Redskins roster predictions after week 3 of camp: Defense

*Note: It still looks like DL Stacy McGee and CB Josh Holsey will begin the year on the PUP list.

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Defense Line: 6 – Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, Anthony Lanier, Ziggy Hood

– The Redskins are likely to keep 6 defensive linemen to start the year with a 7th being added when McGee is healthy mid-year. With the Redskins keeping six, it is pretty safe to say who those players will be. Allen, Payne and Ioannidis look to be the starters, while Settle, Lanier and Hood make a capable back-up trio. It’s a really good group (especially when McGee comes back) with a nice mix of pass rush ability, run stopping ability and versatility to run different fronts and personnel groupings.

Allen, Payne and Ioannidis have a lot of upside and could be a really special starting group. Tim Settle had a great first preseason game and showed that he has more upside than his 5th round rookie tag typically implies. Settle figures to push for a pretty good chunk of work, especially on early downs while McGee is out. Lanier balances out Settle as he is a better pass rusher and he can contribute more versus spread attacks and on passing downs. The one issue here is if the Redskins opt to break camp with a 7th defensive lineman given that both Payne and Ioanndis are dealing with camp injuries. Ideally it would make sense, but there isn’t a lot of talent in camp beyond this group. Perhaps they’d look to add someone who was cut by another team for a 7th body.

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Outside Linebackers: 4 – Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Pernell McPhee, Ryan Anderson

– No surprises here as these four are the clear top 4 of the depth chart with no real movement or anyone in camp who will unseat them. Kerrigan and Smith are a really good starting EDGE rusher pair, that will generate a lot of pressure. McPhee is a good veteran who is better in a rotational role. Anderson still is trying to show he was worth his 2nd round selection in 2017, but he’s looked better this year.

Inside Linebackers: 5 – Zach Brown, Mason Foster, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Zach Vigil

– Brown and Foster are the clear starters and while neither is a star linebacker both are pretty solid options. Behind them I’d expect the Redskins to keep 3 back-ups with rookie Hamilton and 2nd year Harvey-Clemons both looking to be pretty safe and with intriguing upside. Hamilton had a really good first preseason game and could eventually be a long term starter. For the final roster spot it really looks like a toss up between Vigil, Martrell Spaight and Pete Robertson (he’s listed as an OLB, but he’s likely fighting for this one roster spot). All three can make a case for the roster spot, but I think Vigil is in the lead and offers a bit more than Spaight or Robertson.

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Cornerbacks: 6 – Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, Danny Johnson, Greg Stroman, Adonis Alexander

– With the surprising release of veteran corner Orlando Scandrick this week, the corner position has become pretty clear on who makes the team to start the year. Norman and Dunbar are the outside starting corners while Moreau is going to be the starting slot corner. Backing them up will be a trio of rookies UDFA Johnson, 7th rd Stroman and 6th round supplemental pick Alexander. Johnson and Stroman were very impressive in the first preseason game and also both have a lot of special teams utility. Alexander is behind, but that isn’t surprising given his late arrival to camp and the fact that he’s missed some practice time.

The one concern is the lack of experience on this team beyond Josh Norman. Dunbar over three years has 8 starts and about 900 snaps, but now he’s going into a full time role. Moreau managed just 50 snaps last year due to the Redskins depth. Beyond them are three late round or undrafted rookies. That is a pretty thin unit that could get exposed if Norman were to miss any time.

Safeties: 5 – DJ Swearinger, Montae Nicholson, Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke, Kenny Ladler

-I don’t see any surprises among the first four players in either their roles or making the team. Swearinger and Nicholson are a very promising starting safety pair, who complement each other. Everett is a passable back-up, but one of the special teams leaders on the team making his job completely safe. Apke as a 4th round rookie is pretty safe to make the team and his size and athleticism gives him plenty of future potential and special teams ability. Apke had a strong first preseason game as well, as his elite speed was very evident on a number of plays. He’s not fully ready yet, but he doesn’t need to be rushed this year which is a good thing.

With the various injuries on the team, and players like McGee and Holsey out till at least mid-season, there is a possibility the Redskins keep a 5th safety and if so I think Ladler could earn that job. He’s had a really good camp and unlike some of the other safeties in camp he’s not practice squad eligible. He gives the Redskins another solid back-up option who can contribute on special teams at least for the start of the season. It’s possible the Redskins use their extra roster spot on a 7th defensive lineman or another linebacker, but Ladler is definitely in the mix. The Redskins could decide to keep him active on game days early in the season so as to not force Apke to fill in if there is an injury.

Specialists: 3 – P Tress Way, K Dustin Hopkins, LS Nick Sundberg

– Clearest position battle on the team as these three specialists are locked into their jobs with zero competition in camp. Though all have had some inconsistencies, this is a pretty good special teams trio. None of the three may be elite, but all should give the Redskins a reasonably strong performance this year.