The NFL Draft is approaching and the Washington Redskins are set to officially enter year two of the Scot McCloughan era. The NFL draft is where quality General Managers should shine and McCloughan’s resume isn’t too shabby. He had an excellent draft last year, so the expectation level is high.
For the Redskins, it’s been almost a foregone conclusion that the team will select a defensive lineman round one. It’s a deep class among defensive lineman and the Redskins could sure use an explosive player upfront. However, I wouldn’t be so certain that the team will take one at 21 overall.
Here’s why:
- Chris Baker will start at one of the end spots. This is a contract year for him, so you’d expect big things from “Swaggy” again this season.
- Trent Murphy appears to be getting bigger and a move to D-End seems likely with Galette back and Preston Smith out-playing him at OLB. This is a move I felt should’ve happened a while back. However, it’s simply taken him a while to put on more weight. I think he’d make a very solid D-End. But this is his last chance to prove himself worthy of a roster spot.
- McCloughan’s prize free agent last year was Stephen Paea who ended up injured. Chris Baker was receiving most of the snaps over Paea anyway, but McCloughan brought him in for his pass rushing potential. In my opinion, with Hatcher on the other side, Paea didn’t get a fair shot. He ended up with 1.5 sacks last year and I saw him get pressure plenty of times. The issue is, he barely played and was hardly ever able to get into a rhythm. He can play end and three-tech, much like Baker. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of opportunity he receives.
- The Redskins’ biggest need on the defensive line is probably nose tackle. But why draft just a nose to play less than 30% of snaps a game in round one?
- While this draft is deep among defensive lineman, what the class lacks is pass rushing D-Linemen. There’s simply not a lot of them. Especially early. That’s part of the reason Chris Jones is ranked so high for me. He has the rare size and pass rushing potential that others in this class just don’t have.
- Scot McCloughan’s resume consists of 21 total first round picks (including his time as a scout w/GB). Of those 21 first round picks, only four were defensive linemen. Really, you could say three because Bruce Irvin was drafted as a Linebacker. He’s drafted more OL (7) and tends to place more value on skill positions (CB, WR, RB, TE).
So, while I think the Redskins could absolutely use an upgrade on the defensive line, I’m just not certain it happens round one. I hear that the Redskins would be interested in trading back if certain player(s) are not on the board. There’s several defensive linemen I like for the team, however, it would make more sense for them to move back and grab one. This draft is too deep at DL to reach for a talent that could be had later in the first or early in the second round.
Let’s go over some scenarios. Below is my big board (that is not completely set yet). But it’s how I have it right now. The big board is ranked based on realistically how high a guy could go and what I see on film. This is not skewed to a Washington Redskins fit.
Big (Small) Board:
- Jalen Ramsey, S, FSU
- Laremy Tunsil, T, Ole Miss
- Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
- Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, FLorida
- Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
- Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
- Jared Goff, QB, Cal
- Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
- Ronnie Stanley, T, Notre Dame
- Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
- DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
- Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
- William Jackson III, CB, Houston
- Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
- Chris Jones, DL, Miss. State
- Jack Conklin, T, Mich. State
- Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss
- Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
- Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama
- Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
- Shaq Lawson, EDGE, Clemson
- Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
- Karl Joseph, S, WVU
- Taylor Decker, T, Ohio State
- Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
- Kevin Dodd, DL, Clemson
- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
- Vernon Butler, DL, Louisiana Tech
- A’shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama
- Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
- Noah Spence, EDGE, Eastern Kentucky
- Austin Johnson, DL, Penn State
- Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida
- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
- Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
- Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
- Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor
- Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
- Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia
- Sterling Shepard, WR, OU
- Le’Raven Clark, T, Texas Tech
- Artie Burns, CB, Miami
- Willie Henry, DL, Michigan
- Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
- Charone Peake, WR, Clemson
- Shilique Calhoun, EDGE, Michigan State
- Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois
- Nick Martin, OG/C, Notre Dame
- Maliek Collins, DL, Nebraska
Draft Scenario #1:
Top players of possibility on the board (OTB): William Jackson III, Ryan Kelly, Nkemdiche, Karl Joseph, Kendall Fuller, Vernon Butler and ranks 30 – 51
Washington Redskins Select: Here’s a scenario in which you’d ideally want to trade back. In a trade back, you would still be able to get one of these players. If not, I think you just go BPA (Best Player Available) and grab Williams Jackson III.
Draft Scenario #2:
Top players of possibility OTB: Treadwell, Ryan Kelly, Joseph, Fuller, Butler, Ragland and ranks 30-51
Washington Redskins Select: To be able to grab what I think is a top-10 player in this draft in Treadwell at 21 overall is a no-brainer. He fits the McCloughan mold. He’s also young and just scratching the surface on his upside. Laquon Treadwell
Draft Scenario #3:
Top players of possibility OTB: Joseph, Fuller, Jarran Reed, Butler, A’shawn Robinson and ranks 30-51
Washington Redskins select: This is another solid scenario and one ideally you’d try to move back a few slots. However, if there’s no trade back you’d assess the players on the board. In my opinion, Karl Joseph is one of the top defensive backs in the draft and a safety you don’t see entering the draft every year. Redskins could use an upgrade at safety and he’d make an impact day one: Karl Joseph
As you can see, the Washington Redskins are sitting in a great spot in this particular draft. They could get an elite-talent here or there could be enough guys on the board that would warrant a trade back.
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