ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Quinton Dunbar #23 of the Washington Redskins celebrates a incomplete pass by the Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter at New Era Field on November 3, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Washington 24-9. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

For the Redskins, the No. 2 overall pick is about value

For the Redskins, the No. 2 overall pick is about value by Tim Meek

It appears as though the Redskins need at cornerback might be more dire than originally anticipated.

Cornerback was always going to be a need for the Washington Redskins in the 2020 offseason; the slot cornerback spot was unfilled heading into the offseason, and former third-round pick Fabian Moreau hasn’t developed as one would have hoped, up to this point.

The lone point of solace, amidst all this uncertainty, came from Quinton Dunbar, a former undrafted free agent who morphed into one of the better coverage cornerbacks in the league in 2019, amassing four interceptions and eight pass deflections in 11 games.

Dunbar graded out as one of the most productive cornerbacks in the NFL in 2019, and heading into 2020, he was viewed as a key piece of a growing defense. That said, there was initially uncertainty surrounding his contract situation, as 2020 was set to be the last year of his current deal.

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At first, that precarious contract situation wasn’t expected to impact Dunbar’s standing with the team. But now, things have changed. Per ESPN’s John Keim, Dunbar has requested to be traded or released by the team. Keim stated that Dunbar had been in extension talks with the previous Redskins regime, but contact fell through after the organization’s overhaul, leaving Dunbar without long-term security.

It seems as though the team and Dunbar are past reaching a deal, and Dunbar’s plea to continue his career elsewhere comes at an inopportune time for Washington. Free agency has yet to play out, and teams may be more eager to give up cash for players on the market, than draft capital for a soon-to-be 28-year old cornerback on the last year of his deal.

It’s hard to say what the Redskins could get from Dunbar; he had a great 2019 season, but he’s fairly new to that echelon of players, and teams could be skeptical of his ability to sustain that level of play, as well as his long-term viability.

For now, Ron Rivera and the Redskins simply have another choice to make, on top of the many they’ve already been dealt. They should be able to get something for Dunbar in a trade, but Dunbar clearly expects a better chance at a long-term contract elsewhere.