WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

They might be a year away from picking a new name and logo, but the Washington Football Team doesn’t have to be a year away from returning to the playoffs. After sneaking in at 7-9 (just because Alex Smith was hurt at the beginning of the season. This was  a 10-6 team if he started the whole way), the WFT will once again bring a creaky vet into battle. This time it’s Ryan Fitzpatrick, a year removed from nearly getting the Miami Dolphins into the postseason tournament.

This has hardly been a silent offseason for Washington, as ridiculous off the field problems continue to plague the team. But, seemingly in defiance of most of their history under Dan Snyder, they hired the right head coach last year in Ron Rivera. And it continues to pay off.

While Fitzpatrick isn’t as good as Smith, he’ll give the team a chance to win. But don’t be surprised to see Rivera give playoff hero Taylor Heinicke or even Kyle Allen a real chance in the preseason.

Frankly, the worst thing that could happen to this team is to make the playoffs again. They need the draft capitol that missing the postseason brings, but Rivera might just be too good, and the rest of the NFC East that bad, to make it happen.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Last season: 7-9, 1^st place, NFC East

2021 odds: over 8.5 wins -120, under 8.5 wins -110

2021 NFL Draft: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky – Round 1, Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas – Round 2, Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota – Round 3, Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina – Round 3, John Bates, TE, Boise State – Round 4, Darrick Forrest, Safety, Cincinnati – Round 5, Camaron Cheeseman, LS, Michigan – Round 6, William Bradley-King, DE, Baylor – Round 7, Shaka Toney, DE, Penn State – Round 7, Dax Milne, WR, BYU – Round 7

UDFAs: Jaret Patterson, RB – Buffalo

Acquisitions: Ereck Flowers, LG – Trade, Charles Leno Jr., LT – Free Agent, Adam Humphries, WR – Free Agent, Bobby McCain, Safety – Free Agent, Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB – Free Agent, David Mayo, LB – Free Agent, William Jackson III, CB – Free Agent, Tyler Larsen, C – Free Agent, Darryl Roberts, CB – Free Agent, Curtis Samuel, WR – Free Agent, Joe Walker, LB – Free Agent, Ricky Seals-Jones, TE – Free Agent, Deon Yelder, TE – Free Agent, Linden Stephens, CB – Free Agent, DeAndre Carter, WR – Free Agent, Najee Toran, DL – Free Agent, Torry McTyer, CB – Free Agent

Key Losses: Ryan Kerrigan – Edge, Morgan Moses – RT, Ronald Darby – CB, Kevin Pierre-Louis – LB, Ryan Anderson – Edge, Michal Kendricks – LB, Geron Christian – LT, Dabian Moreau – CB, Bryce Love – RB, Thaddeus Moss – TE, Robert Foster – WR, Caleb Brantley – DL, Jeremy Sprinkle – TE, Shaun Dion Hamilton – LB, Emmanuel Hall – WR

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick

RB: Antonio Gibson

WR: Terry McLaurin

WR: Curtis Samuel

WR: Adam Humphries

TE: Logan Thomas

LT: Charles Leno Jr.

LG: Wes Schweitzer

C: Chase Roullier

RG: Brandon Scherff

RT: Conrelius Lucas

LDE: Chase Young

LDT: Jonathan Allen

RDT: Daron Payne

RDE: Montez Sweat

OLB: Jamin Davis

MLB: Jon Bostic

OLB: Cole Holcomb

CB: Kendall Fuller

CB: William Jackson III

SS: Landon Collins

FS: Kamren Curl

K: Dustin Hopkins

P: Tress Way

FORECAST

There is no easy stretch for the WFT this season, with the exception of their own division. Even those games could  be tough, depending on the growth of Daniel Jones and Jalen Hurts and if Dak Prescott can will his team to victory past head coach Mike McCarthy’s ineptitude. A losing record could very well win this division again. Let’s hope not.

Rivera was a healthy Alex Smith away from recording a 10-win season a year ago with a poorer roster than this. Fitzpatrick is a gunslinger and, as he’s always done, can lose games she should win and win games he should lose because of it. For what it’s worth, I still think they remain the “class” of the NFC East until Dallas hires a real head coach.

Final Record Prediction: 9-8, NFC East Champion

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