Washington Redskins Mock Draft Roundup: What the Experts Are Saying

It says a lot about the current stable state of the Washington Redskins that so many draft experts are in agreement about who the team should pick 21st overall.

Take as many as nine analysts, and you'll get as few as three different targets for general manager Scot McCloughan to target with his first-round pick. It's a reflection of a roster skilfully rebuilt last season, one with only a few obvious holes to plug to be a contender this year.

Among the most popular candidates are two of the cornerstones of Alabama's national championship-winning defense. Either player would fortify Washington's D' where it needs help the most, namely in the middle.

A credible challenge to the Crimson Tide's fearsome duo comes from a Big-12 safety who is gaining momentum in certain quarters. It makes sense since safety remains a suspect position for a franchise that showed Dashon Goldson the door during free agency.

If there's a curveball to break up the monotony of a defense-led consensus, it comes from one draft scribe championing the idea of letting the most efficient pass-catcher in this class to vie for receptions alongside Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.

Read on to find out who is saying what and why as the Redskins prepare to further strengthen their playoff-level roster.

Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor

It's tough to argue with any thinking that has Washington adding a hulking playmaker along a D-line that lost more than one trench monster this offseason.

Getting more dominant in the meat grinder up front is an obvious need for the Redskins, and this class is deep enough in quality D-tackles to answer that need.

It really is a case of pick your favorite when looking at the list of malevolent mastodons leading this class. Names such as A'Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, Robert Nkemdiche and Andrew Billings should be very familiar to all students of this particular draft.

It's the latter who Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com believes will hear his name called when McCloughan makes his pick.

Typically, the theme is one of covering for the loss of key names up front: "Terrance Knighton signed with the Patriots, but the Redskins wanted a better, long-term option anyway, so here it is. There's a decent chance Andrew Billings will be available for Washington, and if so, the front office may just pull the trigger."

Billings' primary calling card is his versatility, a quality that has observers drooling. Among them, Nate Davis of USA Today Sports, who also believes Billings should be Washington-bound:

"

This defense needs someone who can shut down the run, especially with Terrance Knighton now a member of the Patriots. Billings would be a more-than-capable replacement but also could be the rare nose tackle who can also make plays as a pass rusher.

"

Being able to excel in multiple facets of his position is a common theme with Billings. Writing for Scout.com's Breaking Burgundy, Justin Byrum described how this mass of destruction can line up anywhere along the front.

The flexibility Byrum describes is supposed to set Baylor's dancing bear apart from a prospect like Alabama's Reed. While the latter is viewed as a run-stuffer but little else, Billings is painted as a savant of the trenches, a behemoth equally comfortable clogging running lanes as he is splitting gaps and rushing the quarterback.

That's all fine in theory, but it might benefit the Redskins to be a little less greedy when it comes to the on-field reality.

Too often in today's NFL, teams seek a can-do-all playmaker and end up with a jack of all trades, but a master of none. Instead of looking for flexible friends, modern defensive coordinators should seek out specialists, players who boast core skills and thrive in key areas of the game.

Think the Bill Belichick school of building defenses. The New England Patriots boss regularly carries players who are limited to niche talents, but excellent for specific matchups. So you may activate a rotund run-destroyer to stifle a potent ground attack one week, but sit that same lineman the next against a wide-open passing attack.

There's little to complain about in Billings' game. He's solid at everything. But Washington would be best served looking for a tackle who dominates in at least one area.

Fortunately, a few experts know just the player.

Daniel Jeremiah and Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

No, Jarran Reed still won't frighten any team as a pass-rusher. Yes, Jarran Reed is still the most natural focal point for a run defense in this draft class.

It's best to keep it simple when assessing what makes Reed a standout, the way Daniel Jeremiah of the league's official site did when making the case for Reed to join the Redskins: "The Redskins land one of the draft's most physical players for the second year in a row."

Adding a physical beast to a roster being built to be a bully makes perfect sense. Reed will give Washington the immovable object in the middle who will make every member of the front seven more productive.

If you're still screaming for versatility, consider that Reed's dimensions and playing style make him a dream match as either a 5-technique end or a traditional nose tackle.

Granted, at 6'3" and 311 pounds, Reed doesn't have the natural leverage of a mauler over center 6'1" Billings. But it's Reed's core power and astute technique that gives him the edge over Baylor's man mountain.

Reed understands his remit perfectly. He accepts he's there to absorb blockers and hold them up while others pad their stat sheets. It's not glamor work, but Reed still embraces the necessary role wholeheartedly.

Fortunately, he's exactly the kind of player Washington's defense needs.

ESPN's draft guru Todd McShay said it best (h/t John Keim of ESPN):

"

Jarran Reed is probably the best pure run-stopper in terms of plugging gaps and taking up space. He’s not a great pass-rusher, but he can chase and run and get off blocks and make plays. So he’s not just a guy sitting there and eating up space. He can do that, but he gets off blocks and makes plays. For Washington, they’re looking for a guy that fits that centerpiece role and takes up space and can be great against the run.

"

Descriptions like that are why Reed is such a popular pick for Washington in many mock drafts. NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter also sends Reed to the Redskins. So does John Harris of the Washington Post.

It doesn't matter how creative coordinator Joe Barry wants to be with his alignments or schemes. None of it will work without a defense stout enough to handle the basics. Basics like stopping the run.

Barry's unit did precious little of that last season, ranking 26th overall, making any attempts to manufacture a consistent pass rush or baffle quarterbacks with disguised coverages moot.

But the game hasn't changed so much to alter the essential ambitions for defensive coordinators. Every one of them knows stopping the run is the first and most important job.

It's a job Reed isn't just qualified to do. He was born for it.

Robert Klemko, MMQB, Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

Associated Press

Ragland is a popular choice to be Washington's top pick.

Reggie Ragland is perhaps the most intriguing option for Washington's first-round pick. Several experts are clearly fascinated by what the bruising Alabama middle linebacker would add to the Redskins D'.

Among them, MMQB's Robert Klemko sees potential for the 22-year-old to become a mainstay with the Burgundy and Gold: "The extremely experienced Ragland would contribute immediately and could anchor the interior of Washington’s defense for years to come."

When you consider Ragland's fit for Washington, you'll likely come to the same conclusion many have reached about Reed. He's a tough brute, fierce in one area of the game, but too limited to be much of a factor in the rest.

It's not necessarily a view shared by CBS Sports' Will Brinson: "Physical, tough-nosed linebacker who also doubles as a guy capable of picking up sacks, he's a very nice fit for Scot McCloughan's continued rebuild of this roster."

The idea of Ragland spending his time collecting sacks, as well as thumping running backs, refutes the notion of him as a two-down dinosaur. It's a label Ragland has had difficulty shedding in the eyes of most, though.

But the point isn't whether Ragland is merely a run-stopper or a savvy linebacker at home defending every facet of an offense. The real question is should the Redskins care if Ragland is only good for two downs?

Sure, every team wants inside linebackers big enough to handle the rough and tumble in the guard-center-guard box, yet nimble enough to stay with slot receivers in coverage.

But the fact remains there just aren't many all-purpose tackling and covering machines preparing for life in the pros. Fortunately though, settling for a classic, downhill destroyer like Ragland would be no mere consolation prize for Washington.

Instead, selecting Ragland would guarantee getting an obvious quarterback for the front seven, one smart and solid enough to diagnose and wreck short-range plays at their source.

Just like Reed up front, Ragland's scope wouldn't extend to the widest range of carnage. But he'd be the meanest man on patrol in his own little valley.

Selecting Ragland 21st would let McCloughan add a marquee talent at a position patched together by manufactured solutions in recent seasons. Former mid-round picks Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley Jr. couldn't make the grade, so castoffs Will Compton and Mason Foster were handed their turns.

But Ragland would arrive as a Pro Bowler in waiting at the heart of Washington's linebacker-led system.

Putting him behind a line beefed up by one of the quality tackles still likely to be on the board in Round 2 would instantly solve those troubles on the ground.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

It's a rarity to come across expert analysis calling on the Redskins to add to what's already a pretty loaded receiving corps later this month.

But Lance Zierlein, one of the chief draft ruminators for the league's official site believes Laquon Treadwell is just too good for Washington to pass up: "Did Treadwell blow anyone away with his pedestrian 40 time at his pro day? No. However, my guess is that Jay Gruden and company will absolutely love his ball skills and highly competitive nature. Treadwell can come in and start right away."

Starting "right away" will be a tough needle to thread at a position where Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder currently hold sway. There's also Andre Roberts, Ryan Grant and Rashad Ross in the mix.

In this context, drafting Treadwell at all would seem like a luxury pick. Yet, Jackson and Garcon's status as free agents in 2017 makes finding a new source of big plays on the outside more of a pressing need than you might think.

Personally though, that still seems far-fetched. Jackson and Garcon sticking around for another season means finding their immediate replacements can be next year's problem.

Granted, McCloughan and head coach Jay Gruden might still love Treadwell enough to bring that plan forward 12 months. To be fair, there is plenty to like about the Ole Miss catch machine.

Critics may dub Treadwell little more than a so-called "possession receiver." Well, if he is, he's certainly an up market one.

As Zierlein pointed out, a slow 40-yard dash time raises some questions about Treadwell, but any doubts should be eased by viewing his playing speed. He appears significantly shiftier once he steps between the hashmarks.

Speaking of those areas, Treadwell is never better than when he's bossing the middle, snatching passes defenders are often favorites to grab, before gobbling up yards after the catch.

His Velcro hands, tough frame and precise understanding of pass concepts make Treadwell a quarterback's best friend. He is the type of receiver Kirk Cousins will always look best throwing to.

If you're still concerned by those quicks, or lack of them, think Anquan Boldin and Marques Colston, two prolific wideouts at the pro level Treadwell compares favorably to. Washington even reportedly kicked Boldin's tyres this offseason, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.

Imagine a galloping 6'2" 221-pounder like Treadwell in a passing attack geared to slants, crossing patterns and turning short throws into long gains. His appetite to block, rare in receiving prospects rated this highly, would also be welcome for a ground game still using plenty of zone principles and outside runs.

Put him with Garcon, Jackson, et al, along with Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis—perhaps the most exciting tight end tandem in football—and the Redskins would light up every scoreboard on the schedule.

It's surely a tempting thought for a GM who recently told B/R's Jason Cole, "the way the game is set up, it's about scoring points."

We'll find out how much McCloughan believes what he says on draft day.

Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, ESPN: Karl Joseph, SS, West Virginia

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Joseph is becoming a frequent choice in mocks.

No matter how many seasons show the contrary is true, the Redskins continue to believe they can get by with stop-gap solutions to their longstanding problem at safety.

This year's patchwork prize is David Bruton Jr., a versatile former reserve for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Bruton is a capable sub-package player, one who operated at linebacker in some of Denver's ultra-aggressive dime packages early last season.

But he may not be the answer as a starting strong safety. The same is true for the returned-from-injury Duke Ihenacho, another ex-Bronco. Kyshoen Jarret, a very pleasant surprise as a sixth-round pick last year, is dealing with a problematic nerve in his shoulder.

Maybe that's why a growing number of draft pundits believe this is the year the Redskins finally look for a more stable solution. The name currently on most lips is West Virginia's Karl Joseph.

Mel Kiper Jr. and McShay over at ESPN both think Joseph is the right fit (h/t Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan). Paulsen noted how Joseph's name is cropping up "more and more" in connection with Washington.

CSNMid-Atlantic.com's Ben Standig confirmed the theme:

"

Joseph doles out punishment one slobber-knocking hit at a time. He's also no one-trick pony; Joseph was leading FBS with five interceptions before suffering a knee injury. That's what held him out of most first-round mocks until recently. No projected trades in this mock, but the Redskins could ponder moving down a few spots unless Joseph's stock is truly soaring. It's clear the buzz is growing for such an imposing element at safety.

"

Joseph makes sense in the same way Ragland does. He'd offer some legitimate star potential at a position that's gone stale in recent seasons.

McCloughan found some of that for the edges of the secondary when he backed up the Brink's truck for Josh Norman in free agency. His addition, along with the signing of Greg Toler, means cornerback is no longer a need in this draft.

But fixing safety remains a priority, even if it doesn't have to happen in the opening round. Joseph is a good player, but the knee injury he suffered last October, per CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, makes him a risk for a prime pick.

It might not be a risk worth taking when safeties such as T.J. Green, Jeremy Cash and Darian Thompson could all represent good value on Day 2, according to Paul Conner of Scout.com's Breaking Burgundy.

Either way, there's only so long a team can get by doing things on the cheap at safety. McCloughan has to come out of this draft with some help for the position.

While selecting Joseph may be a round or two early for fixing the problem, the Redskins must commit to solutions that have the chance to last beyond a single season.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

No draft overview would be complete without a true risk versus reward dilemma. Step forward Robert Nkemdiche, undoubtedly the most gifted raw athlete in the platoon of talented defensive tackles headlining this class.

You won't find many sending this physical marvel, one blighted by questions about his temperament, to Washington. But the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta goes against the grain to sum up the main tension surrounding Nkemdiche: "Washington will take a shot on Nkemdiche and hope his production matches his immense talent."

Taking "a shot" means overlooking the off-field issues that have cast a cloud over a player who otherwise looks like another Malik Jackson at his best. Those concerns stem from a bizarre incident when the player fell from a hotel window late last year after apparently using synthetic marijuana.

He was charged with "possession of less than an ounce of marijuana following the police's discovery of approximately seven rolled marijuana cigarettes inside the fourth-floor hotel room," per Clay Travis of Fox Sports.

The incident also saw Nkemdiche dismissed by Ole Miss before the Sugar Bowl. He later denied the marijuana was his at the Scouting Combine, according to Chase Goodbread of the league's official site.

Still, teams are already shying away from Nkemdiche. Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn told Dave Brikett of the Detroit Free Press he considers the player a "red-flag" prospect.

Even those willing to look past the character concerns will be wary about Nkemdiche's middling production at the collegiate level, production nowhere close to his talent level.

As Goodbread also relayed, Nkemdiche admitted to taking some plays for granted during his days on campus: "There were times I didn't finish. Times I was lazy on some plays."

Those words explain how a jet-heeled 300-pounder who can be in the backfield while the center's still pulling the ball back, accounted for just three sacks last season, per CFBstats.com.

The requirements for offensive and defensive prospects aren't that different. Every team wants playmakers. Nkemdiche should fit the bill but doesn't.

When motivated, he's a genuine game-wrecker. Teams can't run the ball at him where his strength and wingspan deny daylight to running backs. But they also can't run away from a lineman so sudden he makes you expect to see an offside flag thrown every time he breaks his stance.

Nkemdiche is also the consistent interior menace D-coordinators dream to have in the passing game. With one man collapsing things in the middle, while two rushers close off the edge, quarterbacks have nowhere to go.

It's how it worked for the Broncos with Jackson, DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller last season. It's how it could work for Washington with Nkemdiche, Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith and Junior Galette.

But it's all about McCloughan taking a risk, and a pretty big one at that. Risk wasn't his style in last year's draft, so it's hard to see him going against type this time.

Experts Believe Washington Are a Defense Short

Nick Wass/Associated Press

McCloughan is being tipped to focus on one side of the ball come draft day.

Even a cursory glance at the most recent expert analysis makes it obvious where most believe McCloughan should focus his attention this Thursday.

Defense, defense and more defense makes sense for a team whose season was ultimately undone by a unit that ranked 28th in yards surrendered, per the league's official site.

Retooling the line would match the classic, trenches-first approach McCloughan took on the other side of the ball when he selected Brandon Scherff fifth overall last year. It would also pay heed to the true strength of this draft class, its interior game-wreckers.

But even if McCloughan adds fresh talent further back, he'll still be bolstering a unit that needs more blue-chip talents at every position.

With a defense able to complement an offense capable of putting up points against anyone, last year's NFC East champions can enter the new season equipped to go even deeper in the playoffs.