The Washington Redskins entered the 2016 season with full knowledge of who the starting running back was. Even though Matt Jones, 24, had some issues with injuries and fumbling, the thought was that the former third-round pick had conquered those issues, and was ready to lead the Redskins backfield. Fast forward nearly a year later, and things couldn’t be more different, as now you can legitimately say Jones may not even be on the roster at the beginning of 2017.
In between those two moments is a section of time that includes Jones fumbling on the goal-line, and then again just a couple of series later after a collision with Kirk Cousins against Detroit.
Washington lost that game against the Lions on a last second play, the game marked the last time Jones carried the ball for the Redskins in 2016. Keep in mind just one week earlier Jones had 16 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. On the season, Jones had 460 yards rushing and three touchdowns, but he also fumbled three times, losing two of them while only playing in seven games.
Washington has several young backs already
Including Jones, the Redskins currently have five young Running Backs on their roster. Chris Thompson, 26, who the team just signed, is quickly emerging as a top target out of the backfield in Jay Gruden’s offense as Washington’s third-down back.
Mack Brown has power and speed, but hasn’t been given much opportunity on the field. The 25-year old has spent most of his young career on the practice squad, but broke a nice 61-yard touchdown last season. Robert Kelley, 24, showed a lot of promise last year rushing for 704 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 12 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, in only nine starts.
The last back on the roster is speedy Keith Marshall, 23, who was placed on injured reserve before the season last year with an elbow injury. It was known to most that Marshall’s injury was only a 2-3 week deal, but the team was looking for a way to keep him on the roster without having to cut him. Marshall, a track star, recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time at the 2016 NFL Combine with a 4.31.
Could the Redskins select a back in the draft?
There is a strong possibility if Washington sticks with its ‘best player available’ strategy they’ve deployed the last few years in the draft, that they could take another back. The team currently has ten picks in the upcoming draft. If they do choose to select a running back, the Redskins should either target a back that slips on their current draft projection, like Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara, or one that is rated as a mid-to-late-round prospect like South Florida’s Marlon Mack or the University of North Carolina's Elijah Hood.
The last couple of running backs that have had success in Washington were players the team didn't spend much on, Alfred Morris and Robert Kelley, Morris was a 6th round pick and Kelley was an undrafted free agent.
