Ryan Kerrigan is excited for the Washington Redskins switch to the 4-3 defense. Kerrigan has spent the first nine seasons of his career playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 base. Now, entering his 10th season he will chase the record books, finally at his natural position — defensive end.
Kerrigan is two sacks away from becoming the Redskins’ all-time sacks leader. However, he will play in the final year under contract.
Talking to reporters earlier this week, the 31-year old says he wants to remain with the Redskins for the “long haul.”
“I obviously hope to be here for the duration of my football career, however long that is… Hopefully I’m here for the long haul. I want to be here. They know where I stand and I want to be here.”
Ryan Kerrigan (h/t Redskins Today)
Kerrigan is expected to take a decrease in snaps this upcoming season. Once the cornerstone of the Redskins’ pass rush, Kerrigan will take a backseat to a pair of younger studs coming off the edge.
The Redskins drafted defensive end Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. His selection comes a year after the Washington traded up to draft Montez Sweat in the first round in 2019.
Kerrigan’s role will be different, but he is expected be heavy in defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s system. That new role could bode well at this junction in his career.
He is pegged to make $11.5 million this season. New head coach Ron Rivera shut down any talks of extensions with holdovers entering the final year of their contracts. Trent Williams and Quinton Dunbar demanded trades shortly afterwards, but Kerrigan is intent on remaining in the Burgundy and Gold.
For the first time in his NFL career, he will play in a 4-3 defensive base. He may also get the chance to focus primarily on getting after the quarterback from a more natural stance. That is without worrying about dropping back in coverage as much as he did in previous years.
Kerrigan could be more efficient with the Redskins changing the gap scheme and aggression for the pass rush.
Ryan Kerrigan seems content to no longer being the face of the Redskins’ defense. If he can settle in his new role, keeping him beyond this season could make a great deal of sense for Washington.
