Position Group Breakdown – Cornerback Group
June 10, 2020
by Steve Thomas
This is part three of my ongoing position group breakdown series. We’ve been doing this as a regular offseason feature on The Hog Sty show, but this is the first year that I’ve started doing accompanying written pieces. Because I can’t do anything the sensible way, these columns don’t track what we’ve done on the show that particular week; sorry. Thusfar, I’ve cover the offensive line (click here to read) and the running back group (click here to read), so I thought it was time to address the defense; therefore, this week, it’s corners.
Departures
Cory Sensabaugh
Arrivals
Returning Players
To put it simply: this group is a mess. The Redskins lost long time starter Josh Norman; or rather, gained as a result of his departure, as his performance had been noticeably slipping for at least the past 2 years. The other starter, Quinton Dunbar, followed Norman out the door after throwing a public fit about his contract, and then promptly got arrested and charged with multiple felonies in conjunction with an alleged armed robbery at a poker game. For better or for worse, the Redskins corner group is going to look and feel dramatically different than recent seasons.
The most obvious addition to the corner group is Kendall Fuller, who returns to the team after spending two seasons in exile competing for Super Bowls in Kansas City. Fuller is a small measure of return on the ill-fated Alex Smith trade. Because they can’t do anything the easy way, the Redskins gave Fuller an absolutely ginormous contract, 4 years and $40M, with $13.5M guaranteed at signing and a total of $23.5M becoming guaranteed. Fuller’s time with the Chiefs wasn’t exactly sunshine and roses, as he started out as the Chiefs’ #1 corner but was later moved to the slot and actually played some safety in the Super Bowl as a result of injuries to others in the Chiefs’ secondary. Fuller is a versatile player, but he’s not proven himself to be a lock-down, #1 corner. I view his highest and best use as being in the slot. The problem is that he’s being paid like a #1 starter.
The only other addition of note was Ronald Darby (5’11” / 193), the 2015 second round draft pick out of Florida St., who arrives in Washington after spending the last two seasons in Philadelphia. He’s only on a one year, $3M contract, so the team has not made a huge financial commitment to him. That might be a good thing, because Darby has only played a total of 28 games in the last three seasons, missing 20 due to injuries. He has a near-elite athletic profile, having run the 40 yard dash at the 2015 NFL Combine in 4.38 seconds, 41.5” in the vertical leap. If he can stay healthy, he brings a much-needed dose of speed to Washington’s defensive backfield. Darby has also been inconsistent, which is concerning, but he’s also on a “prove-it” contract, so it stands to reason that he’s going to be giving max effort. Given the status of the corner group, it seems impossible to think that Darby isn’t a starter this season.
Fabian Moreau (6’0” / 206) has not performed well as a slot corner since he was drafted in round three of the 2017 draft. However, he did play noticeably better as an outside corner, so the departure of Dunbar and Norman definitely work in his favor. Moreau was always probably better suited to playing on the outside. Despite the fact that he has been something of a disappointment so far, the opportunity he now has should play right into his strength. Plus, like Darby, Moreau is in the final year of his contract, so he’ll want to prove himself worthy of a big deal next offseason.
Aaron Colvin (6’0” / 191) originally came to the Redskins in September, 2019, on a one year contract after being cut by the Texans. The Redskins re-signed him to another one year contract this offseason. Colvin was active for only 6 games and had 10 tackles and 1 pass defended, so he didn’t make much of an impact on the team. He’s a veteran on a cheap contract, and that has value, though, so Colvin could possibly find himself on the roster next season.
Danny Johnson (5’9” / 181) is a 2018 undrafted free agent who is in the final year of his rookie contract. Johnson is probably too small tobe a starter at an outside corner position, but he is a viable option in the slot if he could only stay healthy. Johnson has been on injured reserve twice already, and missed all but two games last season. He’s also versatile and can probably line up at safety if an emergency arises.
Greg Stroman (5’11” / 182) is a local Virginia native who came to the Redskins with great fanfare amongst the fanbase as a 2018 seventh round pick out of Virginia Tech. Stroman was a versatile player in college who can also serve as a kick and punt returner, but he’s yet another player who missed most of last season with an injury. By the standards expected of a seventh round pick, he’s done well and can play a role on this team, probably as a backup, as I don’t see him as a full-time starter on a long-term basis.
Jimmy Moreland (5’10” / 179) was a big fish in a small pond in college at James Madison University, where he was a ballhawk extraordinaire. He didn’t live up to that billing as a rookie and at times looked overmatched, but he has potential and will certainly improve with experience. Redskins safety Landon Collins recently vouched for Moreland, stating that Moreland has good instincts and should start to come down with interceptions this season. Like Stroman, I’m not sure Moreland has the ability to ever become a solid starter-level player, but he can earn a role, particularly in zone coverage situations.
Maurice Smith (6’0” / 194) was a 2017 undrafted free agent out of Georgia who was signed to the Redskins practice squad in October, 2019, after spending two years with the Dolphins. He was promoted to the active roster in December and played in two games, starting 1, and made 1 tackle. Smith is certainly towards the end of the depth chart, but he’s in the final year of a two year contract and will get a chance to show he belongs.
Finally, Simeon Thomas (6’3” / 197) was signed off of Seattle’s practice squad last year and was active for 12 games and made 8 tackles. He was suspended on December 10, 2019, for 4 games for the use of performance enhancing drugs and that suspension will continue into game 1 of the regular season. He is already on the roster bubble, so the suspension doesn’t help his cause. If the team chooses to keep him, he will start the season on the suspended list.
What with this group look like in the regular season?
The obvious roster locks are Kendall Fuller, Ronald Darby, and Fabian Moreau. I think the team will end up keeping a total of 6 corners, so that leaves the remaining 6 players to compete for three spots. It seems most likely that that Jimmy Moreland and Greg Stroman both make the roster by virtue of their status as draft picks and their potential, so that leaves Aaron Colvin, Danny Johnson, Maurice Smith, and Simeon Thomas to battle it out for the one remaining spot. While it’s logical to think that Johnson would have the inside track, this coaching staff has no prior relationship with any of these players. Therefore, I think this will truly be an open competition. I have the most faith in Johnson, so I’m going to give the final spot to him. That leaves the final corner group as:
Starters: Fabian Moreau, Ronald Darby
Slot: Kendall Fuller
Backups: Jimmy Moreland, Greg Stroman, Danny Johnson
Suspended: Simeon Thomas
It’s certainly possible that the team could also keep someone on the practice squad, but no one really jumps out at me as a great candidate. The team could always sign someone from another team who after final cuts.
As a whole, this group doesn’t inspire much confidence and has quite a bit to prove in order to not be the anchor of the defense.
What’s your opinion about the corner group?