Entering the 2015 season, when a panel of eight CBSSports.com analysts were asked for their division predictions, none of them picked the Redskins to finish anywhere but last in the NFC East. Understandably so, one might think, as they were just coming off of a 4-12 season, and their former emerging star quarterback proved to be nothing of the sort. To go along with this, they sported the league’s third worst scoring defense, and had seemingly no talent on the rise. So yeah, experts – including myself – who picked Washington to finish in last should get some kind of pass, while the bar room instigators of the world – such as my buddy Rob Glashoff – should be considered nothing more than lucky for picking the Redskins as division champs prior to the preseason.

Back to the beginning of the 2015 season, and the Skins seemed to embrace their underdog expectations. With no pressure and an open quarterback battle, the afterthought of the RGIII headlined 2012 Draft – Kirk Cousins – saw and quickly seized the opportunity. He took over a suddenly explosive Redskins offense, compiling statistics that no one could have predicted. He finished as one of the top fantasy pickups of the season, featuring a top six finish in QBR, a top five finish in passer rating, top 12 in touchdowns, top 10 in yards, and No. 1 overall in completion percentage.

To go along with the Cousins emergence, came a shored up offensive line, and a vastly improved defense in terms of scoring, as they leapt up 12 spots in the total points allowed rankings. These improvements developed out of a carefully concentrated and conservative offseason by the front office, while the roster finally seemed to respond to new head coach Jay Gruden.

As the theory in sports goes, in order to take the next step, teams and players must evolve. Entering the 2016 offseason, the pedal was pushed a little closer to the floor, as the front office saw a clear vulnerability in the rest of the division. In hopes of striking while iron is hot so to speak, Redskins GM Scott McCloughan pivoted their typically reserved offseason approach and loosened the reigns a bit. Of course, it was headlined by the mega-contract handed out to All-Pro corner Josh Norman, but also by focusing on impact skill position players in the draft. Washington appeared to really be taking a shot at seizing control of this wide-open division.

Key Free Agent

Josh Norman (CB) – 5 year, $75,000,000

Love him or hate him, Josh Norman was statistically the best cornerback in the NFL last season and it wasn’t really close. To say he posted some historic numbers in consecutive weeks against elite receivers would be an understatement, as through the first 14 weeks of the season, he held DeAndre Hopkins, T.Y. Hilton, Mike Evans, Dez Bryant, and Julio Jones to a combined nine receptions for 89 yards.

His most (in)famous matchup of the season came against Odell Beckham Jr. in a hotly contested and controversial Week 15 affair. Through all of the baseball bats, homophobic slurs, and a combined five personal foul penalties between the two, Norman still held the hottest receiver in the league to just four catches for 30 yards, embarrassing Beckham and the Giants coaching staff. Many have gone on to argue that this very matchup is what got Giants coach Tom Coughlan fired.

A Pro Bowl trip, All-Pro honors, and a Super Bowl appearance later, Norman was on top of the football world, just in time for his first foray into free agency.

Playing on a defense in Carolina loaded with talent, they knew there was no way they were going to be able to pay the suddenly lockdown corner what he wanted. Enter the hungry Washington Redskins, who with a new attitude towards playoff football, understood what adding a player like Norman could do to their still middle of the road defensive unit. Sure, you may be thinking that shelling out the richest contract for a corner in NFL history may be a bit steep for a one year wonder, but in a division loaded with receiving talent such as Dez Bryant and the aforementioned Beckham, the Redskins are well aware of the kind of weapon Norman can be for them going forward.

Key Draft Selections

Josh Doctson (WR) – 1st Round

Participating in really only 10 games this past season, the All-American and Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist still managed to haul in 79 catches for 1,327 yards and fourteen touchdowns. As for his tape... In a few words, Doctson has the look of a tall, lanky X receiver, who has a real nose for the end zone. His frame may be slight, but at 6-foot-3 he rarely loses on 50-50 balls. His hands are sticky and strong, overcompensating for what he might lack physically. Doctson is a silky smooth route runner and surprisingly does some of his best work across the middle of the field despite his frail figure. With the ball in the air, very few receivers in this class can adjust their routes or body position in order to make a proper play on the ball the way that he does. Very good pick here for the Redskins and a nice guy to pair with their suddenly emerging offense. Captain Kirk will be most grateful.

Su’a Cravens (LB/S) – 2nd Round

Is he a linebacker? Is he a safety? From the look of his film, Cravens is undoubtedly a defensive weapon. His build screams safety, but his play indicates more of a hybrid linebacker. With the Skins, Cravens likely fits in as a wide side of the field nickel linebacker, while his base-set position is more likely to be at weakside.

A rabid tackler, an instinctive blitzer, and physical in man coverage, Cravens possesses one of the more unique skillsets in the entire 2016 draft class. He’s blessed with toughness, physical tools, and a high motor, making him an excellent fit for any NFL defense. With a slight learning curve early on, expect the first round talent and second round selection to eventually become one of the leaders on this developing Washington defense.

Kendall Fuller (CB) – 3rd Round

The fourth brother of his family to be drafted into the NFL, Kendall Fuller may actually be the most talented out of them all. While his brother Kyle of the Bears may have something to say about that, there is no doubt that the Redskins got themselves a steal in the third round here.

As explained, Fuller is a first round talent. His slide in the draft comes from injury complications in his junior season; otherwise he would have been one of the hottest names in the draft come the mid-to-late first round. On tape, Fuller shows technically sound technique and fluidity in his backpedal. His hips rotate nicely and he makes floating to the spot appear effortless. Through all of his textbook footwork and controlled hand-play, Fuller can display a flair for the spectacular when needed.

Likely transitioning best into an NFL defense with off-man and zone coverage responsibilities, Fuller should prove to be an excellent fit next to Josh Norman who excels in a similar area.

Keith Marshall (RB) – 7th Round

An interesting narrative has developed around Marshall since the beginning of the draft process, in that his lightning fast 4.31 40-time (fastest at the combine) might have done more harm for him than good in many respects. Well, let me back track, as a 4.31 will never hurt someone’s chances of getting drafted, but the number seemed to pigeonhole his potential role at the next level. People now saw a return specialist and an around the edges scat-back, while Marshall has the potential to be much more than that in the NFL.

Ultimately what happened to Marshall in his collegiate years at Georgia were injuries. In his freshman season, he maintained a legitimate carry split with now NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley, and produced 759 yards and eight touchdowns on a whopping 6.5 yards per carry. Once he went down with the torn ACL, however, the rest is history, as Gurley proved to be a back that the Bulldogs simply couldn’t take off the field. After Gurley left, Marshall unfortunately ended up stuck behind yet another elite level running back in Nick Chubb.

Based off of unfortunate circumstance, including injury and top-tier NFL caliber backs ahead of him on the Georgia depth chart, 31 other NFL franchises missed out on a chance to take a game-breaking talent.

While the Redskins will undoubtedly use him on special teams, Marshall – at 5-foot-11, 220 lbs. – has the potential to factor into the offense now that he’s seemingly fully healthy.

Watch here, as Marshall proves himself with some legitimate moves between the tackles and then displays his Olympic level breakaway speed…

Division champs in 2015, owners of a draft loaded with instant impact players and champions of the Josh Norman sweepstakes this offseason – somehow the Redskins still appear to be underrated not only by NFL ranks, but amongst even their own division. While everyone will undoubtedly be asleep at the wheel once again when making their preseason predictions, I will not be a repeat offender. I will not underestimate the Washington Redskins. With the NFC East once again wide open, the Skins more than deserve to not only be in the conversation, but the conversation starters.