The 2019 NFL Draft is just mere hours away. Currently, the Washington Redskins have nine draft picks entering the night, including the 15th overall pick in the first-round.
There has been a lot of speculation that the Redskins are seeking to draft and/or trade for a young quarterback for their long-term outlook. The Redskins have been longed linked to the Josh Rosen sweepstakes. And they have done their due diligence in meeting with pretty much every top quarterback prospect with the exception of Heisman Trophy winning Kyler Murray.
Yes, the Redskins do need a long-term fix at quarterback, however, they have quite a list of needs across the roster. Quarterback may not be their biggest need when scanning the holes in the roster. Here’s how their needs biggest needs stack up.
5. Free Safety
Embed from Getty ImagesYes, Landon Collins was signed, but the Redskins are in need of a true free safety. It’s anyone’s guess what is Montae Nicholson’s standing after getting hurt, losing his starting spot last year to Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and then getting arrested and placed on the NFI List stemming from assault charges.
The Redskins apparently are going to take a try with Dominique Rogers-Cromartie manning the free safety role. However, if there is a more than capable piece to land like say Maryland’s Darnell Savage available in the second or third rounds, Washington may be inclined to take a younger option.
Unless there is a run on safeties, they’ll have a good deal of pickings after the first round. Five names come to mind that have the capability of not only filling the free safety role, but starting sooner rather than later with their CBS Sports Draft Rankings.
- Darnell Savage, Maryland – (62)
- Juan Thornhill – Virginia (49)
- Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida (40)
- Nasir Adderley, Delaware (35)
- Deionte Thompson, Alabama (57)
4. Left Guard
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Redskins are in dire need of a left guard. The Shawn Lauvao experiment is finally over after five seasons. The team signed Ereck Flowers but he is just as much as an experiment as Lauvao was. Lauvao gave the Redskins two good seasons and three in which he played no more than nine games due injuries. Flowers would be moving from tackle to inside at guard.
Given Flowers’ track record, it’s hard to imagine him succeeding even with Bill Callahan as his coach. That leaves the Redskins needing a younger and more capable option.
With the quarterback position influx, look for the Redskins to run the football heavy or play through their trio of running backs — Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, and Chris Thompson — next season. Washington has a strong quartet across the offensive line with cornerstone players at left and right tackle and right guard with Trent Williams, Morgan Moses, and Brandon Scherff, respectively. Chase Roullier has secured the center position, leaving left guard as the only huge void on the offensive line.
The positive is that the Redskins could find an upgrade in the draft on Day 2 or even Day 3. Here are names to keep in mind for the Redskins.
- Chris Lindstrom, Boston College (32)
- Michael Deiter, Wisconsin (77)
- Nate Davis, Charlotte (113)
- Max Scharping, Northern Illinois (131)
- Connor McGovern, Penn State (90)
3. Quarterback
Embed from Getty ImagesQuarterback is definitely a team need for the future. However, there are two positions the Redskins need more than a signal-caller. And to be honest, this year’s draft class of quarterbacks don’t have a wow factor.
That doesn’t mean this won’t be a good or even great class. However, given where the Redskins currently sit — 15th overall — trading real estate to acquire a QB may be too heavy of a price to pay with more pressing needs. Now, if for some reason one of the big four names slides to No. 15, the Redskins should take a hard look before passing.
There are numerous reasons to why Washington could opt for another position of need at No. 15. For starters, the Redskins face a daunting schedule in 2019 that could put them in a good position next year to draft a QB of the future — and next year’s class of QB’s is tabbed to be better than this year’s.
With that being said, the Redskins have reportedly been linked to Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Duke’s Daniel Jones, as well as West Virginia’s Will Grier. It’s anyone’s guess, but after Murray, Haskins, Jones, and Drew Lock, the Redskins could find an arm to develop in Day 2.
Nonetheless, here are five names and their rankings via CBS Sports to keep in mind for the Redskins.
- Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State (12)
- Daniel Jones, Duke (39)
- Will Grier, Weset Virginia (108)
- Tyree Jackson, Buffalo (122)
- Jarrett Stidham, Auburn (138)
2. Wide Receiver
Embed from Getty ImagesJust as the Redskins have struggled to find a suitable replacement from Kirk Cousins at quarterback, they have struggled even more so to find replacements for the departed wide receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. The struggle is going on its third straight year.
Last year’s options were just as disappointing as the season before (see Terrelle Pryor). Paul Richardson finished with 20 receptions, 262 yards, and two receiving touchdowns as he was limited to seven games with a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Josh Doctson was the Redskins’ leading receiver in 2018 with 532 yards on 44 receptions through 15 games. Sr. Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Williams said earlier this week, Washington wants to find a “go-to guy” at wide receiver.
If the Redskins are to find that guy and alleviate themselves from the shortfall of Doctson and Co., they may have to jump on someone by the second of two third-round picks. There are about a dozen capable of receivers that can step in Day 1 and be the top receiver for the Redskins.
- AJ Brown, Ole Miss (30)
- Hakeem Butler, Iowa State (52)
- N’Keal Harry, Arizona State (34)
- Terry McLaurin, Ohio State (37)
- Kelvin Harmon, NC State (44)
- Deebo Samuel, South Carolina (48)
- Parris Campbell, Ohio State (51)
- Anthony Johnson, Buffalo (121)
- Miles Boykin, Notre Dame (119)
- JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford (60)
1. Edge Rusher
Embed from Getty ImagesThe biggest hole on the Redskins roster is edge rusher. Preston Smith left via free agency, signing with Green Bay, leaving a gaping hole in Washington’s defense. Williams stated this week that currently Ryan Anderson is pegged to start in place of Smith opposite of Ryan Kerrigan.
Having Anderson on the edge is not appealing. Even still, there is a lack of depth at the position for the Redskins. They need someone. An edge rusher can change the complexion of an entire defense, ask Chicago the wonders made by adding Khalil Mack. Von Miller put the Denver Broncos on his back during their run to Super Bowl 50.
Sitting at No. 15, the Redskins may have act on their first-round pick to get a game changer at EDGE. Otherwise, they’ll risk entering next season with the position being their defensive weak link.
The defensive line is solidified with Matt Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne. The linebacker position looks stronger with Reuben Foster cleared off his off-the-field issues and the secondary added Collins to replace the departed DJ Swearinger. While free safety still can use an upgrade, it’s no question landing a top-flight EDGE would be more beneficial.
It’s time the Redskins find a suitable complement to Kerrigan. Let’s be honest, he hasn’t had one since Brian Orakpo left in 2014, and yet he still has racked up 46.5 sacks over the course of the past four seasons. Imagine the impact of having someone just as dominate or even more?!?!
Unless the Redskins did something unthinkable, trading up for an EDGE, Nick Bosa of Ohio State and Josh Allen of Kentucky will be off limits. So here’s what’s left that could be the right fixing to replace Smith.
- Brian Burns, Florida State (14)
- Montez Sweat, Mississippi State (8)
- Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech (56)
- DÁndre Walker, Georgia (75)
- Jachai Polite, Florida (104)
