldn’t represent much of a fiscal loss.