Washington Redskins: Latest Combine News and Rumors

If he didn't know it already, Scot McCloughan is about to find out just how big a job he faces as new general manager of the Washington Redskins. The hype around his reputation as an architect of talented rosters, established with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, has pushed the anticipation for his first combine with the Redskins to fever pitch.

But McCloughan's eye for talent will be tasked when faced with so many needs on the roster. The latest pre-combine rumors surrounding this franchise reflect the scale of the rebuild ahead of McCloughan.

It's become a prevailing theme in mock drafts to see Washington predicted to acquire a new edge-rusher. There's also interesting news regarding a top offensive line prospect, as well as a different perspective on how the team views its own situation in the trenches.

Here are the most intriguing rumors for the Redskins as the combine fast approaches.

McCloughan Has a Year of Bad Planning to Make Up for

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McCloughan will have to hit it big in his first draft in charge because team president Bruce Allen has left him a mess. That's the view of CSN Washington reporter Rich Tandler: "McCloughan has a big job in front of him because the Redskins have made very little progress in the past year. Needs that existed a year ago as Bruce Allen led the personnel team into Indianapolis still exist."

Tandler noted how Allen's stop-gap solutions in the secondary and along the offensive line have left those positions threadbare one season on. He also described how attempts to freshen up the pass rush fell flat.

The direct implication is that the pressure is on McCloughan to find quick solutions to longstanding problems. It's something that certainly won't be achieved in a single draft, but the process will add extra importance to every selection McCloughan makes.

The best way to underpin a roster with a winning foundation is to consistently find playmakers via the draft. By making that his focus, McCloughan can encourage a "culture change at Redskins Park," according to Rick Snider of The Washington Post:

"McCloughan is concentrating on the draft — as he should. Great teams are built through the draft. Free agency is only supposed to patch teams because not many foundational players leave their original club."

By this time next year, Redskins fans will have received a very good idea of just how skilled McCloughan is on draft day. But the first step toward a favorable grade will be making some shrewd assessments at the combine.

The following ideas could lead the agenda.

Taking a Pass-Rusher at No. 5 Becoming a Familiar Theme

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If many of the latest mock drafts are anything to go by, expect McCloughan to carefully run the rule over every highly touted pass-rusher at the combine. Several pundits believe bolstering the pass rush—specifically finding a replacement for free-agent outside linebacker Brian Orakpo—is how Washington should use the fifth overall pick.

Among them is ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. He has the Redskins opting for Nebraska rush end Randy Gregory (h/t ESPN Redskins reporter John Keim), whom Kiper dubs a "freak athlete."

Keim also cites fellow ESPN pundit Todd McShay sending Missouri ace Shane Ray to Washington at fifth overall. That's a feeling shared by NFL.com Media analyst Charles Davis.

Meanwhile, B/R National Lead Writer Michael Schottey suggests Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. is the better fit for a team that logged just 36 sacks in 2014.

It seems clear many believe McCloughan can't avoid looking for a pressure specialist at the top of his draft. It isn't just last season's dismal sack totals motivating this thinking.

Orakpo's future is also a major issue. When healthy, he's the team's best natural pass-rusher. However, health has been a rarity for the six-year pro, who's missed 25 games since entering the pros.

The veteran entered last season adorned with the franchise tag, but responded with just half a sack through seven games. These factors could encourage the new-look front office to ditch 2009's first-round pick, according to another ESPN report from Keim:

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I don't have a great sense on their plans for him just yet, but it's hard to see them investing much in him given his age (he'll be 29) and the fact he's coming off another arm injury and when healthy last season did not make the game-changing plays Jay Gruden said he wanted to see.

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Of the options mooted in the mock draft landscape, Gregory is the most intriguing. He's got the build and awesome takeoff speed of a natural rush linebacker and has already professed a desire to play in a 3-4 scheme, per Associated Press writer Eric Olson (h/t The News Tribune).

As an excellent scheme fit, Gregory compares well to some of football's top pass-rushers. Rick Snider of The Washington Post dubs him a "smaller version of Denver defensive end DeMarcus Ware."

With his flexibility and quickness, Gregory seems a natural choice for the open-side rusher this defense needs. However, Snider notes that a player who experienced his own share of injury niggles in college, needs to ace the physical in Indianapolis, as well as prove his 240-pound frame can handle the bench press.

If Gregory fails to shine in these areas, McCloughan could turn to Ray. He's a more natural D-end whom Snider has suggested is the "Redskins' Plan B."

There's certainly an obvious need to add another pass-rusher or two during this draft. Getting to choose from a class loaded with marquee talent at the position will make the events in Indy fascinating viewing for Washington.

Kirk Cousins Could Still Be Trade Bait

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Trades are always a strong possibility with McCloughan at the controls. If he's looking for possible bait to help accrue extra picks, he could see if backup passer Kirk Cousins still has a market.

The 2012 fourth-rounder certainly did last season. Mike Jones of The Washington Post has reported how the Cleveland Browns offered a fourth-round pick for Cousins ahead of the 2014 draft.

Yet Jones stated the Redskins wanted second-round compensation. He also notes how the franchise won't get that this time for a player entering the final year of his rookie deal.

There's merit to dealing Cousins, in the sense it would remove one more layer of intrigue from the convoluted situation under center. His exit would make the competition for the starting job a two-way fight between Robert Griffin III and Colt McCoy.

However, head coach Jay Gruden has plenty of issues with Griffin's game. Meanwhile, McCoy has an excellent grasp of the scheme, underrated mobility and a knack for dragging his team over the finishing line. Yet he's never been the most physically gifted passer.

Cousins certainly has a talented arm, even if that talent can be a little fickle. Jones describes the dilemma surrounding the former Michigan State star:

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At his best, Cousins led the offense to season highs in points (41 versus Jacksonville, 34 versus Philadelphia) and passing yards (427 vs. Philly and 354 versus Arizona). Cousins had four multiple-touchdown games, while Colt McCoy had just one, and Griffin had none.

But at his worst, Cousins was a turnover machine, throwing four late-game picks against the Giants and three more game-costing interceptions against Arizona.

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Ironing out Cousins' accident-prone streak would be a worthy project for Gruden and new quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh. The Washington offense is clearly more effective when Cousins is firing the passes and spreading the ball around. He's certainly the best fit for the pocket-based game Gruden prefers.

But if there's a belief he'll never learn to protect the football, the Redskins should cash in on Cousins. Snapping up an extra choice, even a fourth-rounder, could prove more valuable than keeping a quarterback coaches don't trust on the roster.

Potential 1st-Round Pick Brandon Scherff Rated as a Guard

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Brandon Scherff seems like an ideal fit for a team that surrendered 58 sacks last season. Truthfully, Washington's problems along the O-line stretch back almost a decade.

As the Outland Trophy winner, Iowa's left tackle Scherff makes sense. B/R Draft Analyst Matt Miller has tabbed Scherff fifth overall, citing his versatility to play every line spot except center as a major selling point.

Scherff may be a jack of many trades, but which one has he mastered? According to NFL.com Media draft analyst Mike Mayock, Scherff fits best at guard.

That could deter the Redskins, according to CSN Washington writer Rich Tandler. He states how many fans had hoped Scherff would become this team's first competent right tackle since Jon Jansen.

But Tandler thinks taking a player seemingly best suited for the interior at No. 5 would be overvaluing the position: "Some will debate whether there is enough value in the right tackle position to justify using the fifth pick to fill it. There is almost no case that can be made for using such a high pick on a guard."

While that's not an unreasonable argument, it may not hold much weight in D.C. When a team's had this much trouble along the offensive front, it can pretty much justify using any high pick on a quality trench warrior.

A strong offensive line is the foundation of a successful offense. New line coach Bill Callahan knows that after spending last season molding a collection of high first-round picks, including guard Zack Martin, into a cohesive group that inspired a Dallas Cowboys playoff push.

It's also not as if the roster McCloughan's inherited doesn't have obvious holes at guard. Specifically, right guard Chris Chester seems like the classic cap casualty.

Mike Jones of The Washington Post has highlighted how Chester's lack of size, general struggles and a potential savings of $4 million could see the 32-year-old's time in burgundy and gold brought to an end.

Plugging Scherff into the middle could be the key starting point to finally overhauling this porous position group. That would certainly justify using a top-five pick.

Washington May Settle for Internal Solutions Along the O-Line

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In a potential scenario that's sure to give many fans nightmares, the Redskins may opt to improve from within along the offensive front. Walter Football writer Charlie Campbell believes there's an optimism about the team's possible "in-house solutions."

That means 2014 third-round picks Morgan Moses and Spencer Long will get another chance to make the grade. Both have the size Gruden and Callahan will likely covet as they shift away from zone-based techniques to power-style blocking.

Wide-bodied 6'6", 318-pounder Moses still seems like a fit at right tackle. Meanwhile, Long's 6'5", 311-pound frame lends itself well to adding more size in the middle.

Both could get an extended look this offseason, as Real Redskins blogger Rich Tandler states: "The coaching staff does not believe that the offensive line is the five-alarm dumpster fire that most fans seem to believe it is."

Frankly, that's a worrying thought. Settling for incumbents and recruiting bargain-basement newbies is what's allowed this line to fall into chronic decay.

With a number of prospects, including Scherff, La'el Collins and Andrus Peat ticketed for the first round, as well as depth at guard and center, 2015's draft class should be a haven for line-needy teams.

Standing pat would seem like an unnecessary and major risk in this context.

All successful rebuilding jobs are those that make more quality in the trenches a priority. McCloughan can use this combine to find the front-seven playmakers and robust blockers this team needs to improve on both sides of the ball.