The Washington Redskins will have the 15th pick overall in the first-round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Washington finished with a 7-9 record, missing out on the playoffs for the third straight season.
NFL Draft Order
- Arizona Cardinals (3-13)
- San Francisco 49ers (4-12)
- New York Jets (4-12)
- Oakland Raiders (4-12)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
- New York Giants (5-11)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
- Detroit Lions (6-10)
- Buffalo Bills (6-10)
- Denver Broncos (6-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
- Green Bay Packers (6-9-1)
- Miami Dolphins (7-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
- Washington Redskins (7-9)
- Carolina Panthers (7-9)
- Cleveland Browns (7-8-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-7-1)
- Tennessee Titans (9-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6-1)
Picks 21 through 32 will be determined by the postseason finishes of this year’s playoffs.
Among the Redskins needs will be quarterback, wide receiver, left guard, edge rusher, cornerback, and possibly both safety positions.
Figuring out what direction to go at quarterback will be the top focus of the Redskins going into the off-season. Alex Smith is nursing a broken fibula and tibia as a result of his gruesome compound fracture suffered in Week 11 against the Houston Texans.
He has battled through a post-operation infection that reportedly required multiple surgeries to combat further complicating an already devastating injury. There is a strong possibility he won’t be ready for off-season activities, training camp, preseason, and/or Week 1 of the regular season. That puts the Redskins in a tough bind. Backup quarterback Colt McCoy hasn’t stood out on the playing field, and he too suffered a season-ending injury, fracturing his fibula in Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Redskins’ other two projects at quarterback in the aftermath — Mark Sanchez and Josh Johnson — failed. It remains to be seen if the Redskins will opt for a younger arm in the draft, which doesn’t have a standout stud or free agency for a more capable starter in the event Smith isn’t ready. However, Smith’s huge contract extension that included $71 million in guarantees complicates turning to free agency for a quarterback.
Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, who has yet to declare for the draft, would presumably be the No. 1 quarterback prospect if he decides to forgo his collegiate eligibility for the draft. Haskins is listed as No. 18 overall prospect by CBS Sports. Missouri’s Drew Lock is second among quarterbacks and 33rd overall. Daniel Jones of Duke is third, 41st overall.
Safety has appeared as another high priority position to address. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who the Redskins acquired in an October trade from the Green Bay Packers, is set to be a free agent. Montae Nicholson is facing legal issues after being charged with assault and battery after allegedly attacking a man in Loudoun County, Virginia earlier this month. He was placed on the reserved/non-football injury list.
Meanwhile, DJ Swearinger, the best of the trio, was waived last week after he criticized defensive coordinator Greg Manusky’s play-calling in a loss to Tennessee.
One has to figure at least one of the safety positions will be filled in the draft.
Nonetheless, with a weak crop of quarterbacks and a middle-of-the-order pick at No. 15, the Redskins will have a good a chance of landing an impact player in the first round.
Here’s the previous 10 players selected with the 15th pick overall:
- 2009 — Brian Cushing, linebacker
- 2010 — Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end
- 2011 — Mike Pouncey, center
- 2012 — Bruce Irvin, defensive end
- 2013 — Kenny Vaccaro, safety
- 2014 — Ryan Shazier, linebacker
- 2015 — Melvin Gordon, running back
- 2016 — Corey Coleman, wide receiver
- 2017 — Malik Hooker, safety
- 2018 — Kolton Miller, offensive tackle
The NFL Draft will start April 25 from Nashville, Tennessee. This is the first time the Redskins have held the No. 15 pick since 2001 when the team selected wide receiver Rod Gardner out of Clemson.
Washington selected the Alabama defensive line duo Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen in the first round in 2018 and 2017, respectively. They chose wide receiver Josh Doctson in 2016 and guard Brandon Scherff in 2015.
The Redskins traded its 2019 fourth-round pick to Green Bay to acquire Clinton-Dix. They also exercised their sixth-round pick when it selected cornerback Adonis Alexanders in the sixth-round of the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft.
