Note: Stacy McGee will begin the season on the PUP list.

Final Cuts: Ondre Pipkins (waived), JoJo Wicker (waived), Dante Sawyer (waived), Phil Taylor Sr. (released)

By the second preseason game, when the Redskins faced the Jets, it was clear that the defensive line had made major improvements with the addition of first-round pick Daron Payne.

Lined up together with Jonathan Allen, the two made an impact right away, as Payne used Allen's help to sack quarterback Sam Darnold on the first defensive series of the game. With the return of Ioannidis to the group, the progress of Anthony Lanier II in his third year, veteran leadership from Ziggy Hood and a promising rookie in Tim Settle, the Redskins have a lot of confidence in their front line.

"When you have talent and you have strength and you're also tenacious, it's a heck of a combination," Gruden said. "We feel really great about with those two guys and really when you throw Matt [Ioannidis] in there, he's the same way. [It's] the same with Ziggy Hood and the rest of the guys have also kind of picked up that mentality in Coach [Jim] Tomsula's room. We feel really good about where they're at."

That's not to say shaving down the group was easy. The biggest question mark was whether to keep Phil Taylor Sr., who was in line to make the 53-man roster last year until a groin injury wiped out his season. After rehabbing again in the offseason, Taylor made a significant push to be part of the rotation.