The Redskins have agreed to sign safety D.J. Swearinger, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. It’s a three-year deal worth $4.5MM annually, and Swearinger will collect $6MM in 2017, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Swearinger, a former second-round pick who bounced around before finding a home in Arizona, started 12 games in 2016 and posted 64 tackles, three interceptions, eight passes defensed, and two sacks. Among free agent safeties, Swearinger ranks seventh in PFR’s estimation, just behind Micah Hyde and ahead of Jahleel Addae.
In Washington, Swearinger will join an interesting safety group that already includes Su’a Cravens, Will Blackmon, and DeAngelo Hall. Hall could be released in the coming days, while there’s been some chatter that second-year defensive back Kendall Fuller may also move to safety. The Redskins have been active with defensive signings today, as they’ve also brought in linemen Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee.
For the Cardinals, Swearinger is just the latest key defensive piece to defect, joining Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson.