Redskins wish they had Derek Carrier sooner

After the Redskins lost tight ends Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen following the first week of the exhibition season, general manager Scot McCloughan found himself another project to set himself on. 

The club brought in Derek Carrier from the 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2017 Draft, and after only two days of living in Virginia, was promoted to the No. 2 spot on the roster after starter Jordan Reed.

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden thought the Niners could share some of the wealth at the position they had this summer.

"Well, they were loaded at tight end in San Fran," he said. "We watched him on tape and he's very good."

In 11 games last season, Carrier played 194 snaps behind starters Vernon Davis and Vance MacDonald, collecting nine receptions on 105 yards, adding three tackles on special teams.

"He's a converted wide receiver and a basketball player," Gruden added. "He's put on some weight. He looks like he competes in the running game, which is excellent, and he's obviously very athletic."

With Paul and Paulsen lost for the season, the Redskins find themselves in a deficit in the pass and rush blocking demands of the end position. Jordan Reed, a talented receiver, is still lacking as a blocker. Carrier believes he can add to that needed skill right away.

"Being a former receiver and playing receiver when I first got in the NFL, I think that's a strong suit of mine," Carrier told Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Washington. "But I'm not overlooking blocking at all, and protection, because that's just as important, if not more important, and that's something I take pride in."

The sudden lack of depth will likely plunge Carrier into a prominent role when Washington takes their act to Baltimore on Aug. 29 for their third exhibition game. Head coach Jay Gruden's only regret is that he didn't find him sooner.

"I think he's a good, young prospect to work with. I wish we would have had him a little earlier, but we'll get him going. We still have a couple of weeks left to get him going and see if he'll be ready for Miami," Gruden said in reference to the Redskins' regular season opener.

"We're excited about the prospect of him coming in and competing right away."

At this point, neither he nor the Redskins have much of a choice.