The final week of mock drafts!
We’re only 5 days away from the draft, and lying season is in full effect. We still have no idea what the Arizona Cardinals are going to end up doing with the 1st overall pick. Draft Kyler Murray and trade Josh Rosen, trade down for a huge draft haul, or pick someone else all together. That will have a ripple affect on the rest of the draft, and what the Redskins decide to do this year.
Missouri QB Drew Lock, Duke QB Daniel Jones, and Ohio State Dwayne Haskins are still popular options for the Redskins if they don’t trade for Rosen. But there is a new favorite in the mix for their first overall pick. WR D.K. Metcalf is the overwhelming non-QB favorite this week for various reasons. A lot of people are giving projected new QB Josh Rosen a big target. Most people just recognize that the Redskins WR corps is...not good.
The other positions that keep getting drafted are inside and outside linebacker. Getting an edge rusher in the 1st round this year is a pretty popular option among Redskins fans, and there is a lot of talent at the top this year. The Redskins have more options than ever in this week’s roundup with 4 OLBs being mocked to Washington. Devin Bush is the lone ILB this week.
Should the Redskins still draft a QB in the 1st round? Is trading for Josh Rosen the best long-term answer this year? Which non-QB will help the Redskins most this year?
Quarterback
Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
The Case Keenum trade won’t take away quarterback as an option for Washington. Keenum is just a stop-gap player. As WalterFootball.com reported first, the Redskins were getting a third-round compensation pick, so they have extra ammo if they want to move up slightly to get a quarterback of the future. I believe that Drew Lock or Daniel Jones could be the target for Washington.
Jones completed 61 percent of his passes in 2018 for 2,674 yards with 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also missed two games with a collarbone injury. The 6-foot-5, 221-pounder has good size, pocket presence and a quality arm, plus is an intelligent signal-caller. Jones received excellent preparation for the NFL from head coach David Cutcliffe. As a 3-year starter, Jones enters the NFL having played in 36 games.
In 2017, Jones completed 56 percent of his passes for 2,439 yards with 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. As a freshman, he made 63 percent of his passes for 2,836 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Round 2: Riley Ridley, WR , Georgia
The Redskins could use more receiving threats for their offense.
Ridley totaled 44 catches for 570 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018. He is a nice wide receiver who was capable of producing a lot more, but the Bulldogs did not give him a lot of targets due to their running-based offense. Ridley (6-1, 199) is a quick, smooth wideout who can generate separation via agility and route-running. He also got good preparation for the NFL from Jim Chaney.
Round 3: Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
The Redskins could use a free safety to go with Landon Collins.
Thompson had a great start to 2018, and multiple team sources were raving about him, but he cooled down and disappointed in the back half of the season. He had an underwhelming game against Georgia and then turned in two very ugly performances against Oklahoma and Clemson in the college football playoffs. On the year, he totaled two interceptions, six passes broken up, three forced fumbles and 79 tackles. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has a good skill set, but he lacks instincts and after his hot start to 2018, he stopped making plays on the ball. Thompson was a backup to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison as a junior. Over limited playing time in 2017, Thompson had 25 tackles, a pass breakup and an interception.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR , Stanford
Arcega-Whiteside (6-2, 225) is a big target who has speed issues, but he has mismatch size and is very adept at winning 50-50 passes. On the year, the senior totaled 63 catches for 1,059 yards and 14 touchdowns. He recorded 48 receptions for 781 yards and nine touchdowns in 2017. One team source said they felt that Arcega-Whiteside was a poor-man’s Mike Evans.
If the Cardinals decide to trade Josh Rosen, the Redskins will be one of the favorites to acquire him. They traded for Case Keenum, but still need a young quarterback. Rosen would make a ton of sense. If they can’t get Rosen, they’ll have to select a quarterback with this pick.
Daniel Jones has positive arm strength and athleticism, and he could be a top-15 pick because of his upside. In fact, Charlie Campbell reported that three NFL general managers believd he’d be the first quarterback taken in the 2019 NFL Draft when polled during the Senior Bowl (obviously, second now in the wake of Murray’s surge.) Some are comparing him to Carson Wentz.
Round 2: Kelvin Harmon, WR, N.C. State
The top receivers the Redskins currently have on their roster are Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson and Trey Quinn. They obviously need to make addressing this position a priority.
Kelvin Harmon is a good route-runner who has made some clutch catches. He could be a No. 2 possession receiver in the pros.
Round 3: Connor McGovern, G/C, Penn State
The Redskins have one of the worst centers in the NFL, so that’s a position they’ll sorely need to upgrade. They also need help at guard, so why not draft a player who can play all three interior offensive line positions?
Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss
Jordan Reed has proven to be unreliable, so the Redskins will need to find a new tight end.
Is this too high for Jones? Maybe, but NFL teams seem to be higher on him than the media. He’ll give Washington a much-needed franchise quarterback who is as close as you’re going to get to Eli Manning in this draft class (he played for David Cutcliffe at Duke).
Round 2: Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
At 6-foot-5, Butler is a first-round talent with a huge catch radius who can use his size and speed to stretch the field for the Redskins, who drafted Daniel Jones in Round 1.
Round 3: Dru Samia, OL, Oklahoma
Samia played on one of the best offensive lines in the country last season, and he’ll upgrade the interior of the O-line in Washington.
D’Andre Walker, OLB, Georgia
Walker was 6-foot-2, 251 pounds at the combine but he probably played below that weight at Georgia last season. Still, great hand usage and strength allows him to win against bigger offensive linemen.
Round 5: Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington
Travis Fulgham, WR, Old Dominion
Round 6: Benny Snell, RB, Kentucky
Round 7: Kendall Sheffield, CB, Ohio State
Lukas Denis, S, Boston College
The Redskins are another team that appear to be in on Rosen. However, until that is done, they have kept interviewing college QB’s. Jones played with very little talent around him, but looked the part of a top tier NFL QB prospect in his bowl game and the Senior Bowl.
Round 2: Irv Smith, Jr., TE, Alabama
The Redskins could use a young TE to start to bring along in their offensive system, with assumingly their new QB.
Round 3: Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State
The Redskins have to find their QB and develop a WR core in this draft.
Michael Jordan, OG/C, Ohio State
Their QB is injured for a reason, they need help on their offensive line, particularly on the interior.
Their quarterback situation isn’t good right now, which is why Jones would be worth the pick for the long run. He could sit for a year.
Someone is taking Jones in the first round and it might be someone in the NFC East -- could even simply be a question as to whether or not the Russ trade actually happens. With the Giants out of the mix, maybe the Redskins play chicken. Or maybe they decide they need to help their job situation right now.
Quite frankly, I’m not as high on Jones as most. I do not have a first round grade on him due to his average arm strength. He clearly possesses the size, mobility and I.Q. to be successful, however, and is a clean schematic fit in Jay Gruden’s offense. With Alex Smith ailing, the Redskins are as desperate for QB help as anyone.
Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
The Redskins trade up to snatch Haskins before the Giants (or any other team) can beat them to the punch. The Redskins get the No. 5 pick from Tampa, but it costs them Nos. 15, 46 and a 2020 third-round pick.
See, I told you I’d be surprised if Haskins fell too far. Alex Smith’s gruesome leg injury will likely make a QB a necessity here, unless they trust Case Keenum as a placeholder. Haskins is a classic drop-back passer with a strong arm and the ability to throw receivers open. Top needs: QB, WR, C, CB, Edge
Washington has been linked to Josh Rosen, but they can’t pass on Haskins if he’s here. Lack of mobility has been a knock on him, but Haskins is a big, strong-armed pocket passer who has impressed teams with his excellent recall and advanced knowledge of play designs.
The reported Haskins slide may make this a reality. Case Keenum isn’t taking this roster to the promised land anytime soon and Alex Smith may never even play again at this point.
There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty at quarterback following Alex Smith’s gruesome and quite possibly career-ending leg injury. Bringing in a long-term solution should be Washington’s top priority, but they may be content to move forward with Case Keenum and Colt McCoy for the time being. Which some would argue is merely delaying the inevitable and the NFL equivalent of spinning your wheels. Perhaps a top passer falling into their laps on Draft Day will alter that plan.
In a matter of a few months Haskins went from making his first college start for the Buckeyes to being projected as a Top 10 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Talk about a meteoric rise! Haskins, a redshirt sophomore, is understandably raw as a one-year starter, although that didn’t hinder Mitchell Trubisky on Draft Day. Otherwise Haskins checks a lot of boxes, including size, a strong arm with a quick, efficient delivery, good accuracy and solid decision making.
Team Needs: QB | WR | CB
Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
Washington lands perhaps the best raw arm talent of the draft. Jay Gruden has downplayed picking someone who can’t help D.C. right away, but he also said at the NFL owners meetings that Lock ‘could come compete right now.’ Washington sends No. 15, No. 76 and a 2020 third-rounder to Buffalo to move up.
Alex Smith’s future is in serious doubt, and a quarterback competition between Case Keenum and Colt McCoy shouldn’t give Washington fans any excitement whatsoever. They’ll likely have to move up if they want to secure one of this year’s top passers, but if a prospect like Lock fell into their lap here, he’d be an easy choice.
Alex Smith suffered a gruesome fractured leg last season, throwing the Washington Redskins‘ season completely out of whack. Smith’s injury was apparently career threatening and he is expected to miss at least the entire 2019 season. Simply put, the Redskins need to figure out their quarterback situation for both the short-term and the long-term and they have an opportunity to take a step in the right direction with the 15th overall pick of this 2019 NFL mock draft.
Drew Lock is the kind of quarterback prospect who NFL teams typically love. He has ideal size for the position, moves well in the pocket and of course, has fantastic natural arm strength. Lock has a big-time arm and he uses it well to make every throw on the football field.
While Lock’s raw talent is impressive, he does struggle in some areas of the game. He struggles with accuracy at all levels, sailing passes over receivers many times. He also struggles at putting touch on his passes, trying to fire it in there with velocity instead putting the proper touch on his ball.
Lock undoubtedly has big-time talent, but he is going to have to clean up his game in order to have success at the next level. He undoubtedly needs at least one year of development in order to adapt to the NFL and clean up the issues in his game.
Make no mistake about it, the Redskins need help at quarterback and Lock can be their guy for the long-term. However, he is an extremely raw player who they will have to take their time with. Landing him at number 15 could end up being a major steal or a massive bust. Will they be willing to swing for the fences?
If Lock or Haskins fall to this point, it could be difficult for Washington not to take one of them. The possibility remains, however, that the Redskins could draft a position player here and trade their second-round pick to the Cardinals for Rosen.
TRADE to #13 – Washington needs a quarterback, and with an extra third-round pick it can go up two spots to secure the one it likes.
Round 2: Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Wide Receiver
D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
If Washington does not grab one of the top quarterbacks in the first round, it should bolster the receiving corps with Metcalf.
Round 2: Ryan Finley, QB, N.C. State
Washington is in quarterback purgatory right now, with the future of Alex Smith unclear and the acquisition of Case Keenum only a band-aid solution. Finley’s going to be a solid NFL quarterback, even if he does not rise to elite-starter level.
Round 3: Tyler Roemer, OT, San Diego State
Roemer is a great value at this point in the draft. He can back up at either tackle spot and will eventually become a starter.
Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State
Wren has great upside as a disruptive force next to Daron Payne.
Round 5: Tony Pollard, RB, Memphis
Ugo Amadi, S, Oregon
Round 6: Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU
Round 7: Trevon Wesco, TE, West Virginia
Anthony Ratliff-Williams, WR, North Carolina
The Redskins need an offensive weapon to open up their passing attack. Whether its Case Keenum or Colt McCoy under center, Washington’s quarterback needs some serious help.
Round 2: Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College
The Redskins decide to add some protection to the offense. Keenum or McCoy will appreciate that.
Washington has already devoted a large portion of resources to the quarterback position, paying Alex Smith, acquiring Case Keenum and paying his contract because of Smith’s injury, and yet they still may go with a developmental first-round project like Daniel Jones. Over half the mock drafts have Jones outside the first but the others have him going here or to the Giants.
The more likely outcome is that the team addresses the need for playmakers by taking physical marvel D.K. Metcalf at wide receiver. Josh Doctson led all receivers in yards last year with only 532.
They have to do something at quarterback. Figure they trade for Josh Rosen and find someone for him to throw to.
Nope, not a quarterback.
Maybe it’s because the Redskins will be the team that swings a deal for Arizona’s Josh Rosen. Maybe it’s because Washington will hold out hope that Alex Smith will be able to resume his career at some point.
In any event, whether it’s Smith, Rosen, Case Keenum or someone else under center in the nation’s capital, unless the Redskins improve the weapons at their disposal, that quarterback is set up to fail. Washington’s wideout corps is currently Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson and a whole lot of “who?”
D.K. Metcalf of Ole Miss has been surging up draft boards since putting on a clinic at the combine—he has a combination of size (6’3”, a chiseled 228 pounds) and speed (4.33-second 40) that doesn’t come along every day.
Metcalf is not a finished product, but if he comes close to realizing his immense potential, he could be a star.
The Redskins have a couple short-term Alex Smith contingencies in Case Keenum and Colt McCoy, and if they don’t target a quarterback later in the draft, trading for Rosen would be an option, too. Using this pick to go after a true No. 1 receiver, instead, makes a lot more sense. Metcalf lived up to his reputation as a beast (6-3, 228 pounds) at the Combine with his blazing 40-yard dash time (4.33), high number of bench-press reps (27) and amazing vertical (40 1/2 inches). He is a classic size/speed prospect, and then some.
Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
In this scenario, with Rosen in the mix(I have the Redskins trading their third-round pick and a sixth-rounder to the Cardinals for Rosen.), the Redskins fall in love with Brown’s well-rounded game and the vertical element he’d bring to the offense for their new franchise guy.
Round 2: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
Murphy’s 4.55 speed is the reason he could fall out of Round 1, and the Redskins would be smart to scoop up the springy corner here.
With the top three quarterbacks off the board, let’s get a burner with great hands for Case Keenum. Washington has been looking for a game-changing receiver for a long time.
Round 2: Chase Winovich, OLB, Michigan
I was looking for a fit for Winovich with a team that runs a 3-4 defense. He outproduced Rashan Gary for the Wolverines.
Round 3: Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB, Kentucky
Could this be a sneaky spot to watch for the fifth quarterback off the board? Johnson is a good player who will push for playing time immediately.
Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
If I had pick No. 15, I would have thought about quarterback Daniel Jones for the Redskins. But let’s add Grier, who could sit behind Case Keenum for a year.
Garrett Bradbury, OL, NC State
Washington can go any number of directions here — especially with a local product like Dwayne Haskins available — but opt to punt on the QB question until later on and instead shore up the interior of the offensive line by getting a stellar center in Bradbury and allowing Chase Roullier to kick back to guard.
Outside Linebacker
Brian Burns, OLB, Florida State
I still have Washington as the likely landing spot for Josh Rosen, which would take the ‘Skins out of the quarterback derby. So, their pass rush took a hit with the departure of Preston Smith. Enter Burns.
The good news is the Redskins have options for their primary needs, namely edge rusher, guard, receiver, free safety and tight end if T.J. Hockenson slides.
They no longer need to panic at quarterback, and the top three in this class might not be available here anyway. If the Redskins don’t love the guard depth in this class then grabbing Alabama’s Jonah Williams here has merit.
Safety and receiver options exist on Day 2. Burns totaled 29 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
Round 2: Darnell Savage, S, Maryland
The Josh Rosen trade rumors and the hype seems legit. This pick could end up with the Cards should a trade go down. While we’re buying the use of a Day 1-2 pick for a passer, we’ll wait for now and go with help elsewhere.
The safety slot next to Landon Collins remains uncertain and the Redskins took a good look at the instinctive-rich Savage during the pre-draft festivities.
With Jay Gruden’s club finishing just out of the money in terms of being in position to take one of the top four quarterbacks, it makes sense for Washington to pivot to the pass rush and take a prospect like Burns or perhaps Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat. And don’t forget, D.C. could be Josh Rosen’s destination via a trade with Arizona.
Let us assume Case Keenum is indeed the 2019 starter and is serviceable. Washington is admittedly in a win-now mode, and what is the best way to cover for a struggling offense? A stout defense. Washington doesn’t have to score a lot of points — just more than their opponents. The loss of edge presence Preston Smith to the Packers needs to be addressed, and the hyper-athletic Burns is the guy to do it.
Rashan Gary, OLB, Michigan
As I have promised for the majority of the offseason, the Redskins are going to trade for Josh Rosen. Book it. If, for some reason, my promise doesn’t come true, and the Redskins also don’t take a quarterback with the 15th-overall pick, the front office is punting on the 2019 season and looking toward the future. If that’s the case, Jay Gruden has every right to be ‘pissed’ as he reportedly is regarding the dynamic (or lack thereof) between him and the front office, because he is going to be fired in about 9 months. In any event, let’s pretend Rosen is a Redskin for a third-round pick and a conditional pick in 2020.
Let me make another promise: the Redskins will pick one of four players if they stay at #15, in this order: Montez Sweat, Rashan Gary, TJ Hockenson, or Brian Burns. The Redskins’ biggest need is at EDGE, where Preston Smith has vacated his spot across the formation from Ryan Kerrigan. If both Sweat and Gary are gone, TJ Hockenson will fill the need for a TE that can block that Jay Gruden has harped on for two seasons. Brian Burns could possibly be a speed guy on the edge that the Redskins covet, but I think they’d look to trade down if the first three are gone. Gary presents a versatile skillset, and with better hand-placement in the NFL, he could be an elite pass rusher inside and out.
Round 2: Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
The Redskins’ draft room just did back-flips when Amani Oruwariye and DeAndre Baker were picked just before them in the second round. Why? Well, that’s easy; Rock Ya-Sin is the best of the three CBs. Ya-Sin was the best corner on the field at the Senior Bowl, sticking to receivers in both press coverage in 1v1’s and off coverage in 7v7 drills. Playing with the ‘Temple Tough’ single digit his senior season as a Captain, Ya-Sin has off-the charts football character as well. He might not have the upside of some of the other DBs in this draft, but he reminds me of the Bills’ Tre White in that he’s going to do his job and do it well. He might not be a Pro Bowler who picks off 5 passes per season, but he’s going to man the boundary and you’re not going to have to worry about him for 16 games. Fantastic pick.
Round 3: Connor McGovern, G, Penn State
Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
Clellin Ferrell, OLB, Clemson
Offseason needs: Quarterback, edge rusher, left guard, wide receiver
Unless Haskins, Lock, or Burns falls to No. 15, Washington’s needs don’t really line up with the players who will be available. That’s why you have to wonder if the team will look to move off this spot on draft night. Ferrell could be in play as well. He’s not a natural fit as a standup edge rusher, but the same was said when Washington drafted Ryan Kerrigan.
Montez Sweat, OLB, Miss. St.
This would represent a good bargain for the Redskins. You could potentially see Sweat off the board in the top five, but this draft is loaded with EDGE talent, and in this scenario it’s Sweat falling to this spot.
Sweat, a transfer from one MSU (Michigan State) to another MSU in Mississippi State, made the most of his time in Starkville, recording double-digit sacks in both 2017 and 2018.
Inside Linebacker
Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan
The Washington Redskins had an interesting 2018 season to say the least, as they looked like the best team in the NFC East for half the year. Then came disaster, as starting quarterback Alex Smith tore up his knee against the Houston Texans, and the team had to go through a bunch of different signal-callers the rest of the way.
In Smith, the Redskins found themselves a leader that could lead them to victories, and they were actually in first place in the division for the first half of the year. The injury to Smith was so bad that the team has already ruled him out for the 2019 campaign, and has made a trade with the Denver Broncos for Case Keenum.
With Keenum in line to start, and battle it out with Colt McCoy, the Redskins may decide to focus on their defense when it comes to their 2019 first round pick. One player who could help this team in a big way in year one is Devin Bush, a strong linebacker from Michigan who is one of the better tacklers in this draft class.
Bush is a solid talent, and the Redskins certainly need help on that side of the ball. It will be interesting to see what Keenum does with the weapons he currently has in Washington, but this team can win if they can get a game-manager under center, as we saw with Smith last year, and Keenum just has to minimize the mistakes to make Washington a threat in the NFC East this year.
Super-athletic off-ball linebacker with a hard-nosed demeanor and sought-after playmaking instincts in coverage.
SHADES OF: Jayon Brown, Lavonte David
Another three-down linebacker needed to run down Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott.
from Hogs Haven - All Posts http://bit.ly/2URDHSF
No comments:
Post a Comment