Preston Smith to Washington Redskins: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

One pick after bolstering the offensive line, Scot McCloughan stayed in the trenches to add an intriguing weapon to the defensive front seven. He used the sixth pick in the second round to make Preston Smith the latest addition to the Washington Redskins.

On the surface, this pick answers the need for an additional pass-rusher to both offset the loss of Brian Orakpo and offer support for Ryan Kerrigan. Smith's production at Mississippi State certainly indicates he can do both, after he logged nine sacks and made 15 tackles for loss in 2014, per CFBStats.com.

But how well will he fit at the edge of Washington's de facto 3-4 front? After all, this is a 6'5", 271-pounder who spent most of his time at the collegiate level playing with his hand in the dirt.

He also very much possesses the body type of a bulky, 4-3 end. As a result, Smith can be something of a stiff mover, particularly around the corner.

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler detailed the concerns regarding Smith's fluidity and move skills: "Not a loose mover and lacks ideal closing burst...doesn't own the edge speed to consistently win with athleticism alone...has some joint tightness and lacks the start/stop momentum to consistently turn the corner."

Meanwhile, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein dubs Smith "more of an edge-rounder than corner-turner."

For an opposing view, B/R analysts Matt Miller and Chris Simms loved the pick. Both consider Smith excellent value, but it's Simms' analysis that's particularly intriguing.

He compares Smith to former New England Patriots great Willie McGinest and notes how he can be moved around to attack offenses from a variety of alignments. That's a potentially invaluable trait for a Washington defense sure to be more multiple this season:

The production is certainly there, but is the athletic range? Perhaps the Redskins are one team who won't care about the bulk.

McCloughan has made getting bigger on defense an offseason priority. It's most evident along the front three but also applies to edges where 2014 rookie rush linebacker Trent Murphy has been bulking up, per Stephen Czarda of the team's official site. Putting Smith's giant frame into the rotation certainly fits that plan.

The rotation definitely needed an infusion of fresh talent. Smith now joins Kerrigan and Murphy to give new Washington defensive coordinator Joe Barry a burgeoning arsenal of pressure-bringing weapons.

So far, McCloughan has answered two of the team's more pressing needs. Regardless of any reservations about Smith, that has to rate as a great start to his rebuilding efforts:

Now he can move on to addressing either running back, guard or inside linebacker in Round 3. Hitting on three needs in as many picks would already make this draft a win for the Burgundy and Gold.

But if Smith can't improve his movement, McCloughan may regret leaving a prospect such as Owamagbe Odighizuwa on the board.