Thanks, as always, for taking part in the mailbag, and keep the questions coming! E-mail me at mike.jones@washpost.com with the subject line of “Mailbag question.” We’ll tackle those and more next Tuesday.

But first, here are answers to the best of this week’s submissions.

I’m curious if there is any consensus take from Redskins journalists on who you believe the Skins will attempt to re-sign, [Pierre] Garcon or [DeSean] Jackson? And is Joe Barry as likely to be fired by McCloughan as it seems to the outside observer?

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– Michael Searby, Falls Church, Va.

I can’t speak for other reporters, but I believe the Redskins will make an effort to re-sign Garcon, and let Jackson depart via free agency. It doesn’t look as though the Redskins will be able to afford both. (Garcon is making around $11 million this year, Jackson around $9 million). Garcon is more versatile, more reliable and a better locker room leader. Jackson brings something special with his elite speed. But commitment has always been a question with him. Jackson also has battled injury in each of the last two seasons, and lacks Garcon’s versatility.

As for Joe Barry, it’d be really good to see his unit put together some strong performances down the stretch as an indication it is headed in the right direction. But I it’s likely the defensive coordinator is going to get more time. Redskins officials know what he’s working with. Other than Josh Norman, Ryan Kerrigan, and maybe Chris Baker, there aren’t a lot of players who would start for other teams. Ziggy Hood and Cullen Jenkins are both on the downside of their careers. Will Compton is as smart as they come, but he doesn’t have elite speed. Mason Foster is in the same category. Preston Smith is way too inconsistent, as is Bashaud Breeland. Some of these young guys have promise. Su’a Cravens, Kendall Fuller and Quinton Dunbar have some promise, but they’re still young and need work. Given the lack of talent, Barry should stick around, and I think the team will devote a lot of resources – both in free agency and the draft – to upgrading this unit and then seeing what he can do.

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There have been several questions in the past couple weeks concerning position changes. One I am glad did not take place was Trent Murphy. Even when not getting the sack he has been extremely disruptive. My question: What about Preston Smith? When I watch him he reminds me of a spider … all arms and legs. Smith gaining 25 pounds looks very doable and would certainly add youth to the DL. What are your thoughts?

– Bowen Carpenter

Smith could play inside from time to time. But I think the talent evaluators and coaches believe that he’s best suited to the edge. This is not the season he or his coaches and officials expected. Everyone seems kind of miffed at his lack of production: four sacks, 31 tackles, one interception. Everyone had hoped that after last year’s eight-sack rookie campaign, Smith would hit double-digits and establish himself as one of the better pass-rushers in the league. I’ll be real interested to see what Year 3 looks like for Smith. I don’t know that it’s smart for the Redskins to count on him being the only answer. I’d look to add another edge rusher to the mix with Kerrigan, Smith and Murphy.

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Rookie Su’a Cravens now on his second injury. The Skins released David Bruton, and Duke Ihenacho is marginal and a free agent. Is Cravens potentially going to move to safety in 2017? Side note: Has Junior Galette been seen around the building?

– Ryan Chase

Yes, this elbow strain is the second injury of the season for Cravens. The first was the concussion that kept him out for two games. Cravens is fearless and brings passion and energy. He doesn’t back down from the challenge of taking on a 6-foot-4, 320-pound guard although he is only 6-1, 218 pounds himself. But long-term, he’s best suited as a strong safety. I think Redskins coaches agree. They say they wanted to have him learn the defense from the inside-out and are leaning toward moving him back to safety next season. He definitely has the athleticism, versatility and range to play that position.

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I have not seen Galette during the media’s 45-minute access, although he still has a locker. I’ve seen other rehabbing players in the parking lot here and there. They get their treatment in the mornings and then leave. It’s possible Galette is doing that and just leaves before we arrive. I know he had hoped to make a late-season return, thinking he could be one of those injured reserve-designated to return players. But he was always on the non-football injury/exempt list because he got hurt outside of practice or training camp. The rules prevent a team from bringing such a player back at any point in the season.

What should we expect to see out of rookie Kendall Fuller the rest of this season? Do the Redskins still see Fuller and Josh Doctson as key pieces?

– Rick Devens

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That’s a good question. Barry and Perry Fewell continue to experiment with their defensive back parings. After continued struggles by Fuller, they sat him down and went with Quinton Dunbar as the third cornerback, using him on the outside and sliding Bashaud Breeland inside to cover slot receivers. That plan didn’t yield a lot of success either. I liked the plan the week before, when Breeland and Josh Norman took turns in the slot, and Fuller slid to the outside. It looked like he was more comfortable on the outside, and more confident. But he’s still a young guy, and a work in progress. They definitely see him as a piece of their future. The Redskins also see Josh Doctson as a key piece moving forward. They just spent a first-round pick on him, and a third-round pick on Fuller. They’re not ready to give up on either. They think Doctson will be healthy and ready to take part in offseason practices, and they believe Fuller will only get better with time and experience.

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What are some scenarios that will help us to understand how much salary cap is available for our defense next year?

– Joe Bisagna, NYC

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