5 NFL players who will benefit greatly from their new head coach

It’s debatable how good the Washington Redskins can be under Ron Rivera right away. For the first time in decades, it feels like the Washington professional football franchise won’t be a hopeless grease fire. The former Carolina Panthers head coach will get this thing right in the nation’s capital, but it’s not going to be an overnight transformation.

While the offense hinges almost entirely on what second-year pro Dwayne Haskins brings to the table, we should expect the Washington defense to be among the best in football, especially when it comes to getting after the quarterback. Though No. 2 overall pick Chase Young will get most of the publicity this offseason, overlooking Montez Sweat in 2020 would be so beyond foolish.

Sweat is a former first-round pick out of Mississippi State. The former Michigan State transfer shined during his final two years in Starkville. By playing for a defensive-minded coach who preaches high character and discipline, look for Sweat to tap into his serious Pro Bowl potential in year two. Barring injury, he should have double-digit sacks in his sophomore season in the league.

What makes Rivera’s hiring so positively impactful is that it will give the long-lost Redskins an identity. They will get after the opposing quarterback relentlessly. Whether it is Young, Sweat, Jonathan Allen or Ryan Kerrigan, the Redskins’ pass rush will be a nightmare for the opposition. 2020 has Sweat’s breakout season written all over it.