The Complete Washington Redskins Draft Primer

Finally, the wait is over. The 2014 campaign ended months ago, but for Washington Redskins fans, the lead-up to the first round of the 2015 NFL draft has been even longer.

Why? Washington hasn't sported a first-round pick since 2012. Owners of the fifth overall pick, the Redskins now have a reason for their fans to tune in on the first day of the draft this year.

But what will they do with it under the direction of new general manager Scot McCloughan?

What needs does Washington have, and who is it targeting to fill them?

Let's find out. Here is the complete draft primer for the Redskins.

List of 2015 Draft Picks

Nick Wass/Associated Press

• Round 1, pick 5
• Round 2, pick 38
• Round 3, pick 69
• Round 4, pick 105
• Round 5, pick 141
• Round 6, pick 182
• Round 7, pick 222

The headliner here has to be the Redskins' first-round pick. You know, they finally have one! Not only that, but the team owns all of its draft picks this year.

Still, while this is an increase over what the team has grown accustomed to these past few years, Washington remains unsatisfied.

Speaking at the team's predraft press conference, per CSN's Rich Tandler, McCloughan emphasized the need for the franchise to acquire as much talent as it could. 

“We’d love to get more picks in this draft,” McCloughan said. “We have our seven originals right now, I’d love to get 10-plus out of this thing.”

Since they're selecting in a prime position atop the first and second round, if the Redskins can't meet this mandate, it won't be because of a lack of trade interest from opposing teams.

Top Needs

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Giving defensive coordinator Joe Barry some talent to work with has to be on Washington's to-do list.

Top Needs:

• Cornerback
• Safety
• Outside linebacker
• Offensive line

The Redskins weren't top-heavy in talent in 2014. Marred by injury, the team's 4-12 record also indicated an absence of depth.

So in this regard, the positions listed above aren't the only holes the team needs to fill. They just happen to be the most glaring weaknesses.

With that in mind, let's now break down each position of need.

Cornerback

Internal options:

• DeAngelo Hall
• Chris Culliver
• David Amerson
• Tracy Porter
• Bashaud Breeland

A muddied depth chart on paper, Washington's crop of corners shouldn't entice much confidence that the team will improve drastically on last year's showing. And remember, Football Outsiders' worst passing defense in 2014 resided in D.C.

As the Redskins' prized free-agent acquisition, Culliver figures to headline this position group. 

Avoiding penalties will have to be a point of emphasis, but Breeland flashed enough last season to be the odds-on favorite to start opposite Culliver. 

Now for the drop-off. 

Hall is coming off two surgeries on his torn Achilles and isn't even a shoo-in to make the team. Washington reworked his contract this offseason to protect the team against injury. According to ESPN.com's Field Yates, Hall's 2015 base salary is now non-guaranteed.

While he didn't suffer an injury as significant as Hall's, Porter only managed to play in three games in 2014. It was a familiar narrative for Porter, as it was the sixth NFL season in which he's missed at least three games.

Lastly, there's Amerson. Of the players currently on the roster, he was rated by Pro Football Focus as the worst defender in the secondary in 2014.

Safety

Internal options:

• Jeron Johnson
• Dashon Goldson
• Phillip Thomas
• Duke Ihenacho

Brought in by McCloughan this offseason, Johnson and Goldson are the players in line to replace last year's starting tandem of Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark.

How much of an upgrade are they, though?

Clark may have led the NFL in missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus, but Goldson wasn't far behind him.

Despite playing nearly 200 fewer snaps, his 20 missed tackles in 2014 were just two off from Clark's league-leading total. 

Speaking of snaps, whether it was due to injury or suspension, Meriweather missed his fair share of them during his time in Washington. The reasoning isn't the same, but the same could be said about Johnson in Seattle.

There's no shame in backing up stars Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. But there's no playing time either. As a result he started one game in four years with the Seahawks. 

Goldson's age and contract—he'll be 32 and make $7.5 million in 2016—make it imperative that the Skins find a safety in this draft.

Outside Linebacker

Internal options:

• Ryan Kerrigan
• Trent Murphy
• Jackson Jeffcoat

With a suspect secondary, Washington's pass rush will have to lead the charge in improving the pass defense. To some extent, with the signings of Terrance Knighton and Stephen Paea, the team has already made strides on this end. 

In most 3-4 defenses, though, the top pass-rushers are on the edge. The Skins are well off with Kerrigan on one side. But with Brian Orakpo no longer on the roster, there's a void opposite him.

While solid against the run as a rookie, Murphy's contributions as a pass-rusher were minimal. According to Pro Football Focus—h/t CSN's Tarik El-Bashir—in 15 games, eight of which were starts, he tallied 2.5 sacks and 15 quarterback pressures.

As a team that's only registered 36 sacks for two years running, it's paramount for Washington to find a pass-rusher, or two, in this draft. 

Offensive Line

Internal options:

• Trent Williams
• Shawn Lauvao 
• Kory Lichtensteiger
• Chris Chester
• Tom Compton
• Spencer Long
• Morgan Moses

At guard and tackle—even center—the team could use an upgrade. After all, Washington's offensive line allowed an NFC-high 58 sacks in 2014. Oh, and let's not forget, this performance came from the NFL's most expensive offensive front, per Spotrac.com.

With Williams as their only upper-echelon starter, and he's a free agent in 2016, the Skins shouldn't be opposed to selecting any position along the line. 

Ideally, new offensive line coach Bill Callahan could aid Long and Moses in their development. Considering McCloughan didn't draft them, though, Callahan won't be married to either player.

It could prove to be difficult based on who is available, but the Redskins should look to address this position group within the first three rounds.

Top Targets

Associated Press

As it stands, Leonard Williams is the draft's top overall prospect.

Hitting on the draft in its entirety is important. But as Washington knows firsthand, missing on a first-round pick can set a team back for years. 

With that said, here are the top four players the Redskins should target with the fifth overall pick.

Leonard Williams (DL)

Does Leonard Williams fill an immediate need? No.

Between Jason Hatcher, Frank Kearse, Chris Baker and signees Ricky Jean-Francois, Knighton and Paea, the team already has the pieces to form a formidable defensive front.

Still, this is Leonard Williams! 

Various mock drafts may lead you to believe otherwise, but the draft's top overall prospect isn't Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota.

Per NFL.com's Chase Goodbread, one scout went as far as to compare Williams to NFL great Reggie White. 

McCloughan has long preached taking the best player available. And by most accounts, Williams is just that.

Dante Fowler Jr. (DE/LB)

You've already been briefed on Washington's need for a pass-rusher. Already capable of defending the run, Dante Fowler Jr. has the tools to be an elite pass-rusher on the NFL level.

In the event you're not a believer, though, the scouting report of NFL.com's Lance Zierlein on Fowler will convince you he's the real deal:

"

Strong-side 3-4 outside linebacker with the physical traits and above-average potential to set the edge or spill runs wide to an early demise. Fowler is a competitive pass rusher getting by on athleticism and inside moves right now, but has a Pro Bowl ceiling with double-digit sack potential if he takes coaching and addresses his rush technique. 

"

Vic Beasley (DE/LB)

Vic Beasley isn't the complete prospect Fowler is, but he'd be a nice consolation in the event Fowler wasn't available. 

Not only was Beasley one of the top performers at his position at the NFL combine, but he was productive during his time at Clemson.

He registered 33 sacks and 29 quarterback pressures in 48 games, according to the school's official website. He's Clemson's career leader in sacks and was also a two-time, first-team All-American.

As a player who amassed 52.5 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups and seven forced fumbles in his collegiate career, he's the game-changer Orakpo never developed into because of injuries.

Brandon Scherff (OL)

The top offensive lineman in the draft, Brandon Scherff is mentioned here with the caveat that he plays tackle on the NFL level. Simply put, guards—a position some feel is Scherff's best NFL position—don't warrant a top-10 pick. Only two have gone that high since 2000.

A mauler in the running game, Scherff would bolster a Redskins rushing attack that has fell from first to 19th in yards in two short seasons.

Draft Rumors

Al Bello/Getty Images

Their last big draft trade didn't work out, but the Redskins won't shy away from making another one if the right offer comes along.

McCloughan Won't Rule Out Selecting Quarterback

Robert Griffin III's up-and-down play hasn't brought much clarity to the quarterback situation. But upon news the team would exercise his 2016 option, the likelihood of Washington selecting a quarterback early in the draft appeared slim.

Not so fast. 

At a predraft press conference, McCloughan declared RG3's option would have no impact on the team's draft process, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post.

"Like I said, if we get to the fifth pick and the best player is a quarterback, we’re taking the quarterback,” he said. 

With Mariota and Winston projected to be gone by the time the Redskins pick, McCloughan's scenario isn't likely to happen.

Still, at the very least, reading into his comments, there's possibility of the team selecting a quarterback later in the draft.

Peter King: Redskins, Atlanta Falcons Swap Picks

In his final mock draft, Peter King of Monday Morning Quarterback has the Redskins swapping their first-round pick with the Atlanta Falcons for an additional third-round pick.

Washington would miss out on Fowler under King's scenario, but with it likely that either Beasley or Scherff would be available at the No. 8 spot, it registers as a trade the team really should consider.

Ian Rapoport: Browns, Redskins Trade Talks

It's easier to say which teams the Cleveland Browns haven't talked to about trading up in the draft at this point. Nonetheless, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the Redskins have received calls from Cleveland in regard to the fifth overall pick:

"

#Browns have had talks with #Redskins over the past week about potentially moving up to No. 5. They’ve touched base with most Top 10 teams

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2015"

Depending on which of the Browns' first-round picks (12th and 19th overall) Washington would receive, if not both, the likes of Landon Collins and Randy Gregory could be in play.

Final Mock Draft

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The film has been studied, the drug and medical tests are in, and the team's needs are now crystal-clear after free agency.

Here is the final prediction on how Washington's draft will play out.

Round 1, pick 5: DL Leonard Williams, USC

Williams doesn't fill a large need, but value trumps everything at this point in the draft. More than anything, the Redskins have to acquire a surefire star with this pick, and Williams is just that. 

Who starts along Washington's defensive line opening day? Does it really matter? The starting lineup is all semantics.

With the pace of play in the NFL at an all-time high, it's a must for teams to implement a heavy rotation along the defensive line. Factoring in Hatcher's age and Knighton's one-year contract, McCloughan shouldn't hesitate to select the draft's top overall prospect.

Round 2, pick 38: DE/OLB Shane Ray, Missouri

Behind questions surrounding his toe and a recent citation for marijuana, Shane Ray's draft stock has taken a hit.

In the opinion of ex-NFL general manager Mark Dominik, via ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike, he'll drop to the third or fourth round as a result.

Viewed as a top-five pick by ESPN's Todd McShay just a week ago, Ray is worth the risk early in the second round. As Missouri's single-season record holder for sacks, with 14.5 in 2014, Ray will be an impact player out the gate for Washington so long as he's healthy.

Round 3, pick 69: WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma

The offensive line still needs to be addressed, but at this point in the draft, the value simply isn't there. A first-round talent, Dorial Green-Beckham would be a huge get—literally!—in the third round.

The 6'5" wideout's combination of size and speed is unmatched in this year's draft class. With his ability to high-point the football, Green-Beckham should thrive in the NFL as a red-zone target immediately, a la Kelvin Benjamin.

Washington was 24th in quarterback rating within the red zone, according to Sporting Charts, so this should be music to the ears of the team's quarterbacks. His past at Missouri is a red flag, but between the glaring lack of size and the bloated contracts of the team's top receivers, Green-Beckham is worth the risk here.

Round 4, pick 105: S Anthony Harris, Virginia

A ball hawk at Virginia, Anthony Harris is the playmaker the Redskins have needed in the secondary.

He finished his career with 11 interceptions. In 2013, he matched former NFL standout Ronde Barber's mark for interceptions in a season with eight—second all-time in school history.

Oh, and he can tackle too. According to the school's official website, Harris was the second-leading tackler on rushing plays for the nation's 20th-ranked rushing defense.

Round 5, pick 141: OG Josue Matias, Florida State

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 sports the size (6'5", 309 lbs) that head coach Jay Gruden has clamored for up front since being hired.

He's a work in progress as a run-blocker because of poor technique, but under Callahan, Matias could emerge as a starter by the end of his rookie season.

Round 6, pick 182: RB Karlos Williams, Florida State

Listed at 6'1" and 235 pounds with 4.48 speed, Karlos Williams has all the physical traits you want in a running back. Formerly a safety, what he's lacking is polish.

Fortunately, with Alfred Morris firmly entrenched as the starter, he won't be forced into action as a rookie. Thus, the team can be patient developing him, potentially as Morris' replacement in 2016.

Round 7, pick 222: C Max Garcia, Florida

Seventh-round picks aren't shoo-ins to make NFL rosters. With Max Garcia capable of playing every position along the line, though, you have to like his chances to stick in D.C.

At Maryland and Florida, he saw time at guard, tackle and center. During his senior season, he earned second-team All-SEC honors his first year at center. 

Garcia won't supplant Lichtensteiger in the starting lineup or any of the guards or tackles for that matter. Still, at the very least—and at a minuscule price tag—he bolsters the depth along the offensive line.