Washington Redskins: Reassessing Draft Needs After 1st Wave of Free Agency

The Washington Redskins entered free agency sporting $25 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. In what has to be a Dan Snyder first, surprisingly, the team's done little thus far to eat into that number.

The extent of new general manager Scot McCloughan's work to date consists of Niles Paul's re-signing and defensive tackle Stephen Paea's four-year, $21 million contract, via ESPN.com's John Keim.

With this in mind, the team's draft needs, if anything, have only grown since season's end. Of the team's 17 free agents, only four have been re-signed.

Now that the first wave of free agency is behind us, the time has come for us to reassess Washington's needs entering the 2015 NFL draft.

Running Back

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Running back wasn't a pressing need prior to free agency for the Redskins. But with Roy Helu leaving the pastures of D.C. in favor of the Oakland Raiders, it's since become one.

Helu may have only been a part-time player in Washington, but he played a pivotal role in the team's passing game. As the third-down back, he posted 42 receptions for 477 yards and two touchdowns in 2014.

Considering how little Alfred Morris and Silas Redd have contributed as receivers in both their NFL and collegiate careers, Chris Thompson stands as the only potential in-house replacement for Helu.

Marred by injuries in each of his two NFL seasons, and collegiately at Florida State, Thompson can't be counted on to fulfill this role, though.

With that said, a running back should be in play for the Redskins when the draft rolls around. A player who bided his time at USC, Javorius Allen should be on the team's radar after his breakout junior campaign.

Allen ran for 1,489 yards and tallied 41 receptions for 458 yards in the passing game. While he could complement Morris initially as a rookie, with NFL.com's Lance Zierlein likening him to a workhorse back on the pro level, Allen could ultimately supplant Morris, a free agent in 2016, in the starting lineup.

Tackle

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The Redskins weren't short on options in free agency to bolster their right tackle position. The likes of Bryan Bulaga and Orlando Franklin were allowed to test the market.

Living by his creed to build from within, though, McCloughan's only move was the re-signing of Tom Compton. Rated as a below-average starter by Pro Football Focus, Compton profiles at best to be a backup swing tackle.

With Morgan Moses still recovering from Lisfranc surgery, not to mention the fact that he's not a McCloughan draft pick, Washington will have to address this position early in the draft.

Enter Andrus Peat. The junior Stanford product is steadily climbing up draft boards. As it stands currently, he's Scout Inc.'s top rated offensive tackle and the No. 7 prospect overall.

A player ESPN's Todd McShay (h/t Nick Powell of NJ.com) thinks can eventually transition to left tackle—remember, 2015 is the final year on Trent Williams' rookie deal—Peat wouldn't be a reach for Washington at the No. 5 spot.

Compared to D'Brickashaw Ferguson by CBSSports' Rob Rang, Peat would upgrade a unit that allowed an NFC-high 58 sacks last season.

Guard

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Clint Boling? Signed. Mike Iupati? Signed. James Carpenter? Signed.

It's no wonder why Chris Chester is still donning a Redskins uniform: The guard market has already dried up two days into free agency.

Still, between Chester's declining play and Shawn Lauvao ending his first season in D.C. as Pro Football Focus' 37th-ranked guard (h/t Maurice Barksdale of Riggo's Rag), guard is a position the team has to address. 

Spencer Long is waiting in the wings, but the team could still use an infusion of young talent, as former third-round pick Josh LeRibeus hasn't exactly worked out.

A mauler in the run game, a prospect like La'el Collins would seem to be a fit.

Two years removed from fielding the NFL's top rushing attack, the Redskins fell to 19th in rushing in 2014. Undersized up front, the team specifically struggled to run up the middle. Back in 2012, Washington's backs averaged 5.1 yards per carry on runs up the middle, according to ESPN.com. Last season, this number dropped to 4.1 yards per rush.

This is where Collins comes in. While he has experience at both guard and tackle, his NFL future is on the inside. ESPN.com gave him an average grade in pass protection, but he was rated as an exceptional run blocker:

"

Has massive frame. Fires off the ball with very good straight-line burst for his size. Has very good lower-body strength and strong hands to drive and steer defenders off the line. Strong drive-blocker that consistently generates movement. Can reach second level easily but is not a natural bender and has a difficult time hitting moving targets.

"

Projected by NFL.com's Charles Davis to fall out of the first round, Collins should be a target of the Skins in Round 2.

Outside Linebacker

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Needing to bolster a pass rush that was too reliant on Ryan Kerrigan in 2014, Washington turned its focus toward the defensive line. After cutting ties with Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen, the team reached pacts with Ricky Jean-Francois and Paea.

Factor in incumbents Frank Kearse, Jason Hatcher and Chris Baker, and the team has the makings of a stout defensive front. All that's missing is, well, the most important position: the linebacker spot opposite Kerrigan.

Brian Orakpo is testing the free-agent waters. And even if he returned, between he and Trent Murphy, the team doesn't have a game-changer at the position.

You know, someone like Vic Beasley.

In 48 games (25 starts) at Clemson, Beasley amassed 52.5 tackles for loss, 33.0 sacks, 29 quarterback pressures and seven forced fumbles. Clemson's career leader in sacks, he was also a two-time first-team All-American.

After the showing he put on at the combine, there's little reason to believe Beasley won't translate this success to the NFL level. For a team that finished 21st in sacks in each of the past two years, Beasley is just what the doctor ordered.

Safety

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Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark had their faults—tackling and coverage chief among them—but even they were an upgrade over Washington's current crop of safeties—they were starters, after all.

Currently, Duke Ihenacho, Trenton Robinson and Phillip Thomas are the team's top options to fill the void left by Clark's retirement and Meriweather's foray into free agency.

While the team has been linked to the likes of Marcus Gilchrist and Ron Parker, it's already struck out with Antrel Rolle, as he signed with the Chicago Bears, via Keim.

With a low supply and a high demand for safeties throughout the league, the Redskins have little choice but to address this need in the draft. A weak draft for safeties this year, the team will have to target one early if it's to find an impact performer.

A part-time receiver in junior college, Damarious Randall registers as one such player. An All-Pac-12 performer at Arizona State, Randall finished his senior campaign with 87 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups and three interceptions.

Looking at his combine performance, in which he posted a 4.46 second 40-yard dash and 38-inch vertical jump, Fox Sports' Kevin Zimmerman sees in Randall a player capable of playing cornerback and free safety.

For a Washington pass defense Football Outsiders ranked as the league's worst, word of Randall's versatility has to be music to new defensive coordinator Joe Barry's ears.

All signings are via ESPN.com.