To an outside observer, the Redskins look like they are falling apart. General manager Scot McCloughan lost his job thanks to an inside tip about an alcohol problem and Bruce Allen remains a team problem. Washington refused to sign star quarterback Kirk Cousins to a long term deal, likely creating animosity between the two sides. And free agent departures on both defense and offense leave the roster a bit thin right now.
2016 NFL Season.
The Redskins finished 2016 with a 8-7-1 record, narrowly missing the playoffs after losing in the final week of the year to the New York Giants.
That finish doesn't detract from the mostly excellent season of Kirk Cousins, who was one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL all year.
The Redskins did have major problems with a defense that couldn't really stop anybody, leading to most of those 7 losses. In the 2017 offseason, Washington will have to address those problems. Despite the issues, Head Coach Jay Gruden, who was a key piece of the 8-7-1 season last year, isn't worried.
Jay Gruden.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden has helped the team finish with records above .500 in each of the last two years. In 2015, the Redskins even made the playoffs behind another strong effort from Kirk Cousins. There's certainly reason to be concerned, but Gruden is "optimistic" about his team's chances in 2017.
New Additions.
Although the Redskins lost both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson in free agency, they did add Terrelle Pryor and Brian Quick to bolster the wide receiver corps. Josh Doctson, who missed a majority of the 2016 season, will likely take on a much bigger role in 2017.
Defensive linemen Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee will help add depth to a Washington line that struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2016.
Those two players won't be enough to completely fix the defense, but the Redskins will likely draft defensive players to fill any gaps.
Even without those free agents and without their general manager, the Redskins have Kirk Cousins and Jay Gruden, two people who believe in and know that their team can succeed in 2017 even with all the distractions.
