Redskins adding Peyton Barber to an already crowded backfield actually makes sense

The Washington Redskins made their second addition to their backfield this off-season by signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running back Peyton Barber. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Barber is signing a two-year, $3 million deal with a guarantee of $600,000.

The addition of Barber now gives the Redskins five running backs under contract. That includes JD McKissick, who the team signed to a two-year deal last week. Holdovers Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice and Bryce Love.

There’s a lot of competition in the backfield for head coach Ron Rivera and his staff to sought out. Five capable running backs may be extreme, however, each one enters training camp with existing or potential red flags.

Given Rivera has preached competition as the theme in his first year in Washington, having this much talent makes total sense.

That’s if everyone comes in healthy. At first sight of Barber’s signing, immediate thoughts shift to the health of Guice and Love.

Love sat out his entire rookie season last year, as he recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in his last collegiate game at Stanford. Love underwent an additional surgery in October. While his goal is to participate in OTAs and being a full go by training camp, it’s not hard to understand why the new coaching staff wouldn’t be completely confident for that timetable.

Guice is entering his third season since the Redskins selected in the second-round of the 2018 NFL Draft. However, the former LSU product has played in a total of five games during his NFL career. He has had multiple knee injuries cut short each of his first two seasons.

As a rookie he tore his ACL in his first preseason game. Last season, a torn meniscus in the season-opener to his opposite knee placed him on injured reserve. He would return and play in four more games before he suffered a MCL sprain on a tackle by Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage that ended his season.

While Guice has shown flashes of promise when he is on the field, he hasn’t been on the field much. Again, with a new coaching staff in place, it’s not hard to understand a lack of confidence in Guice being reliable.

Peterson is probably the only name certain to make the roster. However, the future Hall-of-Famer just celebrated his 35th birthday. Peterson has defied Father Time, leading the Redskins in rushing each of the past two seasons. However, the age in itself is warranting of having a backup plan.

Additionally, Peterson has been more of a one-trick pony unable to consistently contribute on passing down — whether in pass protection or a receiving option out of the backfield.

Peterson has been a workhorse on the ground but that’s been out of necessity. Washington hasn’t had much reliability behind him the past two seasons. Adding Barber, who has been durable and consistent could give that spell Peterson and the Redskins have been missing.

McKissic was added over Chris Thompson as the potential third-down back because of his availability. Something Thompson had struggled with the past three seasons. Guice has the ability to play a lot of passing down situations, but again, his inability to stay on the field makes McKissic a must option on the roster.

McKissic also adds the dynamic of lining up in the slot and splitting out in empty back formations. He has the best hands in the backfield group, thus he will certainly push for a spot on the roster. Not to mention an ability to contribute on special teams.

As for Barber, he spent the first four seasons of his career in Tampa Bay. He led the team in 2018, with a career-high 871 yards. Last season his role was reduced with the addition of rookie Ronald Jones. However, Barber still managed a career-high six touchdowns as primarily the short-yardage back.

His yards per carry isn’t all that impressive. Each season it’s decreased, with last season being at 3.1 yards. However, he had quite of few short yardage situations. Not to mention, he ran behind a porous offensive line.

Barber, 26, is a disciplined one-cut runner, who trusts his blockers — albeit sometimes too much. His biggest ability may be his availability. He has missed just one game through four seasons, and hasn’t missed one since his rookie season.

If all five running backs can be healthy when training camp convenes, then there will be probably be the most intriguing position battle on the team. However, given recent history, Rivera and the Redskins are right to expand their options.