Washington Redskins Do Not Plan to Re-Sign Brandon Meriweather

The search for players to play safety for the Washington Redskins continues into 2015. Dianna Russini of NBC Washington is reporting that Redskins sources have informed her that they do not plan on bringing strong safety Brandon Meriweather back next season.  This follows the news from a week ago that free safety Ryan Clark was retiring from the NFL, and moving on to a job with ESPN.  Meriweather has been with the Redskins since 2012, but has been injured and suspended often.  He started last year suspended for two games for a hit in the preseason, and ended the year on IR for a toe injury.  His best game of the year came against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 when he had 7 tackles, 2 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.  But he has been inconsistent throughout his career and takes too many penalties.

This leaves the Redskins without both of their starting safeties from last year, and they have very little playing/starting experience on the roster with Phillip Thomas, Trenton Robinson, and Akeem Davis.  Safety continues to be a problem for the Redskins, and they seemed to be devalued in Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett's defense.  Haslett wanted safeties who could be interchangeable, and wanted a strong pass rush to cover the deficiencies in the secondary.  That pass rush wasn't strong enough last season, and the secondary was routinely abused, allowing the most TDs in the NFL, and allowing opposing QBs to have one of the highest QBRs in league history.

Jim Haslett is gone, and Defensive Backs coach Raheem Morris has moved on to Atlanta.  The Redskins hired former Chargers LB coach Joe Barry as the new DC, and hired former New York Giants DC Perry Fewell as the new secondary coach.  The Redskins will need to use free agency and/or the draft to restock the safety position.  Will Fewell lobby to get his former safety Antrell Rolle in free agency.  Rolle is close to Fewell and recently said he would follow him after he was fired, but also said he wants to remain a Giant.  Will the Redskins trade back and take Landon Collins in the first round, or address the position later in the draft like GM Scot McCloughan has done in the past.

Redskins sources tell me the plan is to not bring back Brandon Meriweather.

— Dianna Marie Russini (@NBCdianna) February 26, 2015

(hogshaven.com)