Washington Redskins 2015 NFL Offseason Draft Scouting Guide

For the first time in a while, the Washington Redskins will enter a draft with a full quota of picks. That's handy because the team that's gone 3-13 and 4-12 in the last two seasons will certainly need them.

General manager Bruce Allen may want you to believe his team is "winning off the field," but true progress is measured on it. Setting a realistic expectation for progress is what the draft is for.

To do that, head coach Jay Gruden and Allen shouldn't get too creative. There's no need for clever strategies like drafting to positions of strength or taking roundabout ways to improve problem areas.

Instead, the Redskins must simply focus on adding talented young players to the weakest areas of the roster. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, this franchise has made a habit of making it look anything but in recent years.

This draft should be about retooling the defensive backfield and fortifying the trenches. That means safeties, offensive tackles and guards, along with D-linemen, must be the focus of the offseason scouting guide.

Here's a list of the players Washington's scouts should run the rule over between now and draft day.

Pass-Rusher

Any defensive targets will naturally depend on the new direction both the unit and the schemes take following Jim Haslett's exit. Specifically, a new coordinator may be tasked with returning the team to the 4-3 front it hasn't run since 2009.

Of course, the beauty of the best pass-rushers is that they are, or should be, scheme-neutral. Baltimore Ravens rush end Elvis Dumervil is a prime example. He's hammered quarterbacks as both a 4-3 end and 3-4 outside linebacker. The same is true of Miami Dolphins ace Cameron Wake.

Fortunately for Washington, this draft is loaded with hybrid pressure specialists who would fit either a 4-3 or a linebacker-led defense. Here are the best two the Redskins can target.

Vic Beasley, Clemson

Vic Beasley is a mighty mite with a natural flair for rushing the quarterback. His acceleration off the ball is exceptional, as is his closing speed. Once Beasley gets to a quarterback, he delivers a serious wallop.

He registered 12 sacks in 2014, per CFB Stats, after posting 13 in 2013, per the same site. Yet even production that prolific can't overshadow the major question mark concerning Beasley.

The issue is his size, or lack thereof. At 6'2" and 235 pounds, he doesn't boast natural leverage or great power.

Yet the absence of prototype dimensions doesn't have to hinder a pro career. It certainly hasn't done that for Dumervil. The 5'11", 255-pounder has still registered 90 career sacks.

As a pure pass-rusher who is athletic enough to attack from anywhere on a formation, Beasley could be a lethal weapon in the right scheme. NFL.com's Gil Brandt identified the destructive Clemson star as one of the three best pass-rushers Washington can target.

Randy Gregory, Nebraska

Another natural 'tweener, Nebraska's Randy Gregory just looks like a 3-4 rush linebacker. At 6'6" and 245 pounds, he has the speed off the edge to torment any left tackle.

But Gregory also plays with a pleasing natural toughness that allows him to set the edge. Perhaps most impressive, he is a shrewd and versatile rusher. He can dip, rip and bull rush to equally devastating effect.

The Cornhuskers ace has seen his reputation grow after a fine final season in the collegiate ranks. An ESPN.com report noted how the 22-year-old is "considered one of the nation's top pass-rushers."

CBS Sports writer Dane Brugler believes Gregory is Washington's best bet to replace brittle and inconsistent pending free agent Brian Orakpo. In the video above, Bleacher Report draft analysts Matt Miller and Michael Felder commended Gregory's flexibility and natural pass-rush skills during the 2014 season.

Both Gregory and Beasley fit the mold of hybrid edge-rushers who would quickly transition to a 3-4 scheme. But each would also be an instant hit as a 4-3 end.

Their respective athletic gifts would lend Washington's eventual new play-caller tremendous schematic flexibility while instantly upgrading a pass rush that notched just 36 sacks in 2014.

Here's one interesting note about any possible change of direction on defense to consider: Washington has so far requested interviews with the following candidates, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post: San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell and San Diego Chargers' linebackers coach John Barry.

What do all three have in common? They are all from teams running a 3-4 scheme.

Cornerback

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Whether Washington plays 3-4 or 4-3 next season and whether the new defense is blitz-happy or read-and-react, this team needs more talent in the secondary. That means targeting help at cornerback as well as safety.

Aside from Bashaud Breeland, there are major question marks about every other corner on the roster.

Here are two corners who could really help the team's 24th-ranked pass defense.

Marcus Peters, Washington

Washington should give a long look at Marcus Peters during the predraft process. In fact, any team interested in Peters will have to make it a long look.

Potential suitors will want the skinny on the problems that dogged him during a checkered final season in the collegiate ranks. Peters was dismissed from the Washington program by Huskies head coach Chris Petersen.

It was a decision Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times claimed was unavoidable:

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Time and again, Petersen tried to be stern yet rehabilitative with his star cornerback, reacting to Peters’ emotional antics with punishment followed by attempts to understand and get through to the passionate player. And time and again, Peters took advantage of the longer leash and made the coaching staff look foolish for its efforts.

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Peters' resistance to coexisting with his coaches would have to concern Allen and Gruden. However, he has enough overall talent and the right playing style to convince them to still take a risk.

Peters' style compares to Denver Broncos star shutdown cover man Aqib Talib, per CBS Sports writer Rob Rang: "Just as Talib did when coming out of Kansas, Peters comes with off-field concerns, but there is no questioning either cornerback's length, aggression and ball skills."

That type of physical coverage from a beefy corner should be the defining characteristic of the Redskins' defensive backfield in 2015. More aggressive coverage certainly suits 2014 fourth-round pick Breeland. Peters would make an equally rough and rowdy partner.

Cam Thomas, Western Kentucky

If the Redskins fancy chancing their arm to find another quality corner in the middle rounds, Western Kentucky's Cam Thomas might appeal. He's a towering cornerback who will shackle receivers and also use his 6'1", 190-pound frame in run support.

Thomas is a natural opportunist. He's never afraid to try his luck if it will mean pouncing on an errant throw.

That sort of boom-or-bust approach to coverage can be damaging to a defense. But it can also produce big plays, something the Washington defense was woefully short of in 2014.

Thomas has plenty of raw edges. But with good coaching he can be a prime candidate for the slot, which was a problem area during the last few seasons.

Guard

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Gruden has to prioritize beefing up the interior of his offensive line this offseason. The Redskins lack might at the heart of the trenches.

Lightweight guards Shawn Lauvao and Chris Chester were tossed around like rag dolls last season. Meanwhile, scrappy and committed veteran Kory Lichtensteiger was inconsistent as the team's pivot man.

Gruden tended to prefer bulkier road-graders when he ran the offense for the Cincinnati Bengals. As he looks to firmly stamp his own identity on the roster, the coach can acquire more of his type of linemen.

Tre' Jackson, Florida State

Man mountain Tre' Jackson boasts a blend of qualities that should appeal to Washington. At 6'4" and 330 pounds, Jackson is the type of beefy trench warrior who doesn't just absorb defenders—he obliterates them.

But despite his more than ample frame, Jackson is also deceptively light on his feet. That's always an asset in the type of zone-based blocking scheme the Redskins still operate in the running game.

Jackson has even spent time anchoring the line at center for the Seminoles. He's versatile enough to help improve two positions of need. At the top of Round 3, this behemoth would represent a steal.

The guard class in this draft is hardly considered elite. In fact, it may be that the Redskins will be better served delving exclusively into free agency for help here.

However, close scouting and a shift in philosophy could still endear Gruden and Allen to one or two prospects.

Offensive Tackle

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Washington simply has to find a competent bookend for left tackle Trent Williams. That means finally solving the seemingly age-old problem on the right side.

Fortunately, a pair of tough-looking candidates stand out as the best early targets.

Brandon Scherff, Iowa

At the moment, Scherff represent this team's safest bet with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He's steady and capable in every phase of the game and seems destined to move over to the right at the pro level.

In terms of style and versatility, he almost makes too much sense, even though he's hardly a glamorous pick. Still, scribes such as SI.com's Chris Burke believe Scherff is the ideal choice, also noting his potential to play guard.

On a line that needs major help at every position other than Williams', Scherff's flexibility and skill would be invaluable.

La'el Collins, LSU

As much as Washington's O-line needs a general infusion of greater talent, the group could also use an attitude adjustment. Simply put, the Redskins need a few blockers who are downright nasty.

Enter LSU's burly malcontent La'el Collins. He's the type of blocker who relishes every bit of punishment he gets to inflict on defensive players.

That appetite for malice makes Collins a powerful and terrible force in the running game. In pass protection, if the 6'5", 321-pounder clamps his hands on a pass-rusher early, it's game over.

His temperament isn't always under control, but he'll never be intimidated as battles rage in the trenches. What he could use is some technical refinement, but not so much that it offsets his brutal streak.

Gruden and Allen's remit is refreshingly simple when it comes to the offensive line: Get bigger and better.

Defensive End

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Defensive end may not leap off the page as a primary team need. But any time a defense logs a mere 36 sacks and finishes 30th in points allowed, it's safe to assume there's not much impact from the men in the trenches.

Still, there is talent at this position in the form of Jason Hatcher, Chris Baker and Barry Cofield Jr. But Hatcher and Cofield were both slowed by injuries, while Baker wasn't as disruptive as he could be.

The ranks will also look a lot thinner if the team doesn't bring back pending free agent Jarvis Jenkins.

While that implies depth may rate as the biggest concern, there's one player in this draft class who could tempt Washington into taking a lineman with the first pick off the board.

Leonard Williams, USC

If the Redskins scout Leonard Williams this offseason, they'll have plenty of company. After all, he is a dominant D-end who controls blockers, splits gaps, stuffs the run and collapses the pocket.

Williams is the type of quick and powerful lineman who never gives blockers and quarterbacks a moment's peace. He can wreck an offensive game plan and almost demands a double-team on every play.

The beauty of Williams is that his 6'5", 300-pound size, along with playmaking skill, translates well to any scheme. It's why B/R draft analyst Matt Miller believes Williams would be a great fit on this team's 3-4 front.

But like Beasley and Gregory, Williams would be equally destructive at the heart of a 4-3 front. Whatever guise the Washington defense takes in 2015, selecting Williams would give the new scheme a natural focal point.

Nose Tackle

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If Washington is going to continue playing 3-4, the team needs to find a permanent solution at the front's most important position. That means finally acquiring a true nose tackle who can be trusted to occupy multiple blockers and anchor the front seven.

Given the revolving door of players who tried their hand over center in 2014, it's obvious the Redskins still lack that player. Kedric Golston, Jenkins, Cofield and Baker all tried to make the position their own.

A 3-4 system only works when there's a truly dominant force in the middle. That necessity should push Washington to scout one particular mass of humanity.

Danny Shelton, Washington

At 332 pounds, which is probably a generous estimate, Danny Shelton is the proverbial immovable object at the heart of a D-line. He's the very model of a modern 3-4 nose tackle.

In fact, Shelton reminds CBS Sports analyst Rob Rang of a player who's lived up to that description for over a decade in the pros—Vince Wilfork of the New England Patriots:

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Shelton has a long way to go before justifying comparisons to the centerpiece of the Patriots' defense over the past decade, but both possess the thick frame, power and surprising agility to wreak havoc in the middle. Like Wilfork (who recorded 14 sacks at the University of Miami), don't expect Shelton to duplicate his pass rush success in the NFL.

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Given what Wilfork has meant for New England's run defense and how he's helped make stars of so many other front-seven players, that's a comparison worth noting.

Shelton is definitely the type of anchor in the middle this defense needs. He'd make every level of the system, along with those around him, better.

Brandon Ivory, Alabama

Brandon Ivory will never create as much havoc as a player as big as Shelton. But the savvy 308-pounder will quietly keep blockers busy on every play.

He's been expertly skilled in the art of two-gap defense by Alabama head coach Nick Saban. That makes Ivory perfect for a 3-4.

It also makes him a good candidate to justify a low-risk, late-round selection. The Redskins could lose 2011 seventh-rounder Chris Neild in free agency. That would remove perhaps the only natural nose tackle from the roster.

Ivory certainly rates as a good replacement.

Tight End

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It may not look like it now, but tight end could become a pressing need as the offseason progresses.

First, Niles Paul is a pending free agent. He was effective as one of the surprise packages of Washington's 2014 season. But that form is likely to bring Paul to the attention of many teams on the open market.

In fact, B/R's Chris Simms believes Paul's ability to line up all over offensive formations is sure to generate interest. If, as Simms believes, Paul finds a new home, the burden will increase on the brittle and underperforming Jordan Reed. He's ultra-talented but has missed 12 games in two seasons.

Washington needs another weapon that quarterback Robert Griffin III can rely on at this position. There's one player in this class Gruden won't find it easy to overlook.

Ben Koyack, Notre Dame

Ben Koyack offers one quality that Reed doesn't possess: namely, he has size. Koyack is a towering 6'4" and tips the scales at a beefy 261 pounds.

But the Notre Dame playmaker carries those pounds on an Antonio Gates-style frame. More specifically, he's similar to ex-Irish alumnus Tyler Eifert.

Gruden was running the offense for the Bengals when Cincinnati drafted Eifert in the first round in 2013. That season, the Bengals ran a scheme featuring Eifert and Jermaine Gresham.

Gruden was particularly effective at crafting plays to create big gains for the former pair. He may relish the chance to do the same for Reed and Koyack.

Safety

This has to be the year Washington fixes its perennial problems at safety, whether it's through free agency or the draft. If it's the latter, one obvious candidate is sure to garner plenty of attention from the team's scouts.

Landon Collins, Alabama

Few safeties will command as much attention during the predraft process as Landon Collins. That's understandable even after an inconsistent final season with the Crimson Tide.

Despite some reservations about his game, Collins is still considered by many, including B/R draft analysts Matt Miller and Michael Felder, to be the runaway best safety in this class.

At his best, Collins has all the attributes that teams look for and need in a modern safety. He's a Joker-style playmaker who can lock up receivers in man coverage, hover in zone, be a force against the run and be very effective on the blitz.

That potent combination of skills is what today's hybrid and multiple schemes rely on. The schemes need safeties who can act as a matchup equalizer against "move" tight ends, pass-catching running backs and slot receivers.

That's why NFL.com media analyst Daniel Jeremiah dubbed Collins "the best safety in the country." Meanwhile, Bleacher Report's Miller believes Collins is the best bet for a team that needs this much help along the last line of its defense.

There are always going to be questions about drafting a strong safety this high. However, it's worth noting two points.

First, roles for safeties aren't as firmly set as they once were. Most defensive coordinators want interchangeable players who can move around to help disguise coverage and surprise quarterbacks.

Second, no team in the NFL needs more help at safety than Washington. The defense has been crippled by the franchise's decision to rely on past-it veterans and unskilled youngsters in recent seasons.

Two players in the former category, Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark, are also set for free agency this offseason.

Therefore, Collins, despite concerns over his coverage in deep areas, must merit a long look from Washington this offseason.

The safety class isn't particularly strong, just as the free-agency market at the position leaves a lot to be desired. That's worrying news for the Redskins but also something that should increase Collins' value in the eyes of team scouts.

As long as Allen and Gruden firmly direct their scouting toward the most obvious positions of need, Washington can make a full draft count. That should mean entering next season with a more balanced and competitive roster.