Following the releases of aging veterans Josh Norman and Jordan Reed, focus has shifted on Washington Redskins edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan.
There has been speculation of Kerrigan being a cap casualty candidate. However, Kerrigan has expressed his want to remain with the only team he has played his NFL career with. It appears Kerrigan and the Redskins are taking steps towards staying together.
According to ESPN’s John Keim, Kerrigan’s reps will meet with the Redskins at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Kerrigan is slated to make roughly $11.7 million in the final year of a five-year, $57.5 million deal. However, his 2020 salary is not guaranteed.
The Redskins traded back into the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft to select edge rusher Montez Sweat. After finishing with a 3-13 record, the Redskins currently have the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. They are expected to select another edge rusher, Chase Young, with the pick.
That leaves Kerrigan’s future in doubt, as the Redskins have the chance to get back $11.7 million of cap space.
Yet, with the hiring of head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, Washington is moving to a 4-3 base scheme. Needing a deep rotation of pass rushers is imperative for the system. At the age of 32, Kerrigan would be of great service playing in a rotation alongside Sweat and presumably Young.
Kerrigan has 90 career sacks, just one shy of the Redskins’ franchise record held by Dexter Manley.
Kerrigan was viewed as an iron man until his consecutive-game streak of 139 games ended ahead a Week 13 last season stemming from a concussion he suffered the week prior.
If Ryan Kerrigan is to return, it won’t be with the $11.7 million price tag he currently has. An extension is necessary to lower the 2020 cap space and give Kerrigan the comfort of guaranteed money his current deal lacks.
The Redskins currently have $62 million of cap space with their top 51 players, according to Spotrac. That number will increase even with a reworked deal with Kerrigan.
