The Washington Redskins’ search to upgrade their inside linebacker position took a hit Tuesday, as free agent CJ Mosley has agreed to a five-year deal worth $85 million with the New York Jets.
Reports surfaced that the Redskins were a “strong player” for Mosley, and the team was shopping current inside linebackers, Zach Brown and Mason Foster, to clear some cap space for their intended move. However, the Jets ultimately landed Mosley, who will get $51 million in guarantees.
The loss of Mosley will put a damper in the Redskins’ efforts to upgrade their roster, however, they are rejoicing after locking up safety Landon Collins to shore up a position of need.
Now begs the question where do the Redskins go from here? Brown and Foster have both had their ups and downs and signs have pointed to their departures since late last season. Washington does have a pair of young linebackers from Alabama in Shaun Dion Hamilton and Reuben Foster.
Hamilton started the final four games of the 2018 season ahead of Brown, collecting 23 tackles in those four starts. Meanwhile, the team claimed Foster off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers in late November. He could be facing a multi-game suspension from the NFL due to his alleged domestic violence incident in November that led to his release from San Francisco.
If the Redskins are looking for an upgrade or to move on from Brown and/or Foster, names like Mark Barron, Will Compton, Brandon Marshall, and Preston Brown are at the top of the list of available free agent inside linebackers. Of course, there is always next month’s NFL Draft. Devin White (LSU), Devin Bush (Michigan) and Mack Wilson (Alabama) head a linebacker group that has nine players ranked in CBS Sports’ top 100 prospects.
With Collins signed and missing out on Mosley, the Redskins may not be in such dire need to release big salaries. If they want to entertain the idea of keeping Brown and/or Foster, they can afford to with Brown accounting for an $8.75 million cap hit and Foster at $4.25 million. How much better are the other options available?
Embed from Getty ImagesHamilton did start the final four games and played serviceable but was it impressive?
Foster is a former first-round pick and has loads of potential. However, his off-the-field issues are alarming even if his latest incident resulted in domestic violence charges being dropped. He has to prove he is removed from any distractions from performing and being available on the field. That may leave the Redskins to possibly take a look at keeping Brown and Foster with Mosley no longer on the table.
Keep in mind, Foster led the team with 131 tackles and added two interceptions and four pass defenses last season. His Pro Football Focus grade is right on the average of inside linebackers, and his cap hit is equaled to it.
Brown despite his struggles in pass coverage was the No. 3 graded linebacker in the NFL by PFF last season. After Mosley’s new deal, Brown’s cap hit for this upcoming season and in 2020 seems like a steal, honestly.
With Mosley signed, the Jets are looking to move 2016 first-round pick Darron Lee, according to New York Daily News. Lee was suspended four games in December for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He is a promising linebacker but he now has baggage. He can go sideline-to-sideline and ran a 4.47 40 during the Combine. Lee is in the final year of his rookie contract, but the Redskins would have the option to pick up a fifth-year.
Missing out on Mosley isn’t the end of options for the Redskins, but it does take some steam away from what has started out to be an intriguing off-season for Washington. The Redskins have other pressing needs across the roster, and how much they have to pay to address them will ultimately determine how they will go about inside linebacker.
They may not be of Mosley’s name value, but they have four quality names at the position already. Mosley was undoubtedly an upgrade, but after him that may not be such the case from what they already have. Between the in-house choices, the deep talent pool in the draft, and possible free agents and the trade block, the Redskins have other options at inside linebacker.
