Free agent linebacker Zach Brown will visit the Washington Redskins on Monday as the team continues to seek ways to add speed and upgrade their defense. Brown ranked 31st on ESPN’s list of the top 150 free agents entering the new league year. Only one player rated ahead of him, defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, remains unsigned.
The Redskins have had some interest in Brown for a couple weeks, but no visit had been arranged until now. The question, though, is what spot he would play if he signs. The Redskins have Mason Foster as a returning starter under contract. They also tendered an offer to restricted free agent Will Compton, though he has yet to sign.
It’s an original-round tender, which means if another team signed Compton to an offer sheet and the Redskins failed to match, they would receive no compensation for Compton, who came into the league as an undrafted free agent.
The Redskins also have Martrell Spaight, Steven Daniels and Chris Carter under contract at linebacker. The latter is considered more of a special-teams performer.
It’s uncertain what role Brown would play. Compton, for example, handles the defensive playcalling. But Brown did not handle that role last year in Buffalo, according to multiple people with the Bills. That’s not to say he can’t perform that role (though some did express concern), but that was not his role in his most productive season. However, teams he has met with viewed him in different spots -- weakside in a 4-3 or at either inside spot in a 3-4. Brown has visited with Miami, Oakland and Buffalo, where he played on a one-year deal with a different coaching staff.
Brown would offer the Redskins speed inside – he won a Maryland state title in the 100-meter dash while at Columbia’s Wilde Lake High School. That speed helped turn him into a second-round pick by Tennessee in 2012. But after a disappointing four seasons with the Titans, Brown recorded 149 tackles – second-most in the NFL – with Buffalo. He also recorded four sacks and two forced fumbles in earning his first Pro Bowl berth and second-team All-Pro honors.
Brown was considered excellent in coverage, thanks to his ability to go sideline-to-sideline in a hurry. He was able to cover backs and tight ends. That would be a big help for the Redskins. It would also enable them to perhaps add more pass-rush ability from the inside.
The Redskins have added three starters to the defense this offseason: linemen Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee and safety D.J. Swearinger. They also have Su'a Cravens moving from linebacker to safety, where he excelled in college and has said he feels more comfortable.
