Redskins rank bottom five in preseason power rankings

Expectations entering 2019 couldn’t be much lower for the Washington Redskins.

ESPN and NFL.com both came out with their preseason power rankings Tuesday, and both sites listed the Redskins in the bottom five.

Washington checked in at No. 29 in the league on ESPN’s list, ahead of only the NFC East rival Giants (No. 31), the Cardinals at No. 30 and the Dolphins in last place. ESPN’s entry focused on coach Jay Gruden being on the hot seat, having a record of 35-44-1 and just one playoff appearance in his first five seasons on the job.

In Dan Hanzus’ rankings on NFL.com, Washington was No. 28 — actually behind the Giants, but ahead of the Buccaneers and Bengals as well as Arizona and Miami.

Hanzus discussed the Redskins’ likely approach with rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins: “Jay Gruden does not have the luxury of going through the peaks and valleys of a rookie quarterback’s first journey through the NFL. Gruden has to win games — and [Case] Keenum probably gives the Redskins a better shot at doing that right now.

“Gruden must walk a fine line. (Or is it a plank?),” he wrote.

There’s a growing consensus that Washington is doomed to be among the NFL’s worst this year. Bleacher Report’s latest power rankings also pegged the Redskins at No. 29, and CBS Sports predicted the team will be among the eight worst in the league, “jostling for top draft position.”