5 Late-Round Sleepers Who Would Be Perfect for Washington Redskins

Scot McCloughan's arrival as new general manager has got a lot of Washington Redskins fans buzzing ahead of the 2015 NFL draft. After all, McCloughan has a reputation as a top-notch evaluator of talent.

He established that niche with the San Francisco 49ers. But there it was mostly high-round draft picks who earned plaudits for him. Selecting prospects such as Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore in the early rounds underpinned a roster that eventually earned three trips to the NFC title game in four years, albeit post-McCloughan.

But true master team builders are only considered such once they've established a record for unearthing hidden gems from the draft's late rounds. McCloughan was part of the Seattle Seahawks front office that found elite cornerback Richard Sherman in Round 5 and Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith in Round 7.

That's where McCloughan can really make his mark in Washington. He can build a strong foundation on both sides of the ball, something Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen couldn't do in five years.

Here are the five late-round sleepers who would be perfect for the Redskins.

Where's Washington's Value in the Late Rounds?

Nick Wass/Associated Press

It's impossible to pinpoint precisely where to find a sleeper. Picks who live up to that tag are always gambles from a general manager. Whether it's looking past a lack of elite physical tools or banking on a shift in positions unlocking potential, every talent evaluator rolls the dice late in the draft.

But if McCloughan is going to have some kind of template for the draft's waning hours, it should be to focus on the trenches. As much as this team needs help along the offensive line, the defensive front could also use a few more talented bodies.

Fortunately, the final three rounds of this year's class house plenty of intriguing candidates. That's the emphasis of this list.

Corey Robinson, OT, South Carolina

USA TODAY Sports

The Redskins aren't exactly being shy about wanting to get bigger along the offensive front ahead of next season. That has to make South Carolina man mountain Corey Robinson an intriguing late-rounder to consider.

Changes at the coaching and front-office levels, along with schematic preferences, will require larger, more physical blockers than the lightweight zone-style blockers Shanahan stockpiled.

CSN Washington reporter Rich Tandler noted how head coach Jay Gruden favors power and "gap-blocking plays." He also referenced McCloughan's belief that football's a "big man's game."

Then Washington hired ex-Dallas Cowboys assistant Bill Callahan to coach the offensive line. ESPN Redskins writer John Keim quoted an unnamed NFL executive who stressed Callahan's preference for hat-on-hat blocking: "He’s heavier on the power and gap scheme."

That type of scheme usually requires big-bodied trench warriors. Robinson certainly qualifies for that description at 6'7" and 344 pounds.

He played tackle for the Gamecocks, but Robinson could easily project inside, where his size and initial power could dominate. CBS Sports analyst Rob Rang believes the one-time defensive lineman has good move skills for his mammoth size and could make the grade as a right tackle in the pros.

The Redskins have a major need at that position. They benched Tyler Polumbus last season, a decision long overdue. Tom Compton, a sixth-round pick in 2012, hardly excelled as a fill-in. Meanwhile, injury hit rookie Morgan Moses, who barely had the chance to make the position his own after missing eight games in 2014.

Robinson has the versatility and core skills to boast starter's potential in a power-based scheme. At the very least, he could provide depth at both guard and tackle on either side of the line.

Geneo Grissom, OLB, Oklahoma

USA TODAY Sports

In terms of athleticism, few prospects in the 2015 NFL draft are as intriguing as Geneo Grissom. He played linebacker, defensive end and even tight end for Oklahoma.

But at his core, Grissom is an edge-rusher of considerable potential. His long arms, initial quickness and thick frame make him a terror around the corner.

But many scouts may overlook Grissom because he doesn't have a fixed position. He's also raw in the nuances of the game.

NFL.com draft scribe Lance Zierlein chided Grissom for not being "very instinctual." However, CBS Sports analyst Rob Rang believes teams could benefit from betting on Grissom's long-term potential.

Washington should be one of the teams ready to take such a risk. Grissom has the attributes to be an excellent fit for the team's 3-4 defense.

He played rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme for the Sooners in 2014, per Walter Football writer Walter Cherepinsky. He could make the grade at that key position in D.C., at least in a situational pass-rusher role.

Terry Williams, NT, East Carolina

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Terry Williams is the quintessential late-round risk.

Sure, he's talented and has the physical attributes to be the kind of space-eating nose tackle Washington's 3-4 front has sorely lacked since 2010. But Williams has also earned two suspensions during his time at ECU. Of course, McCloughan may be prepared to overlook Williams' past if he believes this mass of destruction is ready to achieve his full potential.

If McCloughan makes that judgment, it will be difficult for Washington to pass on Williams. At 6'1" and 353 pounds, he is the prototype for the modern mammoth nose tackle.

At his best, he's beyond difficult to shift and dictates what an offense can and can't do. Williams was exactly that effective when he wrecked Virginia Tech's offense back in mid-September.

Sports Illustrated writer Andy Staples detailed just how disruptive Williams was:

"

After sitting out the Pirates’ first two games with a leg injury, Williams returned this week to clog both A gaps and frustrate Virginia Tech’s offense. The 6-foot-1 Loganville, Ga., native is a leverage nightmare for taller centers and guards, and his strength and bulk make him almost impossible to move. On Saturday he had five tackles and half a sack. His impact was far greater. He helped the Pirates limit the Hokies to 2.8 yards a carry.

"

That's the kind of presence in the middle that Washington's defense has been missing for too long. Instead, the team has tried to get by with undersized or unskilled (or both) players at the scheme's most important position.

Last season was a carousel of mediocre auditions for the leading role. None of Chris Baker, Barry Cofield Jr., Kedric Golston, Jarvis Jenkins and Frank Kearse managed to convince.

Chris Neild, a 2011 seventh-rounder, who's probably the best fit for the role, is set to enter free agency, per Spotrac.com. The 3-4 won't ever work in Washington until the team finds the right solution over center.

Williams has a long way to go to prove his past issues are behind him. However, he did make 34 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss, as well as registering 1.5 sacks in 2014, per CFBStats.com.

But his stock took a huge blow when ECU deemed him ineligible for Birmingham Bowl action, per NFL.com College Football 24/7 writer Mike Huguenin. He described Williams as having a "ton of talent, but he doesn't always show it." Huguenin also called Williams "flat-out dominating at times."

If he's convinced anybody in D.C., the Redskins should take a chance.

Jarvis Harrison, G, Texas A&M

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Washington's decision-makers may be talking about power schemes and greater size in the trenches. But the team would be wise not to abandon its successful zone principles altogether. Those techniques helped Alfred Morris produce a trio of 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Enter Jarvis Harrison, a surprisingly nimble and bulky road-grader. Despite standing 6'4" and weighing 330 pounds, Harrison can move his ample frame well.

That's an asset for zone schemes. So are his "initial quickness" and "burst to get to the second level," commended by CBS Sports draft pundit Rob Rang.

Harrison's blend of size and quickness has to appeal to a team that needs so much help along the interior. Starters Shawn Lauvao and Chris Chester were routinely tossed around and rocked out of their stances in 2014.

Neither offers the competence in every phase of blocking that Harrison displayed during his time at Texas A&M. This is one late-rounder who could surprise plenty around Redskins Park.

Deion Barnes, DE, Penn State

USA TODAY Sports

Any team with as much trouble getting to the passer as Washington has to give Penn State's Deion Barnes a long look. The Redskins tallied just 36 sacks in 2014, per statistics from NFL.com.

Improving that number will be a priority for new defensive coordinator Joe Barry. He'll need more quality pass-rushers to boost production.

Barnes has the physical skills of a flexible edge-rusher. Granted, those skills are raw. But the 6'4", 255-pounder has the frame, length and closing speed to routinely collapse the edge.

He has the look of a typical 'tweener, but Walter Football writer Walter Cherepinsky projects him as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

In the right scheme, Barnes' flexibility can be an asset. Washington can develop him as a hybrid, "elephant-style" pass-rusher who alternates between defensive end and linebacker in both base and sub-packages.

He racked up six sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pass breakup during his final year with the Nittany Lions, per CFBStats.com. The potential is clearly there. A role as a rush linebacker in Washington's rotation could be just what Barnes needs to help realize it.

Opportunities would be available at a position where Brian Orakpo is a free agent. Meanwhile, disappointing 2014 second-rounder Trent Murphy and the undrafted Jackson Jeffcoat still have a lot to prove.

The five possible sleepers on this list would all improve depth in key areas on both sides of the ball. In Barnes, Grissom and Williams, the Redskins might even gain instant rewards for taking a few risks.