Best Possible Outcomes for Washington Redskins' Top 3 Draft Picks

Relatively quiet in free agency—is that a first under owner Daniel Snyder?—the Washington Redskins have little choice but to find impact players early in the 2015 NFL draft.

Fortunately for them, though, this happens to be a specialty of new general manager Scot McCloughan. Patrick Willis, Frank Gore and Joe Staley are just a few of the impact players McCloughan nabbed in the first three rounds of the draft during his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers.

Not that he hasn't had his misses—Kentwan Balmer, anyone?—but with glaring holes at safety, outside linebacker and along the offensive line, Washington needs similar results from McCloughan in his first go-round in D.C.

With that said, keeping value in mind, here are the five best possible outcomes for the Redskins' top three draft picks.

Marcus Mariota, Bud Dupree, Anthony Harris

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Is quarterback a pressing need in Washington? It depends on who you ask.

Putting last year's struggles behind him, head coach Jay Gruden has already named Robert Griffin III his starter entering the 2015 season. Also, Colt McCoy re-signed with the team.

What does it matter, though?

Washington is 7-25 the past two seasons, and with that, no quarterback on the roster has a rightful claim to the starting job. Marcus Mariota isn't a perfect fit in D.C.—he still needs work as a pocket passer—but when faced with this reality, how can the Skins pass him up?

So whether he's the team's long-term starter or just a trade chip, Mariota carries the most value at the No. 5 spot.

As for the second round, Bud Dupree would be an ideal choice to fill the void left by Brian Orakpo's departure.

Trent Murphy, last year's second-round pick, turned in a solid rookie season. He was Pro Football Focus' sixth-highest-graded outside linebacker in defending the run last season.

Even with that said, the team could still use an explosive pass-rusher coming off the edge. 

One of the top performers at the combine in the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jump, via NFL.com, Dupree is that prospect. Raw from a technique perspective, he leaned on his 4.5 speed to wreak havoc on opposing offenses at Kentucky. In his final two seasons, Dupree tallied 13.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.

With both of last year's starting safeties out the door, Washington needs to address its safety position in the third round.

Enter Anthony Harris.

An All-ACC performer at Virginia, Harris brings the type of balance Washington has long lacked at the safety position.

On the nation's 20th-ranked rushing defense in 2014, Harris was the team's second-leading tackler on rushing plays with 66 tackles, according to the team's official website.

A notable ball hawk, Harris finished his career with 11 interceptions. In 2013, he matched former NFL standout Ronde Barber's mark for interceptions in a season with eight, which is second all-time in school history.

Recent signee Jeron Johnson figures to get the first crack at winning a starting safety spot. Seeing how Duke Ihenacho is the lone Washington safety with starting experience, though, Harris too will be in play for a starting gig out the gate.

Leonard Williams, Cameron Erving, Anthony Harris

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Are the Redskins in dire need of help along the defensive line? No.

Now that the team has paired newcomers Stephen Paea and Terrance Knighton with holdovers Frank Kearse, Jason Hatcher and Chris Baker, the defensive front is an actual strength.

Need or not, though, Washington can ill-afford to pass on the draft’s top defensive prospect if he’s available. And there is little doubt that prospect is Leonard Williams. CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler and Rob Rang went as far as to compare him to Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Gerald McCoy.

On to the second round.

You'd think otherwise, but even after allowing 58 sacks in 2014, the Redskins have done little in free agency to upgrade their offensive line. An All-ACC performer at both center and tackle at Florida State, Cameron Erving could make this a moot point if he were selected. 

Not only does he sport an impressive combination of strength and agility, but, as previously noted, his versatility would give Washington options in how it fields its starting unit next season.

Vic Beasley, Damarious Randall, Josue Matias

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"Now we here!" 

The bottom may not be where Vic Beasley's stock started at, a la Drake, but he's been steadily moving up draft boards since the end of his collegiate career at Clemson. And what a career it was.

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

Previously left off Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board of draft prospects, behind a stellar showing at the combine, Beasley has since risen to 10th overall.

He still struggles to take on blockers in the run game, but for a Washington defense that's been routinely abused in the passing game, the team can live with this wart for the time being.

In the second round, safety Damarious Randall should pique the team's interest. That is, if he's available:

"

Love Damarious Randall's game. Gave a 2nd rd grade & w/ how weak the draft & remaining FAs are at the safety position, could sneak into 1st

— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) March 14, 2015 "

While undersized at 5'11". 196 pounds, Randall is one of the better tackling safeties you'll see in this year's class. In just two years at Arizona State, he tallied 177 tackles. Since Washington was ranked 21st in the league by Pro Football Focus in missed tackles last season, this isn't something you should overlook.

As for the third round, Josue Matias is the prospect to watch.

A three-year starter at Florida State, Matias brings the pass-blocking skills of a tackle to the guard spot. Compared to James Carpenter by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Matias also brings to the table the size (6'5", 309 lbs) Gruden has long clamored for up front.

Brandon Scherff, Bud Dupree, Jaquiski Tartt

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Ideally, Washington would trade back and then select Brandon Scherff. While the team's woes along the offensive line are well-documented, the debate over Scherff's best NFL position puts his worthiness to go fifth overall into question. 

Some, like NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, feel Scherff is better suited playing guard at the next level. And you have to remember that just two guards have gone in the top 10 since 2000.

But in the event the Redskins aren't in Zierlein's camp, he's fair game at the No. 5 spot.

It will take new offensive line coach Bill Callahan some time to hone his technique and footwork in the passing game, but Scherff is already a mauler in the run game. For the NFL's 19th-ranked rushing attack, that's reason enough for the team to select him. 

A player who didn't get much recognition playing at Samford, Jaquiski Tartt should be a target when the third round rolls around after his performance at the combine.

Via NFL.com, Tartt was one of the top performers at safety in the 40-yard dash (4.53) and broad jump.

His career totals of 277 tackles, six interceptions and 20 passes defended may not impress you because of the level (Division III) he played at. But in the words of Zierlein, "Tartt has the size, athleticism and overall talent to be an NFL starter."

Devoid of starting-caliber safeties to work with, this has to be music to defensive coordinator Joe Barry's ears.

Landon Collins, Eli Harold, Josue Matias

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Between Ryan Clark missing tackles and Brandon Meriweather missing games—not to mention coverage assignments—the Redskins' standing as Football Outsiders' worst pass defense in 2014 isn't the least bit shocking.

So it goes without saying that the team could use a player of Landon Collins' talents—just not at the price of the fifth overall pick. Only three safeties have gone that high since 1991. With that in mind, to get the best value, Washington would have to trade down prior to selecting him.

But back to Collins. An All-American at Alabama, he would instantly enhance the team's ability to cover opposing tight ends. According to Football Outsiders, the Skins on average conceded 7.5 catches and 58.4 yards per game last season to tight ends, 29th in the league.

Per ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., this is a strength of Collins': "Has no trouble handling deep-half zone responsibilities and appears capable of holding up in deep-third coverage if he makes proper reads. Can mirror TE's one-on-one and has no trouble carrying them down the seam."

Improving the coverage on the back end only goes so far, though. Hence the need for Eli Harold in the second round.

A second-team All-ACC performer at Virginia, he had 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2014. Lauded for his combination of size (6'3", 247 lbs) and agility, Harold was compared to Ezekiel Ansah by CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler.

Provided he marries his physical gifts with improved technique, Harold figures to be an impact player out the gate for Washington, making Orakpo a distant memory.