Matt Jones to Washington Redskins: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

Washington needed another running back to both help ease the burden on Alfred Morris and also offer something a little different than 2012's sixth-round sensation. Well, general manager Scot McCloughan and the Redskins at least solved half of that puzzle by adding Matt Jones 95th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.

What McCloughan got was a natural battering ram between the tackles. Jones is a true grinder who will never shy away from or fall prey to first contact. Instead, he'll use every bit of his 6'2", 231-pound frame to manufacture additional yards.

Where he's lacking is in terms of dynamic moves and explosive speed. This is certainly no game-breaking, home run threat. CBS Sports' Rob Rang described him as a "bit of a one-trick pony as a powerful downhill runner. Lacks the preferred top-end speed and isn't particularly nimble to make defenders miss in tight quarters."

The Redskins have lacked that kind of field-stretching quickness out of the backfield while bruiser Alfred Morris has lugged the rock. They've also missed the value of a dependable, pass-catching back.

Sadly, Jones won't offer that skill either, according to ESPN's John Keim:

If you're thinking Jones is beginning to sound a lot like a fullback, don't worry, you're likely not alone. But his lack of big-play potential and versatility makes him a strange pick for a team that waved goodbye to multi-use back Roy Helu Jr. this offseason.

Now the burden is firmly on fragile, pint-sized pace merchant Chris Thompson assuming the role of third-down weapon. It's a job he recently claimed is his to lose, during an interview with Redskins Nation host Larry Michael on Redskins.com.

Yet given his injury history—Thompson's missed 28 games in two years—it's a risk handing him such an important role.

But where Jones really fits is as a natural power back for a ground game set to be more physical this season. Adding a runner suited to the new scheme was an obvious need this offseason.

B/R's Matt Miller thinks this is where the Jones pick makes most sense, particularly given McCloughan's familiarity with power backs from his days with both the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers:

Jones will be effective in the altered rushing schemes for 2015. But any back who runs the way he does always takes a lot of hits and incurs plenty of tread on the tires.

Jones is no exception. Keim detailed how the player has already had health concerns at the collegiate level:

McCloughan has certainly taken a gamble here. Yet strictly in terms of meeting a need, he scores points for equipping the offense with a natural short-yardage demon who can also spell Morris.

If the player who's made his name in the Shanahan-style zone-stretch scheme struggles with the new concepts, the Redskins have a ready made power back waiting to fill in.

Still, it would be nice to see McCloughan use one of his seven picks on Day 3 to add a more explosive backfield weapon as well.