Perfect Picks: Washington Redskins

With the NFL Draft approaching we are looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we are running a seven round mock using the Draft Network Mock machine, and finding the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.

We are highlighting five players that could help each team. This will include a ‘flex’ pick where we give you two ways a potential pick could go depending on how the board falls. All in all you will get picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.

Let’s move on to the Washington Redskins, who pick second overall in Las Vegas in April. Fresh off a 3-13 season, their worst for 25 years, the Redskins have had massive off-season turnover including the long overdue firing of Team President Bruce Allen and the promising hiring of two time head coach of the year, ex-Carolina Panther Ron Rivera.

Round 1 - Pick 2 - Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

NFL Draft Redskins
(Photo Credit: MSN.com)

Caveat: This selection assumes the Redskins don’t accept an RG3 style mega-trade for the second overall pick. In theory there’s a chance a QB needy team wants to slot in behind the Bengals-Burrow pick and select Tua Tagovailoa, offering Dan Snyder a king’s ransom. If Snyder resists, Chase Young is the only selection the Redskins should consider.

Young broke multiple Buckeye records in his three years in Columbus including sacks in a season (16.5). This is no mean feat considering the pass rushers that have come before him, notably the Bosa brothers and Mike Vrabel back in the day. His speed off the ball is remarkable and he can line up at either end of the defensive line. 

Young is the consensus best graded player in the draft and would give the Redskins the elite pass rusher they have craved since Dexter Manley. Having switched to a 4-3 base, the Redskins under new DC Jack Del Rio must be licking their lips at the chance to draft a potential generational talent. Much like Cincy and Burrow, best not to overthink it.

Round 3 - Pick 66 - Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington

NFL Draft Redskins
Image Credit: GoHuskies.com

Tight end is a huge hole for the Redskins, who by the end of the season were picking up guys off the street to play the position. Jordan Reed, once their premier pass catching threat, missed the entire year with concussion related issues and may hang up his cleats for good, and the ageless wonder Vernon Davis can’t have many miles left on the clock.

Bryant would be a cracking choice in the third round. A dynamic pass catcher, the 6’2 tight end excels lined up in the slot and creates the type of mis-matches that QB Dwayne Haskins can feast on. Though less effective in run blocking situations, Bryant makes up for it with exceptional yardage after the catch and elusiveness at the top of routes. A true weapon for new OC Scott Turner’s Air Coryell offense.

Flex Pick - Pick 66 - Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia

NFL Draft Redskins
Photo Credit: Chattanooga Free Press Times

The Redskins lack a second round pick after trading it to Indy last year in order to move back into the first round and select Montez Sweat. Rather than gamble on a late-round offensive lineman, they might look to fill a yawning chasm at the tackle position in the third instead. If Trent Williams, whose grievances led to a full year sit out last season, doesn’t return, Isaiah Wilson is a solid project pick at the position.

Very raw but with incredible effort and intensity on all downs, Wilson is good at the second level, always keen to get downfield and finish blocks. His fundamentals need a lot of work but the Redskins have shown willingness to develop these types of tackles in recent memory and might bite the bullet again, especially if Wilson shows promise as a Guard too.

Mid Round Gem - Pick 130 - Trajan Bandy, CB, Miami

NFL Draft Redskins
Image Credit: HurricaneSports.com

Washington needs help at corner and Bandy could be a steal at the start of the 5th round. Slightly undersized at 5’9 and 189lbs, Bandy has the ball skills to make up for his diminutive stature, and the awareness to break on routes at the optimal time. Bandy is quick as hell and has excellent footwork, but needs to improve as a tackler. Likely best utilised in the slot at the pro level.

Late Round Sleeper - Pick 193 - Kendrick Rogers, WR, Texas A&M

In a loaded WR class the Redskins could wait until deep into the draft to upgrade their already youthful pass catching corps. Rogers is the archetypal big bodied, big catch radius, chuck it up and hope receiver whom Washington could pair with last year’s steal of the draft Terry McLaurin. He was the go to guy for the Aggies when the game was on the line and has exceptional ball skills. If the Redskins can improve his route running they could get a late round steal in Rogers.

Draft in full

2. Chase Young (EDGE)

66. Hunter Bryant (TE)

98. K’Von Wallace (S)

130. Trajan Bandy (CB)

193. Kendrick Rogers (WR)

206. TJ Brunson (LB)

Feature Image Credit: Bill Dickinson/Flickr

Joshua Edwards

CFB & NFC EAST SPECIALIST

JOSH IS A CFB SPECIALIST, LONG SUFFERING RESKINS FAN AND BUDDING HISTORIAN OF THE GAME BASED IN LONDON. CHECK OUT HIS ARTICLES HERE AND FOLLOW HIM @JOSHWA_1990 ON TWITTER.

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