McCloughan and Coach Jay Gruden say they feel good about their defensive line despite the fact that they didn’t add the early-round prospects they initially expected to. Both say they do still have a collection of good players for defensive coordinator Joe Barry to work with as he looks to improve that front.

But a fair amount of questions loom over just about every member of the defensive line. A lot of players will have to step up this season if the Redskins are to improve in this department.

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Here’s a rundown of the players that will vie for key roles during spring practices and training cap:

DE Chris Baker: Coming off of a career year, Baker has the fewest questions surrounding him. He has played both end and nose tackle in his career, but he’s not going to make the move to nose full-time even though the team lacks a clear option. Coaches and Baker both agree that he’s best suited as an end, and the team hopes that he can produce another season like last year, when he recorded six sacks. The biggest question involves whether the Redskins will give him an extension before he kicks off the final year of his contract or if they’ll let him play out the deal and then revisit the situation next offseason.

NT/DE Matt Ioannidis: As mentioned, the plan is to develop him as a nose guard. He’s currently built more like a 3-4 end, but coaches believe he can bulk up and make the transition. Ioannidis did play some nose at Temple, so it’s not foreign to him. Is he starter ready? That’s the big question. He’ll begin working at the nose from Day 1 of rookie minicamp, and then Barry and his staff will see how things go from there.

DE Ricky Jean Francois: A rotational player for much of last season, Jean Francois took on a larger role down the stretch of the season with Stephen Paea injured and Jason Hatcher hobbled. He was one of the better run-stoppers along the line and also can get after the quarterback. The right defensive end starting job is up for grabs. Is Jean Francois the answer? He started only one game last season, so it’s hard to say how coaches view the eighth-year veteran.

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DE/NT Kedric Golston: Back for his 11th NFL season, Golston could help in the nose tackle department. He served as a backup there, and at end last season. The longest-tenured member of the team, Golston has seen it all and has great knowledge. But, he also is getting up in age. Can he be the impactful nose tackle the unit needs? Or, is he more of a space-holder until Ioannidis gets coached up?

DE Stephen Paea: Signed from Chicago as a free agent as he came off of a six-sack season in 2014, Paea didn’t live up to expectations in 2015. Injury limited him to just 11 games, and before that, he lost his starting job to Baker after just one game. The Redskins badly need him to regain his 2014 form. If able to do so, he could contend for that right end spot. Also, he could slide inside on those four-man fronts and provide a disruptive force. Paea is still young (just 27) and should have more good football left in him.

DE Kendall Reyes: One of the few free agent additions for Washington, Reyes joins the mix after four seasons in San Diego. He had two strong seasons as he kicked off his NFL career with 5.5 and 5.0 sacks in 2012 and 2013. But he has managed only three combined sacks in the two seasons since. At 6-4, 300 pounds, he has good size, but coaches need to figure out how to help Reyes regain his impactful form. He also is a candidate to start at right end.

DE Trent Murphy: The 2014 second-round pick is making the switch from outside linebacker to end. That means packing on pounds and sliding inside to battle interior offensive linemen. Murphy did a good job of setting the edge and making stops against the run during his first two NFL seasons. However, he wasn’t the impactful pass-rusher that the Redskins hoped he would be. Now, they’ll see if he will fare better inside, where speed and a diverse repertoire of rushing moves aren’t as necessary. If Murphy can make an impact on the interior, it’s a good thing because the team will have found a way to avoid whiffing on another high draft pick.

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DE Ziggy Hood: An eighth-year veteran, Hood played in only two games last season. He had five productive seasons in Pittsburgh 2009-13 and modest production in Jacksonville in 2014. It’s hard to say if he has anything left in the tank. If he does, then he helps improve the depth as another veteran.

DE/DT Corey Crawford: A big boy at 6-5, 299 pounds, Crawford spent last season on Washington’s practice squad and will try to make the leap to the 53-man roster this year. The question is where? Can he play the nose? Is he an end? The team needs to get younger and more explosive, and Crawford is one of the few young prospects in the mix.