Can Washington Be 'Fair' In Keeping D-Line Together?
Washington's D-line features four players who have been drafted in the first round in consecutive years - and the premium investment is paying off. The Washington Football Team has the proverbial "good problem to have.'' Really, given the WFT's potentially dominant defensive line, we can call it a "great problem to have.'' Washington's D-line features four players who have been drafted in the first round in consecutive years - and the premium investment is paying off. Jonathan Allen in 2017. Daron Payne in 2018. Monez Sweat in 2019. Chase Young in 2020. A havoc-wreaking defense that Young, last year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, believes can be the league's best in 2021. "Right now, were gonna take it one year at a time and just try to make sure were putting together as many of these great players that we have and be able to keep them around,'' says coach Ron Rivera in a visit with The Athletic. That's a nice, calm statement. But the truth is, the WFT can't really afford to look at this as "one-year-at-a-time.'' The salary cap makes the assemblage and retention of this group a gigantic jigsaw puzzle - but with moving and fluid puzzle pieces. Ideally, the WFT simply signs all five players to second contracts. But the salary cap makes for a world that doesn't likely allow for that ideal. And Rivera knows it. I think youve got to make sure the contracts are fair, first and foremost, for both sides, Rivera says. At the end of the day, if both people are griping about it (and) both people are happy about it, then youve gotten a fair contract. Thats what you hope to do.'' That is a fascinating way to look at it. "Both sides griping'' means there was compromise. Rivera also notes the staggered years when the new deals are due, saying, "The nice thing is youd be able to do one each year, and youll see how it goes.'' But the "stagger'' is about to begin. Allen is up for a contract extension now, with every indication that both sides would like to get it done. He enter free agency after this season. Same situation, one-by-one, year-by-year. READ MORE: Washington Football Talking New Contract with Jonathan Allen  The WFT had a plan when it drafted each of these guys. That plan is about performance on the field and financial fit off of it. The one thing that were fortunate (about) right now is we dont have a high-ticket, high-price quarterback that weve got to worry about for the future,'' Rivera says. "Now, eventually, that may come about, and well see what happens. Well see if we can figure out how to handle that.'' Ah yes. One more "good problem to have.'' The Washington Football Team is someday going to add a franchise QB that is someday going to be costly. The puzzle pieces are going to have to be shoved together, with the hope that this bordering-on-elite D-line stays together to shove around opposing offenses.