Instant Analysis: Redskins 53-man roster offers admission 2019 is win or else

The 2019 season is officially underway. The last piece of offseason business was conducted Saturday by all 32 teams as each club whittled their 90-man rosters down to 53 men. Now, the fun begins. There will be plenty of maneuvers over the next few days as teams carve out their practice squads and make additions (and related subtractions) based on other players who were cut by their former teams but who may be better fits elsewhere.

For Washington, it was a long arduous process that offered some surprising releases, betraying the reputations they had forged over the last two years. Here's a run down of what we think about the moves. For a look at all of Saturday's cuts, go here.

Surprises

The two biggest surprises weren't because of talent level, but rather because of the strange loyalty head coach Jay Gruden had shown for RB Samaje Perine and WR Josh Doctson. Both players were released, indicating the time of favoritism may be coming to an end as Gruden has to fight to stay employed as an NFL head coach. Docston was a first-round bust, but most observers felt if the club couldn't trade him, he's stay on the roster.

Instead, the club kept six receivers not him.

At running back, Washington kept five in the fold with Perine on the outside looking in.

Injury Keepers

The club kept seventh-round OLB Jordan Brailford with the expectation to move him to injured reserve. A player must be on the initial 53 in order to be placed on IR and still have a chance to return to the club after eight weeks.

That may, too, be the fate of RB/KR Shaun Wilson, though the club may just use the inactive slots until they must make a decision on him. The team did not keep anyone extra after promising young OLB Cassanova McKinzy suffered a concussion in the preseason finale. The club expects him to be ready Week 1, and apparently TE Jordan Reed as well, as Washington cut the three other camp tight ends, including Donald Parham.

Initial 53-Man Roster (* = Rookie)

OFFENSE (26)

QB(3): Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins*, Colt McCoy
RB(5): Derrius Guice, Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompon, Byron Marshall, Shaun Wilson
WR(6): Paul Richardson, Terry McLaurin*, Trey Quinn, Robert Davis, Kelvin Harmon*, Steve Sims*
TE(3): Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle
OL(9): Donald Penn, Ereck Flowers, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses, Geron Christian, Wes Martin*, Tony Bergstrom, Ross Pierschbacher*

DEFENSE (24)

DL(5): Jonathan Allen, DaRon Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, Caleb Brantley
OLB(5): Ryan Kerrigan, Ryan Anderson, Montez Sweat, Cassaonva McKinzy, Jordan Brailford*
ILB(4): Jon Bostic, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Cole Holcomb*
CB(6): Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, Jimmy Moreland*, Greg Stroman, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
S(4): Landon Collins, Deshazor Everett, Montae Nicholson, Troy Apke

ST(3): Dustin Hopkins (K), Tress Way (P), Nick Sundberg (LS)

Rookies on the Club

Washington had a 10-man draft class in 2019 and signed eight undrafted free agents in this year's haul of amateurs. 11 of the 18 made the initial Redskins roster. All 10 players who were selected made the club, led of course by their two first-round picks in Haskins and Sweat. The best find has to be the corner Moreland, who looks to be an integral part of the plans after being a seventh-round selection from local James Madison.

As for the UDFAs, the only one who survived was the surprising Steve Sims, who's performance in the preseason finale seems to have sealed his place on the initial 53.

Differences from 2018 Opening Roster

Last year, Washington kept two QBs out of camp, McCoy and of course Alex Smith, who is not going to play this year but will receive his $15 million salary and have a $20.4 million cap hit. Once again they are rolling with five running backs and six receivers.

The exact same three tight ends return, and the club is also keeping nine offensive linemen, though like WR and RB, the names are quite different this go around. Only 5 of the OL, 2 of the 6 WR and 3 of the 5 backs are the same as 2018.

On the defensive line, things are trimmed down as 2018 saw six interior DL out the gate, with Anthony Hood and Anthony Lanier II being quote-unquote swapped for Brantley.

At OLB the team is going lighter by one, two with knowing Brailford's heading for IR.

Inside linebacker is trimmed down as well, from five to four.

In the secondary, things are the same number wise, with prize free agent Collins replacing DJ Swearinger, and DRC and Moreland replacing Danny Johnson and Adonis Alexander.

So what are your thoughts about the Washington 53-man roster, at least how it looks on Saturday afternoon?