Job security will be a topic for much of this season. If the Washington Redskins don’t win, then you’ll start to hear all sorts of rumors and questions about, well, everyone. Which leads us to this week’s mailbag.

Hi John. Is this the year that Dan's patience with Bruce will finally run out if the 'Skins don't make the postseason? Also, what do you think Dan's view of Jay would be under the same circumstances? Thanks in advance. #jkmailbag

— Cockney White (@cockney_white) April 6, 2018

John Keim: Here’s what I know, having covered Dan Snyder’s entire regime: He doesn’t like prolonged losing or an angry (or, even worse, apathetic) fan base. I don’t buy that team president Bruce Allen is in this job for life; Vinny Cerrato wasn’t and he was a favorite of Snyder’s parents. My understanding is that Allen and coach Jay Gruden are well aware of the situation -- a third season out of the playoffs is bad for job security. Real bad. Keep in mind that Gruden is entering his fifth year -- no other coach has lasted more than four since Snyder took over in 1999.

Cerrato was fired late in the 2009 season after 10 years. But after two years of Jim Zorn and with fans staying away and posting signs at the stadium, Snyder responded with a move many said he’d never make. Snyder also had his replacements ready in Allen and Mike Shanahan.

Allen is entering his ninth year in Washington with a 52-75-1 record. He’s highly involved in trying to get a stadium built. My understanding is that Snyder has been pleased with getting quarterback Alex Smith. The Kirk Cousins situation over the past year or so did not help matters, though. Also, the Redskins have an owner who has been bold at times; they are not operating that way in free agency anymore.

Still, for what it’s worth, Snyder was in London the week before Easter and returned in a good mood (he was there visiting soccer teams to see their recovery centers; the Redskins are building one). Who knows. I do know the Redskins had better win. If not, that will lead to more negativity surrounding the franchise. And then, yes, I could see Snyder doing something after the season. That's not a guarantee because I haven't heard it from someone directly in the know or from multiple people close to the situation. But Snyder applies pressure and the Redskins haven't won enough. So anything that happens if they don't once again shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

It looks like there is a decent chance that the best player available at 13 will be a CB or Safety. If that's the route they go do you think they'd have concerns that they'd only have one other high draft pick (in day 2) to address major holes at LG, RB, DT? #jkmailbag

— skins (@skinsuniverse8) April 6, 2018

Keim: Others asked about trading back in the first round so I can answer that topic with this question too. They should trade only if they have multiple guys they like -- definitely sounds as if that’s the case. The hard part always will be finding a trade partner; they need someone to fall that is worth trading up several spots or more (like a quarterback). If that happens, then the Redskins could recoup an extra pick.

Keep in mind that they will get several compensatory picks next year. We won’t know until next offseason how many or in what round, but considering they’ve lost a number of free agents and signed only one unrestricted free agent -- receiver Paul Richardson; the others had been cut so they don’t count against the formula -- they know they’ll be in line for multiple picks.

That means they have flexibility to trade future picks if they want in order to perhaps gain an extra pick or to move up in the second. That would help solve your concern.

But in your scenario, they don’t trade back (I do think they’d be happy if either Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James were there). So what happens then? It’s hard to fill every need in the draft, but there will be players cut afterwards. There are veterans available now who would be candidates to sign after the draft. I know Shawn Lauvao remains an option (yes, I know he struggles to stay healthy); I’ve heard good things about what Arie Kouandjio is doing this offseason. Will that make a difference? Stay tuned.

Signing defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins would help. However, he wants an expensive multi-year deal and the Redskins don’t seem inclined to offer more than a year. Not sure of their offer other than the length. But signing him would enable them to feel better about the line. He’s a good player but I think one reason his price tag hasn’t been met is that he’s viewed more as a two-down player.

Point is, there are other ways to help themselves if your scenario plays out.

BPA is often used
What is the variance? for example
if at #13 & (#8 & #16) are available BUT #16 fits more today need? #jkmailbag

— troy lewis (@troylew29281611) April 6, 2018

Keim: Love this question. The short answer is: Take No. 8 every time. The more good players you have on the roster, the better a team you will become. You become worse when you consistently take lower-rated players just to fill a need. Soon, you’re out of a job, too.

Now, here’s the thing: It’s not as if there’s one board with all the names and they just cross them out when selected. Players are broken into position groups and grades are assigned. Multiple players at different spots could have the same grade. So you could have, say, a running back and a defensive tackle as their highest-rated guys when picking at 44. Then it comes down to: Which spot is a greater area of need? If you want both positions, which one has the most depth and could be filled later in the draft? But you should never force a pick (easy to say; hard for some to adhere to because it happens all the time). Keep in mind, too, that players won’t be rated the same by every team. A lot is based on scheme fit or if they match what the coaches are looking for (teams also get in trouble when the coaches and scouts want different things).