The NFL’s 2019 free agency signing period officially began March. 10. While there has been talk and speculation about where high-profile players might end up before that date, movement began in earnest last week.
The Washington Redskins had several players with contracts that were expiring this season and, as always, the team front office’s acquisitions of new players and/or lack of re-signing current ones can leave fans scratching their heads.
That said, to follow are the players that the Burgundy and gold have signed or lost since March 1 when things really got going:
Wednesday, April 24
- OL Tony Bergstrom
The Redskins announced the re-signing of Bergstrom but have not disclosed terms of the deal. The 6-5, 310 lbs. offensive lineman has been in the league since he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2012 draft. He has also played for the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens before arriving in Washington in 2017.
In 2018, Bergstrom played center and guard for the Redskins and had eight starts in 13 games. Since joining the team, he has started in 11 of the 22 games in which he has appeared.
Thursday, April 18
- DL Matt Ioannidis
The 2016 fifth-round draft pick was signed to a three-year, $21.7 million contract with the Washington Redskins, including $14 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $7.2 million (base salary will be $2,025,000).
Appearing in 38 regular season games with 19 starts, the Temple grad has become an integral part of the Redskins under-rated front seven so securing him was a must. Last year, Ioannidis recorded career-highs in tackles (32), solo tackles (23) and sacks (7.5).
Over his carreer, he has logged 66 tackles (42 solo), 12 total sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Tuesday, March 19
- WR Brian Quick
Quick was signed to a one-year, $930,000 contract.
- OG Zac Kerin
Kerin was re-signed to a one-year, $805,000.
Monday, March 18
- OL Ereck Flowers
The former New York Giants first-round draft pick (ninth overall in 2015) was signed to a one-year, $3.25 million contract including a $100,000 signing bonus and $1.5 million guaranteed.
While Flowers was highly-rated in the 2015 draft, he never developed into the anchor the Giants envisioned and they released him in October of 2018. He played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from November through the end of the season and, while he still wasn’t the impact player many had thought he would be, he was durable.
With the loss of Nsekhe, Flowers could be valuable for an offensive line that has been decimated with injuries over the last couple of years.
Friday, March 15
- CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Drafted No. 16 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2008, DRC has also played for the Philadephia Eagles, New York Giants and Oakland Raiders. He has been to the Pro Bowl twice (2009 and 2015) and, while he didn’t make much noise last couple of years (7 games in 2018, 1 forced fumble and two passes defended), the 32 -year-old will bring experience and veteran leadership to the team.
Wednesday, March 13
- RB Adrian Peterson
The veteran running back was re-signed to an two-year, $5,030,000 contract including a $1.5 million signing bonus, $1.5 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $2.5 million. In 2019, Peterson will earn a base salary of $1,030,000 and a signing bonus of $1.5 million.
The Redskins front office, for all intents and purposes, saved Peterson’s career and the team’s run game with his blockbuster signing last August after second-round draft pick, Derrius Guice, tore an ACL. The future Hall-of-Famer lived up to his reputation, playing in all 16 games and logging 1,042 yards on 251 carries (4.2 yards-per-carry average) and seven TDs, including a 90-yarder in the team’s first loss to the Philadephia Eagles.
Monday, March 11
- Landon Collins, FS
Due to some remarkable money-moving talent by Redskins Eric Shaefer & Co., Washington signed the former NY Giant to a six-year, $84 million contract ($44.5 million in partial guarantees) when the G-Men failed to retain the 2015 second-round draft pick. Just as incredible considering the state of money in Ashburn, the team will only take a $4 million cap hit for Collins in 2019.
Safety is certainly a position of need for Washington and Collins is a unique talent. A three-time Pro Bowler (2016-2018), he was also First Team All-Pro in 2016 (five INTs, one TD, one fumble recovery, 13 passes defended, four sacks — his best year so far) for the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News.
Strong leadership in the locker room will be in abundance with a guy like Collins. He is a natural leader to say the least and, combining him with his fellow Alabama grads (Jon Allen, Daron Payne and Ryan Anderson) will help him fit easily into the Redskins’ defensive mindset.
- RB Byron Marshall
According to Craig Hoffman (106.7 The Fan), the Redskins tendered Marshall on a league-minimum deal. Contract details will be added when available.
Thursday, March 7
- Case Keenum, QB
The Redskins QB issues are no secret so the move to acquire this player are no surprise. The 2012 undrafted free agent was traded to Washington from the Denver Broncos for 2020 sixth- and seventh-round picks. Keenum started 16 games for the Broncos in 2018, completing 62.3 percent of his passes (365 of 586) for 3,890 yards. He logged 18 TDs and 15 INTs.
- RB Byron Marshall
106.7 The Fan’s Craig Hoffman reported the Redskins have tendered Byron Marshall and the running back accepted (contract details).
Losses of Note:
- LB Zach Brown
Of the two years he was in Washington, 2017 was Brown’s best with him logging the ninth-most tackles in the league. But last year things went off the rails a bit and he seemed to think early on that he would not be returning. He revealed that he had been playing with an injury (oblique) and his play suffered. The Redskins reportedly did try to get a trade deal for him but when they had no takers, ultimately lost him to free agency.
- DL Stacy McGee
The veteran defenseman struggled with a groin injury in the first part of 2018 and didn’t get very much field time consequently. His vacacy will free up almost $3 million in cap space.
- WR Jamison Crowder
The Redskins lost Jamison Crowder, their fourth-round pick in 2015, who signed with the New York Jets (contract details).
- OLB Preston Smith
On Monday, Mar. 11, Smith signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Green Bay Packers. The same day, WR Jamison Crowder signed a three-year, $28.5 million contract ($17 million fully guaranteed) with the New York Jets.
- OT Ty Nsekhe
On Tuesday, Nsekhe signed a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. This is strange considering the state of the health of Washington’s offensive line in recent years combined with Nsekhe’s talent and versatility.