2018 NFL trade deadline: How each new acquisition will help their new team

Redskins acquire safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

The Green Bay Packers’ decision to trade former first-round safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was not one that was on the radar of many folks prior to the announcement. The Washington Redskins were able to land him for just a 2019 fourth-round pick.

The move left many stunned that the Packers would move Clinton-Dix despite being just one game behind in the NFC North, and after Clinton-Dix had played been playing better than his subpar 2017 level.

For Washington, the chance to upgrade their mediocre secondary was an easy one. The NFC East is wide open, and the lack of cornerbacks on the market made it impossible to chase an instant starter. But Clinton-Dix will give them a more dynamic three safety set along with D.J. Swearinger and Montae Nicholson.

Clinton-Dix has some range but is at his best as a two-high safety. He covers underneath routes especially well due to his quickness. He and Nicholson are a much cleaner coverage fit for the Redskins as they try to give over-the-top protection to their corners.

Most important for Washington this season is his potential impact with turnovers. He’s had at least three interceptions in each of the last three years. His run defense has waned in recent years as his tackling is suspect, but the upside of the unit was raised for a mere Day 3 pick.

The Redskins will enter 2019 with sparse cap space. They can easily cut several expensive veterans without losing much impact, or re-arrange money if they want to keep Clinton-Dix. But if he departs, they could easily recoup the pick they gave up in 2020.

For the 3-3-1 Packers, this is a move that highlights their plans to be aggressive in free agency again. They lack a clear replacement in-house for this year, and their losses at the position over the last few years have been significant. Micah Hyde, Morgan Burnett, Damarious Randall and now Clinton-Dix have been jettisoned over three years.

It’s hard to spin that as a positive for the Packers as a whole.

As for this move, re-signing Clinton-Dix wasn’t a priority, and they guaranteed a return for him now. One big signing this free agency would’ve wiped any compensatory picks away quickly had he left. They may be hoping it’s addition by subtraction, but it’s asking a lot for a backup safety to be even average.