Breaking Down Washington Redskins' Recent Draft Successes

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Washington Redskins have a credible and experienced draft-minded general manager in their front office. Scot McCloughan's vision relies on building through the draft and molding players to the schemes and systems of the team, and not the other way around.

In short, McCloughan makes the draft exciting again and should bring many more draft hits than misses than any GM or president of player personnel before him.

Keeping with the positive trend set by McCloughan's hiring, let's avoid dredging up the many draft failures the Redskins have brought upon themselves in the last decade. Instead, let's look at the more recent draft successes Washington can be proud of.

Here are some of the draft successes from Washington's past few draft classes.

Trent Murphy, OLB, 2014

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It is still too early to call Trent Murphy a great player or the answer to the Brian Orakpo problem. More than likely, he'll provide necessary depth and be a part of a talented rotation at outside linebacker.

Murphy's presence in 2014 and moving forward allows the Redskins to create some exotic packages with three rushing linebackers as they did with him, Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan.

Though not a starter out of the gate, Murphy was called upon to fill in for Orakpo, who landed on IR for the second time in three seasons. He responded with 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. 

Murphy was drafted as a contingency for Orakpo's eventual departure, which could occur this offseason as he is a free agent once again. He isn't an impressive athlete, but he is the type of determined player who doesn't give up on a play and will wear down blockers.

Murphy will more than likely end up as part of a rotation moving forward with a fresh new draft prospect assuming the starting role. The 2015 class has a lot of outside linebacker talent for the Redskins to choose from and craft their rotation with a more pure athlete than either Kerrigan or Murphy.

Roy Helu, RB, 2011

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Roy Helu is an interesting case study in his rise, fall and carving out a role with the Redskins. He became a starter in his rookie season, stringing together three 100-yard games late in the year.

Injuries killed his momentum and his second NFL season, but he has since returned and improved his skills.

Though not the best in pass protection, Helu is a dangerous third-down back with the ball in his hands. His overall career numbers aren’t terribly impressive, but his 2014 performance is worth taking a closer look at, particularly among running backs.

Helu finished with just 82 touches last season, scoring two receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

He caught 42 passes and finished the season with 10 receptions of 20-plus yards, tied for the most with Pittsburgh’s Le'Veon Bell, who had 83 catches. He finished with the fifth-most yards after the catch among running backs behind the likes of Matt Forte, Fred Jackson, DeMarco Murray and Bell.

A free agent this offseason, Helu could easily sign elsewhere and be a starter. The Redskins will have to decide if he is worth the higher cost to keep around or seek a younger prospect to better fit Jay Gruden’s offense.

Jordan Reed, TE, 2013

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Injuries aside, Jordan Reed has been an unexpected asset for the Redskins. Many questioned the team spending a third-round pick on Reed when it still had Fred Davis on the roster.

However, Davis ultimately failed to do anything in 2013, while Reed emerged with 45 catches for 499 yards and three touchdowns in nine games.

In two seasons, Reed has played just 20 games, but he has shown himself to be a reliable target for whatever quarterback is under center. Unfortunately for Reed, he may see some competition coming his way in this year's draft.

His ongoing health concerns may force the Redskins to draft a tight end, one with a safer medical history and a more complete skill set. Reed, for his ability as a receiver, is lacking as a blocker and in prototypical size.

With Logan Paulsen no longer a reliable blocker and Niles Paul a pure receiving tight end—and an undersized one at that—Reed is the only tight end the Redskins can hope to count on.

Working in Reed's favor is the relative lack of talent deeper in the draft and the unlikely scenario that the Redskins would spend a second-round pick on someone like Maxx Williams.

Keenan Robinson, ILB, 2012

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

If not for a tremendously successful 2014 campaign, Keenan Robinson would have landed squarely in the failure category as far as prospects go. He missed the bulk of his first two seasons with torn pectoral muscles and was far from a lock to even make the roster in 2014.

Then workouts and training camp rolled around, and Robinson looked like the stud who was drafted to replace London Fletcher in the first place.

Robinson finished 2014 with 109 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception. He outdid Perry Riley, who has been a starter since 2011 but looked lost at times in 2014. It simply made Robinson's emergence that much more obvious.

Though still a work in progress, Robinson has the potential to be a great inside linebacker in Joe Barry's defense, which will utilize his size and speed to attack the gaps along the line.

Hopefully, Robinson remains healthy and continues to improve, making inside linebacker a less pressing need for anything other than depth.

Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, 2011

Mark E. Tenally/Associated Press

The first round of the 2011 draft was packed full of talented pass-rushers. J.J. Watt, Robert Quinn, Aldon Smith and Von Miller top the list, but not to be forgotten is Ryan Kerrigan.

Kerrigan may not have an 18-sack season to his name, but he’s had plenty of success despite an ineffective defensive scheme.

With Brian Orakpo missing 22 games over the past three seasons, it fell to Kerrigan to sink or swim as Washington’s leading pass-rusher. He responded in 2014 with a career-high 13.5 sacks to bring his career total to 38.

What makes Kerrigan a success is that he has continued to progress and evolve as a player. He added a hand slap to his repertoire and still has an unstoppable motor.

His success would be greatly increased with some help from the defensive front, but he is easily one of the best players the Redskins have selected in the last five years.

USC’s Leonard Williams would be a dream to add to the Redskins front, while Nebraska’s Randy Gregory or Missouri’s Shane Ray is more feasible with the fifth overall pick. Both offer intriguing replacements for Orakpo, who may not be worth re-signing even at a discount.

Bashaud Breeland, CB, 2014

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Expectations were not exactly high for Bashuad Breeland’s rookie season. He had talent and tenacity, but he was viewed as rising to third cornerback on the depth chart at best by season’s end.

Injuries to DeAngelo Hall and Tracy Porter thrust Breeland into the starting lineup as the Redskins' second corner opposite second-year man David Amerson.

Breeland’s coming-out party came in Dallas where he shut down Dez Bryant and registered four pass deflections and a forced fumble. He was a surprise bright spot for the Redskins and only made the regression of Amerson that much more apparent.

Unfortunately, Breeland’s ascent only highlights the need to improve the rest of the secondary. Hall’s future is not certain, Amerson’s viability as a starter is a question mark and the talent at corner in this year’s draft may be too good to pass up.

Oregon’s Ifo Ekpre-Olomu isn’t as physical or capable in run support as Breeland, but he could provide the excellent coverage skills that Amerson has not displayed consistently in his young career.

Alfred Morris, RB, 2012

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Alfred Morris is a gem of a player by anyone’s standards. He was plucked from relative obscurity from Florida Atlantic University in the sixth round of the 2012 draft.

Morris is one of only two running backs from that class to rush for 1,000 yards in a season—the other being Tampa Bay’s Doug Martin.

Even in the current NFL, where workhorse running backs are a dying breed, Morris has managed to find success. He has rushed for 3,962 yards and 28 touchdowns in spite of a shaky offensive line, a coaching change and an ongoing quarterback carousel.

It may be necessary to add a back behind Morris to spell him with Roy Helu potentially getting a chance to find a starting job in free agency.

That need doesn’t take away from Morris being a two-time Pro Bowler and an understated top-10 running back.