The Washington Redskins finalized their 2014 NFL Draft Class on Saturday, selecting eight players after entering the draft with only six picks.
Chart via Redskins PR:
ROUND (PICK) PLAYER
2 (47)
3 (66) 1
3 (78) 1
4 (102)
5 (142)
6 (186) 2
7 (217)
7 (228) 2 K Zach Hocker
1 From Dallas
2 From Tennessee
The Safest Pick:
When the Washington Redskins moved back from 34 overall in a trade with Dallas, they decided to pass on a rush LB with more upside than Trent Murphy. Instead, Washington allowed the Cowboys to select Boise State DE/OLB DeMarcus Lawrence. Washington planned to select Trent Murphy on Friday. At 47 overall, I just believe it was a tad rich for him. However, Murphy is probably Washington’s safest pick because you know exactly what you’re getting from him. He’s an ornery player whose motor never stops. He’s a technician — tends to use his hands very well. He has nice short-area quickness. Murphy isn’t explosive, but he will overachieve when it comes to rushing the QB. He can play inside as a down lineman and outside as a stand-up rush LB.
The issue with Murphy, is more so a projection. Many believe that Murphy was selected to be the eventual replacement for Brian Orakpo. It remains unclear if the Washington Redskins want to sign Orakpo long-term. However, I’m not sure if Murphy is capable of consistently winning against NFL left tackles. Either way, you can never have enough pass rushers and Washington’s nickel package looks a lot more promising with the addition of Murphy.
The Best Pick:
Washington selecting Clemson CB Bashaud Breeland in round four was excellent value. The Eagles selected Florida CB Jaylen Watkins, a guy I think the Redskins wanted, right before Washington’s pick. But I had both Breeland and Watkins closely ranked. Many people felt like Breeland could have easily been a second round pick. “I think the coaches we talked with today felt like he’d be late first, second round pick,” said HC Jay Gruden post-draft. “I heard today [Saturday]… I think [analyst] Mike Mayock said he was projected first rounder if he stayed another year. We are very excited about that pick up, not only for special teams but we feel like he’s a technician at corner. We knocked him down to our rounds because he probably didn’t run the greatest 40 time at combine, but he’s a heck of a football player and I like guys that are physical tackling machines and that’s what he is.”
Breeland isn’t the fastest corner in the world. But where he wins is with technique. I always say that technique wins at the cornerback position. It’s what helped Redskins’ CB DeAngelo Hall step-up his game in recent years. Hall is able to play against guys much bigger guys than him like Calvin Johnson and Dez Bryant. He’s done a nice job against receivers like that because he’s become more of a technician. Breeland could easily end up being Washington’s best corner in a year or two. Adding him with a guy in David Amerson who has major upside as well is excellent value for Washington. Breeland can step right in and compete from day one. He’s capable of playing the slot, so he could be on the field early in nickel packages. Not to mention, he also has enough talent and range to play safety.
The Best Value:
Washington selecting Morgan Moses in round three could easily be categorized as a steal. But he’s a guy who I felt, talent-wise, was more of a early to late second round pick. The guy who ended up being too valuable for Washington to pass-up is Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk. With the running back position getting devalued in recent years, good backs are beginning to fall in drafts. Seastrunk easily could have been a fourth or fifth round pick. Instead, Washington was able to net him in a trade back with Tennessee round six.
“Obviously, Lache Seastrunk is an interesting guy because of his speed,” said Jay Gruden. “He was sitting there later on in the draft, I think he was in the sixth round, and we had him ranked a little bit higher than that and obviously [quarterback] Robert [Griffin III] knows him very well, and so we know a little bit about him. So he’s an interesting guy, I want to see him compete. The only weird thing about him is he didn’t catch any balls at Baylor, but they just don’t throw to their backs. We feel like he can catch the ball good enough.”
Seastrunk is an extremely explosive player. He runs like he’s skating on ice with rocket jets. For the first time in a very long time, Washington could potentially have a homerun threat at the running back position. What Seastrunk has to work on, and it’s not his fault, is his ability on passing downs. His hands aren’t a weakness. They’re more so a question mark because Baylor HC Art Briles doesn’t showcase RBs and TEs much on passing downs. However, people forget that Seastrunk was originally an Oregon recruit. Chip Kelly liked the guy — and Chip doesn’t recruit running backs that can’t catch. So I think that aspect of his game, while unknown, is vastly overstated. He showed natural hand catching ability in the pre-draft process.
What Seastrunk needs to work on is pass blocking. You have to pass block in the NFL, especially as a third down back, to get playtime. A concern I’d also have with Seastrunk is his vision. At Baylor, he ran inside and outside zone – power gap plays. With the threat of Baylor’s spread attack, holes were seemingly always open. Huge holes. Seastrunk was able to fly through the holes for big plays. But make no mistake, Seastrunk is capable of making plays on his own. That’s just the raw aspect of his game.
Under The Radar Pick:
Spencer Long could be a sneaky solid pick for the Redskins. He’s another player with some nasty and is a big guy who doesn’t get harassed. Long is coming off major knee surgery and may not be a guy who helps right away next season. However, he could contribute by mid-season. Either way, if he’s able to stay healthy and develop, he could be a starter by 2015. If that happens, we’re talking about a decent pick here by the Redskins. I still believe it was a bit of a reach for Washington to select him in the third round. But he’s a solid prospect that could contribute at some point.
The Most Questionable Selection:
Ryan Grant is a pick I still can’t grasp. It was no surprise that Washington would select a receiver. But I think most figured the Redskins would take a bigger target with mostly sub-6 footers already on the roster. Instead, Washington decided to add another sub-6 footer in Grant.
Now, Grant isn’t a horrible player. He runs decent routes and is a very strong hands catcher. However, he isn’t explosive and doesn’t offer you size. To me, he’s a poor-man’s Andre Roberts… and Washington already has Andre Roberts. At that point in the 5th round with players such as Robert Herron and Michael Campanaro on the board — I just don’t get the pick. Maybe he eventually becomes Wes Welker. But I doubt that very strongly. He’s just a guy (JAG), in my opinion.
I do like the fact Washington added a big target in Undrafted Free Agency. BYU WR Cody Hoffman is a big 6ft 4 target who catches contested balls. He’s not explosive and doesn’t create much separation. But he knows how to use his body and catch the football. He reminds me the Saints’ big WR Marques Colston.
The Rest:
Yes, the Washington Redskins drafted a kicker in the 7th round. From my understanding, Zach Hocker was a highly sought after kicker. A scout told me that if Washington didn’t select him in the 7th round, another team would have taken him. I believe that was made obvious the very next pick when Detroit selected a kicker. Hocker is said to be money from beyond 50 yards. He’s also good with kickoffs. For the first time, I believe K Kai Forbath has legit competition. Forbath has been solid, but he’s also a liability on kickoffs. The Redskins should not allow the amount of kickoff returns they’ve had the past few years. If Hocker proves to be a good kicker and better with kickoffs, that’s a good problem to have for the Redskins.
Washington also drafted Ted Bosler, a tight end from Indiana. He has some experience playing in-line and off-line tight end. He’s not a great blocker and he’s not necessarily athletic. He also has short arms and small hands. I wouldn’t expect much from him.
In all, the Washington Redskins didn’t have a flashy draft. They were able to spread their selections out evenly — didn’t draft the same position twice. I think they added some depth and have some potential starters out of this class. I’d expect Morgan Moses to start at Right Tackle day one. I think Breeland is a guy who can play in nickel packages early. Lache Seastrunk is a guy I definitely expect to get a few touches a game early on because of his home-run capability. Then of course, Trent Murphy will also be a guy who will be asked to step in with some nickel rushes. He will add to a group of pass rushes that need to create more havoc in 2014.
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