My Redskins 53 Man Roster Prediction:

Now while I think there is going to be a good bit of overlap I don’t know the Redskins will follow my plan to the letter. This is how I would have the Redskins final roster if I was in charge:

QB’s:

Safe: Rex Grossman and John Beck

On the Bubble: Kellen Clemens

Cut: Matt Gutierrez

What I’d do?: I hate the idea of keeping just two quarterbacks behind a patchwork offensive line and with neither one being the guaranteed starter, but Clemens isn’t a great enough number 3 option. While I’d scour the waiver wire for a young QB, and put one on the squad if I thought there was enough upside, the Skins could free up a spot here. I’d sign two young guys to the practice squad to help develop and run the scout team.

RB’s:

Safe: Tim Hightower, Roy Helu

On the Bubble: Evan Royster and Ryan Torain

Cut: Shaun Draughn

What I’d Do?: I would keep only three backs, with Royster making the squad over Torain. While Torain is a better runner, that doesn’t matter too much for the third back on the team. I want my third back to be versatile, and Royster is better blocking and receiving than Torain. Also, Royster plays special teams and is not injury prone. Torain does have value so I wouldn’t cut him outright, I think they could possibly trade him for a late round pick, or a young depth DE.

FB’s:

Safe: Darryl Young

On the Bubble: Mike Sellers and Keiland Williams

What I’d Do?: I would keep two FB’s, and I’d look to keep Williams. Williams offers some ability to fill in at RB if there is an injury there and plays special teams. He’s a better receiver and pass blocker than Sellers, which gives him some fair utility. He’s not perfect for the role, but I’ll take youth in this situation. Sellers is a great special teamer, but Williams isn’t exactly a slouch, and Sellers just offers nothing when it comes to running or pass blocking. His run blocking is wildly inconsistent and I feel he is more hype than substance. If they could trade him do it, if not he has to be cut.

TE’s:

Safe: Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, Logan Paulsen

Cut: Tony Curtis, Derek Schouman

What I’d Do?: I know Cooley’s injury is a bit of a concern, but I don’t think it is enough to warrant keeping another tight end. Even if Cooley misses time the Redskins should be fine with Davis and Paulsen, though if it is significant it could lead to them keeping Mike Sellers at FB over Williams since he could be an emergency TE.

WR’s:

Safe: Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Armstrong, Leonard Hankerson

On the Bubble: Niles Paul, Terrence Austin, Brandon Banks, Donte Stallworth

Cut: Aldrick Robinson, Issac Anderson

What I’d Do?: I would keep just 6 receivers and that includes any space for a return guy. In addition to the four locks, I’d keep both Niles Paul and Terrence Austin. Paul is the 3rd biggest receiver on this team behind Gaffney and Hankerson, which gives him the versatility to play in any WR position and run any route. Paul has big time upside and I truly see him developing into a starting receiver down the line. He also can return kicks, and has flashed that ability in preseason. Austin is similar, though he doesn’t have as much upside as Paul. Overall though he has looked very consistent and has made a number of big plays. Stallworth has been better than Paul/Austin, but he doesn’t have their return pedigree or the future upside. He is under contract for just one season, meaning he isn’t worth keeping over a young guy. As for Banks I just don’t see where he has a roster spot on this team. The value of return men is down this year, and while what he does is special, guys like Paul and Austin can do roughly the same job. Banks offers zero offensive value, and has some injury issues to worry about. I don’t understand giving up on a guy like Paul just so the Redskins are slightly better in the return game. I think there is a chance that the Redskins could flip either Stallworth or Banks, but it isn’t a large one. I think they are both cut, and that Robinson could possibly be on the practice squad.

OL:

Safe: Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Jamaal Brown and Sean Locklear

On the Bubble: Artis Hicks, Erik Cook, Willie Smith, Maurice Hurt, and Selvish Capers

Cut: Donovan Raiola, Clint Oldenberg

What I’d Do?: In addition to the six that are safe I’d keep between 2 and 3 more, if a 6th is kept it will likely come from another team. Of those on this list I’d keep Hicks and Smith. I think Willie Smith has showed a good bit of potential and he could develop into as starting caliber lineman in a couple years. I’d look to sign two offensive linemen to the practice squad with the most likely ones coming from Cook and Hurt, though they could look to grab someone off another team.

DL:

Safe: Adam Carriker, Stephen Bowen, Barry Cofield, Anthony Bryant

On the Bubble: Kedric Golston, Doug Worthington, Chris Neild, Darrion Scott

Cut: Jeff Stehle

What I’d Do?:  Since you should probably keep at least 7 defensive linemen, the Redskins have 3 spots up for grabs, with a focus at DE. Honestly none of the four bubble players wow me and I’d primarily look for one or two (depending on who gets cut or is on the trade market) guys from other teams. I’m going to say the Redskins take Golston and Worthington, as well as a player from elsewhere. Neild I think gets a practice squad spot as well.

LB’s:

Safe: Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Rocky McIntosh, London Fletcher, Lorenzo Alexander

On the Bubble: Rob Jackson, Markus White, Edgar Jones, Thaddeus Gibson, Perry Riley, Keyaron Fox and Horatio Blades.

What I’d Do?: I think the Redskins will keep 9 total linebackers, meaning that 4 spots are up for grabs. My guess would be two OLB’s and two ILB’s. At outside LB all four players have flashed some, and Rob Jackson is fairly safe, meaning the other spot comes down to White/Jones/Gibson. White has looked nearly as good as Jackson, and considering that he has the least experience of this group I think the job should be his. I know some people are fine cutting him, but I think the upside is there to warrant keeping him. As for ILB, I think it will be Riley and Fox. Blades has been a valuable special teamer, but Fox was signed for those duties as well. I think the Skins will try to keep Gibson on the practice squad as well.

CB’s:

Safe: DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Phillip Buchanon, Kevin Barnes

On the Bubble: Byron Westbrook, Reggie Jones, Brandyn Thompson

What I’d Do?: The Redskins will keep 5 CB’s and while Westbrook has been with the team for a while, I’d look to keep the rookie Thompson. Thompson hasn’t been great this preseason, but he’s been pretty good in coverage overall. There appears to be some upside there, and I think it could be developed rather quickly.

S:

Safe: LaRon Landry, O.J. Atogwe, Reed Doughty

On the Bubble: Chris Horton, DeJon Gomes, Davonte Shannon, Anderson Russell

What I’d Do?:  The Redskins should keep either 4 or 5 safeties and of that group my top two choices would be Gomes and Russell. I think they both offer the most upside and should be looked at being kept. Gomes really has some good potential and he could even see some time as a nickel corner down the road.

OVERVIEW: So there you have it, I know this won’t be the most popular list, but I think it is the most talented. I went with upside, potential and contract status in just about every instance. The Redskins should scour the wavier wire for some young developmental QB’s for the practice squad, as well as help for their offensive or defensive lines (to actually make the 53 man roster). I’d much rather see the OL get a 9th player with the extra spot than the WR’s get a 7th. Especially considering there are 5 linemen in on every play and at most maybe 2.5 WR’s. A few trades for these extra 53 man OL and DL could occur, with the most likely Redskins to be dealt being Mike Sellers, Ryan Torain, Brandon Banks and Donte Stallworth.