Breaking Down Washington Redskins' Roster After the 2015 NFL Draft

Changes to the roster that ended last season 4-12 are set to be small yet significant ones for the Washington Redskins following the 2015 NFL draft. Of the 10 players picked by general manager Scot McCloughan, only two look like obvious starters at this point.

Still, if top pick Brandon Scherff can make the right tackle spot his own, he'll immediately solve a problem position that's plagued this team since 2010. Over on defense, Preston Smith could bolster the pass-rush potential of the front seven at a variety of positions.

As for the rest of Washington's draftees, running back Matt Jones and wide receiver Jamison Crowder could remake both the third-down offense and the return game. Meanwhile, the coverage units on special teams should be boosted by the litany of apparent depth players McCloughan added late on.

Here's what the Redskins' roster should look like post-draft.

Quarterback

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The job is Robert Griffin III's to lose. Based on his play during the last two seasons, 2012's second-overall pick may be a good bet to lose it by midseason.

Of course, the Redskins will hope Griffin makes rapid strides in his fourth year. A bolstered offensive line will certainly help.

For all his failings, Griffin has been subjected to a heavy beating and ceaseless pressure by a feeble front that's simply acted as a welcome mat for pass-rushers. Hopefully, Scherff's arrival changes that and the fifth pick in 2015 quickly becomes a bookend tackle to complement Pro Bowler Trent Williams.

One more thing that should help Griffin is a recommitment to the running game. McCloughan and Callahan want a power-based ground attack to set the stage for opportunities through the air.

Jones joining lead workhorse Alfred Morris gives Griffin two bruisers to lean on. Jones' skill as a blocker should also be invaluable on third downs.

With a potentially more solid structure around him, Griffin must start delivering. Specifically, he has to master the art of reading defenses and making quick, decisive throws that take what coverage gives him.

If he doesn't improve in those areas, both Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy will surely receive another chance to supplant the player dangerously close to bust status. The former has a good arm but makes crazy decisions under pressure. As for McCoy, he seems the most at ease in head coach Jay Gruden's offense.

A lot of uncertainty remains at the one place on the roster where every football team wants a sure thing.

Running Back

Jones coming to town isn't going to affect Morris. At least that's the view of Gruden, according to ESPN's John Keim:

"

Alfred's still the running back here. He's had three great seasons and that won't change. But to add another guy that can come in here and pound the rock a little bit doesn't hurt anything. It'll help Alfred in that regard, taking some carries off him. For the most part Alfred will be getting the bulk of the carries and Matt will get some too, obviously.

"

But Jones won't stay just a complementary piece if Morris struggles to adapt to the new blocking Callahan will install. After all, Morris has risen to prominence running behind the stretch-style zone blocking Gruden's predecessor Mike Shanahan brought to D.C. in 2010.

Gaining yards following drive and gap blocking is a different discipline. Morris certainly has the frame for the job, though, at 5'10" and 224 pounds.

But he's coming off his least productive season as a pro and is set to become a free agent in 2016. In this context, it's easy to see the selection of Jones as a more-than-gentle reminder to Morris that he enters this season under no small amount of pressure.

There are certainly similarities between Jones and some of the running backs McCloughan's worked with in the past. B/R draft analyst Matt Miller references McCloughan's time spent with Frank Gore, a runner he drafted with the San Francisco 49ers, as well as Marshawn Lynch with the Seattle Seahawks.

Jones says his style is similar to the latter powerhouse back, per Tom Schad of The Washington Times.

But it isn't only Morris who should feel the pressure following Jones' arrival at Redskins Park. The former Gators star's talent for identifying and flattening blitzing defenders could make him an asset on third downs.

Certainly, Washington's offense isn't going to get competent pass protection from mini mite Chris Thompson. The fifth-round pick in 2013 could find himself shoved off the roster altogether if Silas Redd, solid after going undrafted a year ago, can impress again this offseason.

Gruden's aim may be to enter the new campaign with three power-style backs able to split chores in the backfield.

At least whoever's lugging the rock should get the benefit of excellent blocking from fullback Darrel Young. The most tragically underused member of the offense, Young should finally have a bigger role thanks to the new ground scheme.

Wide Receiver

Don Wright/Associated Press

Despite an apparent embarrassment of riches at a seemingly loaded position, McCloughan still added two draftees to the wide receiver corps. Fourth-round pick Jamison Crowder and sixth-rounder Evan Spencer join DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Andre Roberts and Ryan Grant.

Crowder and Spencer's immediate impact will most likely come on special teams. The former is very dangerous returning punts, while the latter is a force in coverage.

If either player is going to feature in the passing game as a rookie, Crowder seems the more likely candidate. He has natural skills to thrive operating out of the slot.

Standing just 5'8" and weighing 185 pounds, Crowder can easily get lost in underneath traffic and squirm free of covering defenders. Once he's in space, his speed makes him a genuine big-play threat.

Gruden cited Crowder's flair for big plays as one of the key factors in the decision to pick him 105th overall, per Andrew Walker of Redskins.com. Walker also details how productive Crowder was during his days at Duke: "A four-year contributor for the Blue Devils, he appeared in 52 games in college, recording 283 catches for 3,641 yards (12.9 yards per catch) with 23 receiving touchdowns."

Crowder has a good chance to earn playing time as the kind of short-range outlet Griffin needs in 2015. He can challenge last year's fifth-round pick, Ryan Grant, for time in the slot.

That battle could either free Roberts to spend more time on the outside, or it could even condemn the former Arizona Cardinals third receiver to an early exit from D.C.

Two flankers not going anywhere this season are Jackson and Garcon. Both remain premier weapons in any offense.

While Jackson is a safe bet to continue terrorizing defenses deep, Gruden must get catch-machine Garcon more involved after his numbers dipped in 2014.

Tight End

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

McCloughan scored major plus points when he brought back Niles Paul during free agency. A breakout player in 2014, Paul has the move skills and sure hands to regularly pose matchup problems from the tight end position.

So does Jordan Reed, a dynamic athlete with all the natural skills to become one of the league's best at his position. Only a penchant for injuries and inconsistent concentration can hold Reed back.

His struggles are why it made so much sense keeping Paul in town. Ideally, both will stay healthy and productive in the new season, giving Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay two roving playmakers to help dissect coverage.

Logan Paulsen is the de facto blocking option. Still, while the 6'5", 261-pounder has the size for the role, he doesn't always pack a punch on Sundays.

Overall, though, the three players at this position offer a nice complement of skills and the potential for major production. That's why it was wisely left unaffected by this year's draft haul.

Offensive Line

This group simply had to be upgraded after surrendering 58 sacks in 2014. Thankfully, McCloughan added three rookies to the mix.

More important, he smartly used a high draft pick to get an instant contributor and avoid the half-measures that have done nothing to fix the trenches in recent seasons. The day-one starter of choice will be fifth overall pick Brandon Scherff.

He's already being counted on to win the job at right tackle, according to ESPN's John Keim. If Scherff makes that spot his own, he'll solve a problem position that's been the bane of the O-line since Shanahan's ill-fated trade for Jammal Brown back in 2010.

The decision to select Scherff likely leaves Tom Compton and Morgan Moses competing for backup roles at both edges of the line. But things aren't anywhere close to as clear on the inside.

Right guard is up for grabs between Chris Chester and Spencer Long. But the duo should also factor Josh LeRibeus and fourth-round pick Arie Kouandjio into the mix.

The latter is a great fit for this season's shift in philosophy up front. Kounadjio utilized power techniques during his time at Alabama. The 6'5", 310-pounder is particularly effective pulling into space, a signature feature of every power-style system.

Whoever doesn't win the job on the right may then try his hand pushing Shawn Lauvao on the left. Signed from the Cleveland Browns last offseason, Lauvao has the size for the new scheme but hardly distinguished himself during a tough first year with the Burgundy and Gold.

Of the group, Chester and LeRibeus remain the strongest candidates for the axe. The latter has barely seen the field since being drafted in 2012, while the former has struggled through virtually every snap he's played on it since 2011. Chester is also carrying a hefty cap hit for 2015.

Aside from left tackle, where Williams has improved every year, center seems the next most stable position on this line. Veteran Kory Lichtensteiger may be a little light for some, but he's a dependable road-grader who rarely lets the team down. But the old pro could face some competition this offseason after McCloughan took Austin Reiter off the board in Round 7.

Beefing up the numbers at this position group was a smart ploy during the draft. The Redskins had to get bigger to suit Callahan's schemes, but they also needed more talent and competition along a front that went stale long ago.

By adding a trio of draft picks to the mix, McCloughan achieved both.

Defensive Line

No position on the team has undergone more change than the defensive line this offseason. Since McCloughan took over, a trio of new faces have arrived during free agency. There's even a high-round draft pick who could help shake things up, although there appears to be some debate about where he fits best.

The rookie in question is Preston Smith, Washington's second-round pick this year. Many may have initially seen the one-time Mississippi State ace, who logged nine sacks in 2014, per CFBStats.com, as a potential option at outside linebacker.

But B/R analyst Michael Felder strongly disagrees with this assessment. Instead, he contends Smith's best fit is as a defensive end on Washington's version of the 3-4 front.

When you consider Smith's 6'5", 271-pound frame, along with his rather stiff and limited move skills, Felder's argument begins to make sense. Smith certainly shows two-gap qualities as a run-stuffer.

If he adds some pounds to his frame, he could grow into a potential replacement for 33-year-old Jason Hatcher. Even the depth behind the ageing ex-Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler is long in the tooth, in the form of 31-year-old Kedric Golston. His days could be numbered even if Smith isn't listed at end.

McCloughan has already signed Ricky Jean-Francois and Stephen Paea to compete at the position. In fact, the latter seems a surefire starter after recording six sacks for the Chicago Bears last season.

One other name to watch out for in this rotation is Frank Kearse. He quietly impressed during 2014 by logging three sacks. Kearse has the pass-rush skills to fit the scheme new coordinator Joe Barry will run, a scheme Gruden has dubbed a "shoot-the-gap-type of 3-4, a get-up-the-field-and-rush-them 3-4," per Mike Jones of The Washington Post.

One new lineman likely not required to shoot gaps, but rather fill and control them, is Terrance Knighton. The man-mountain nose guard is the two-gap, monster 0-technique Washington has lacked during five mediocre seasons running the 3-4.

But with 331-pound Knighton and close friend 325-pounder Chris Baker splitting time over center, that is sure to change.

Having done most of his work bolstering the D-line via the veteran market, McCloughan didn't need to expend a pick at the position during the draft. But if Smith ends up as a 5-technique, he may have inadvertently added one more playmaker to a suddenly formidable-looking front.

This group is bigger, deeper and more dynamic than 2014's vintage and seems primed for impact in the new season. That's good news considering the line's effectiveness will determine the success of Barry's defense.

Linebacker

Just like along the defensive line, the biggest draft-inspired change at linebacker will depend on where Smith lines up most often. If it's outside linebacker, the Redskins will have their replacement for Brian Orakpo and complement for 2014 second-round pick Trent Murphy.

The scope of opinion regarding Smith's best fit is clearly defined. While Felder believes his future lies at D-end, fellow B/R analysts Matt Miller and Chris Simms see him as a conversion project to hybrid rush linebacker.

Simms makes the very apt comparison with ex-New England Patriots edge-setter Willie McGinest. He played a variety of positions for the Pats as a roving, "Elephant-style" outside rusher.

Of course, the most telling opinion belongs to the man who drafted Smith. McCloughan has already indicated the Redskins paid close attention to how Smith fared in space during his pro day, per Tom Schad of The Washington Times:

"

You could see the athleticism on tape, no doubt about it. Flexibility in his lower body, length in his arms. But at the pro day, they worked him as a linebacker. Dropped him, flipped his hips, made him catch the ball.

"

It sounds as though McCloughan at least hopes Smith will make the grade out on the edge.

At least he knows he can count on Ryan Kerrigan on the other side. The team's first-round pick in 2011 enjoyed a banner fourth season, taking down opposing quarterbacks for 13.5 sacks. Kerrigan is now a premier player at his position.

Even after selecting Smith, depth on the outside isn't great. In fact, only Jackson Jeffcoat, undrafted last year, is an obvious candidate. But he does have some potential to feature and contribute in this rotation.

On the inside, McCloughan made depth stronger by drafting Martrell Spaight in Round 5. A tackling machine at Arkansas, Spaight has good recognition skills and decisive instincts. This could be a sleeper pick.

McCloughan may need it to be, considering only Will Compton and Steve Beauharnais are the other options for cover behind starters Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley Jr.

Whether the draft really made this key position stronger will hinge on what the team does with Smith and how he fares. If he can't offer an impact on the outside, Washington's ability to play the 3-4 adequately and consistently will suffer.

Secondary

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

McCloughan waited until the sixth round to add a pair of defensive backs. Safety Kyshoen Jarrett and cornerback Tevin Mitchel join a perennially disappointing secondary.

Of course, McCloughan had given himself the luxury of waiting thanks to the work he did during free agency. Corner Chris Culliver and safeties Jeron Johnson and Dashon Goldson were acquired to makeover last season's 24th-ranked pass defense.

It's safe to assume all three start, with last year's draft steal Bashaud Breeland taking the other cornerback spot. Only two key questions should then remain: 1. Who plays the slot? 2. What about depth?

The first isn't an easy one to answer. Veteran DeAngelo Hall seems the most likely candidate, having played the role well in 2012.

But Hall is now 31 and less than a year removed from rupturing the same Achilles twice. It doesn't help that fellow vet Tracy Porter is alarmingly brittle.

Perhaps the door could be open for Mitchel to seize a key job in the sub-package schemes. At 6'0" and 190 pounds, he offers decent size for the position.

So does David Amerson, the 6'1", 205-pound 2013 second-rounder who's so far flopped as a starter on the outside. If he sticks around a little longer and Mitchel impresses, Porter could be primed for the chop.

The only question at safety is: Who will emerge as the natural deputy to Goldson? There are a host of strong safeties on the roster, including Phillip Thomas, Duke Ihenacho and Akeem Davis. There's also Trenton Robinson, re-signed during free agency, to consider somewhere in the rotation.

Jarrett is even viewed by some, including NFL.com's Mark Dulgerian, as "more of a strong safety." If Jarrett impresses in camp, one of Thomas or Davis figures not to be around at the start of the new season.

But somebody from this group has to show the range to operate at free safety and cover for Goldson if needed.

Special Teams

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McCloughan has made no secret of the fact that boosting the special teams was the primary motivation for many of his late-round picks, per ESPN's John Keim: "Very much so," he said. "We took players for the primary position but I wanted guys who could be quality backups if not starters and be really good on special teams; be core special teams guys."

It's easy to see that thinking behind the decisions to select Spaight, Jarrett and Mitchel. But no draft pick joins the team with a more obvious remit to improve the special teams than sixth-rounder Evan Spencer.

Keim details how the wideout's work in football's third phase stood out during his college days: "Known for blocking and special teams work at Ohio State. The Redskins lacked a receiver who was part of any coverage units so this gives them another player who can run and cover."

Targeting a player specifically, or at least largely, for what he can do on special teams would seem like a wasted pick on many other teams. But it's a different story altogether in Washington.

The Redskins' special teams have been dire as long as the O-line and secondary have been poor. Improvement was expected in 2014, but little came.

Adding four rookies to the units should help a group Keim notes will also welcome back Adam Hayward. Like Spencer, he was a player originally acquired for his special teams expertise.

But while Spencer, Jarrett, Spaight and Mitchel will be factors on kick coverage and blocking duties, a fourth rookie's impact could be even more obvious. Crowder's talent as a returner could finally give Washington a game-breaking threat who will at least allow the team to win a few position battles and lend the offense a helping hand.

McCloughan's work has made a unit already featuring a pair of solid specialists in kicker Kai Forbath and punter Tress Way, look a lot stronger.

Getting stronger in key areas was the theme of the whole draft. By dealing in volume and using that volume to target a specific template (bigger, smarter, more physical players), McCloughan has taken a positive first step toward remaking this roster.

Naturally, how successful his efforts have been won't be known until the games are played, but the Redskins already look like a different kind of team than the one that limped tamely through 2014.