Out with the Old and in with the New
After a relatively quiet and conservative first week of free agency, which was highlighted by the signing of veteran LB Thomas Davis and CB Kendall Fuller, the Redskins woke up fans with their latest moves on Monday.
First, new HC Ron Rivera acquired his former quarterback from Carolina and no, to the dismay of some fans in Washington, it wasn’t Cam Newton. Third year QB Kyle Allen will be the presumptive backup to Dwayne Haskins, only 13 days after his former team re-signed their exclusive rights free agent to a 1-year deal. With Newton struggling to return to the field due to injury, Allen started thirteen games in Carolina, finishing with a 6-7 record and posting 3,588 PY 17 TD’s and 16 ints during his 13 starts.
Although Rivera made it clear that Haskins wouldn’t just be handed the starting job, make no mistake, Allen is in Washington to help with the implementation of new OC Scott Turner’s offense and backup Haskins. Many fans believed that the compensation of a 5th round was too rich for a quarterback that might not even make the final Panthers roster and made their frustrations know on social media. In the end it’s become increasingly evident that Alex Smith is not a legitimate option and adding a competent backup was an offseason priority.
The second move of the day was one that really ruffled some fans’ feathers. Only a few hours after the trade for Allen, Quinton Dunbar was traded to the Seattle Seahawks and the compensation just happened to be. . .you guessed it. . .a 5th round pick. Dunbar’s constant complaining on social media about feeling disrespected by the new regime and desire to be released/traded finally came to a head. Dunbar made statements to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington and Rick “Doc” Walker of The Team 980 that his desire was to be traded or released, only to walk back those comments and say he simply wanted to meet with members of the Redskins’ officials to discuss his future in Washington.
Once again fans voiced their displeasure on social media pointing to the fact that Dunbar was listed as one of the highest rated cornerbacks in ’19 by PFF. Unfortunately, a fact that can’t be ignored is the 14 games he missed over the last two seasons. Dunbar’s desire to be paid in the $8-$10 million-dollar range, annually, was the writing on the wall for this relationship and it was obviously time to move on.
As far as compensation goes, it was as if Washington traded Dunbar for Allen. The Skins parted with their 5th round draft pick to Carolina for Allen, while getting back a 5th round selection in return for Dunbar from Seattle.
Washington’s offseason transactions will, no doubt, continue with the Trent Williams situation still up in the air as well as the likelihood that a cornerback will be added, with the loss of Josh Norman and now Dunbar. Many fans are hoping, similar to Fuller, Bashaud Breeland will make his return to Washington. So, Monday’s transactions should be a signal for more to come in the days and weeks leading up to the draft.
By Adam Aniba
#HTTR🏹🏈
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