Free agent left tackle Charles Leno won’t be the only recently released starter visiting the Washington Football Team on Monday. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, former Miami Dolphins safety Bobby McCain will also visit Washington next week.
The Dolphins released McCain this week after six seasons. McCain initially was drafted by Miami in the fifth round as a slot corner. But, he progressed into a free safety and one of the team’s captains.
Last season, McCain played 923 defensive snaps. He had 46 tackles, five passes defensed and one interception.
McCain was in the final year of his four-year, $27 million contract. However, the Dolphins will be able to save $5.66 million against the salary with his release.
Washington has a need at safety for sometime, particularly at free safety. Last season the team flip-flopped through Troy Apke, Deshazor Everett and Jeremy Reaves at free safety. Meanwhile, Landon Collins started seven games before a season-ending torn Achilles at strong safety. Seventh-round draft pick Kamren Curl stepped up in Collins’ place and thrived.
Collins is expected to return at strong safety, according to defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. That could force Curl to free safety and/or slot corner in Washington’s Buffalo Nickel defense. Everett is returning from a torn pectoral and Apke has been a huge disappointment.
McCain brings versatility that head coach Ron Rivera and the Washington coaching staff yearns. If signed, he would get to compete with Curl and the others at free safety at the very least. Outside of versatility, competition has been a huge sticking point for Rivera and his staff.
McCain and Curl have many similarities in style of play. That actually may be a huge plus. One could start at free safety and the other could spell the other (and Collins) while playing the Buffalo Nickel slot.
According measures of Pro Football Focus, McCain may be better suited as a slot corner than safety. Something that could be sorted out in the competition during training camp.
Bringing Bobby McCain in creates a lot of variables and he could make Washington a more flexible and better secondary in 2021.
