Setting Realistic Expectations for Each Washington Redskins Rookie

Any time a team uses 10 picks in a draft, it expects that class to be the foundation of a refreshed and winning roster. That's just what new Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan is hoping for.

He needs the group headlined by No. 5 overall pick Brandon Scherff to underpin a team that's won just seven games in two years with more of the right stuff. In this case, the right stuff means greater power and toughness, particularly in the trenches.

As the headline act, Scherff has a key role to play. But so does second-round pass-rusher Preston Smith. Each player will be at the heart of efforts to get better along the fronts on both sides of the ball.

More specifically, McCloughan will be expecting Scherff, Smith and the rest of the class of 2015 to key a significant attitude change at Redskins Park. He wants a more physical, blue collar team and made every selection with that desire in mind.

Find out what the realistic expectations are for Washington's batch of rookies this season.

Brandon Scherff, T

Best-Case Scenario: Scherff is an instant hit and goes to the first of 10 Pro Bowls as a rookie.

Worst-Case Scenario: He fails to make the switch from left to right tackle and has to be kicked inside to guard, where he's also less than inspiring.

When McCloughan took Scherff off the board ahead of Leonard Williams, it said everything about the way he's rebuilding in Washington. The pick screamed safe, steady and sensible over big plays and luxury.

To some, that may not be the ideal formula for success, but the Redskins would surely welcome some steady play along the offensive front. After all, the team did surrender 58 sacks in 2014 and watched as one of football's best running games tumbled to 19th in the league rankings.

Head coach Jay Gruden knows none of his struggling quarterbacks will improve without better play up front. He also knows the ground game won't resume its necessary role as the driving force of Washington's offense unless the blocking improves.

Enter Scherff, college football's best O-lineman in 2014 and a truly dominant and nasty mauler in the running game. The Redskins scored big when they added the former Iowa left tackle to a group that's desperately needed an infusion of marquee talent for too long.

Now the challenge becomes quickly getting Scherff up to speed. Fortunately, he has maybe the best tutor in the NFL, in the form of noted lineman whisperer Bill Callahan.

The man who produced a physically imposing offensive front for a hated foe, the Dallas Cowboys, must now reshape Scherff into a quality right tackle.

Callahan achieving that task quickly is part of Washington's best-case scenario. Being able to count on Scherff as a bookend to Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams would be a massive boost.

If Scherff can find the same level of success Williams has enjoyed since being drafted fourth overall in 2010, Washington will have the foundation of a line that can dominate for a decade.

But there's no easy route to that kind of success. Indeed, Gruden has noted how Scherff has already found the going tough since moving over to the right side, per CSN Washington's Rich Tandler:

"

We moved him over to right tackle and he had some struggles, but the thing about Brandon that I’ve noticed already is he takes coaching extremely well. He learns. If he has a mistake, he’s going to try to fix it and that’s important for an offensive lineman to study the game and learn from your mistakes. Because you’re going to get beat a couple times by some top-level pass rushers. You might lose a block on a running scheme or what have you.

"

Teething problems are natural for any first-year player, particularly one learning the ropes at a new position. The smart approach with Scherff is to find the middle ground between being an instant Pro Bowler and being a total flop.

It will help if he brings the tough mindset and physical playing style B/R analyst Matt Bowen expects. In that sense, Scherff will make a difference even if he endures some struggles technically.

Yet with Callahan around, don't count on those struggles lasting too long.

Realistic Expectation: McCloughan's first draft pick won't be a bust. In fact, Scherff will be a 16-game starter as a rookie.

He'll provide some much-needed continuity at a spot where Jammal Brown, Tyler Polumbus and Tom Compton all failed to make the grade.

In the process, Scherff will suffer through some rough patches, but toward the end of his debut season he'll begin to look like a lineman of real quality.

Preston Smith, DE/OLB

Best-Case Scenario: Smith emerges as the obvious replacement for Brian Orakpo. He quickly supplants sack-shy 2014 second-rounder Trent Murphy and finishes his rookie season with double-digit quarterback takedowns.

Worst-Case Scenario: Smith fails to make any one position his own. He struggles to generate much pressure even in a situational role and looks like a wasted pick.

A pass rush that registered a mere 36 sacks last season needed an edge player who can really bring the heat. But did Washington get the right pressure specialist in Preston Smith?

In terms of his versatility and how he'll open up the playbook for new defensive coordinator Joe Barry, the answer is yes. Smith spent his collegiate career at Mississippi State being shuttled around formations to attack offenses from a variety of spots.

That meant lining up at either end spot, as well as kicking inside to play 3-technique over the outside shoulder of a guard. Smith even spent time over center, where he was particularly effective.

Players who can rush effectively from multiple positions give smart coordinators license to show quarterbacks and offensive linemen more complex looks up front. With Smith joining Trent Murphy and Ryan Kerrigan, two more hybrid-style edge players, Barry will be able to show a myriad of combinations.

He could go "Psycho" and have Smith, Kerrigan and Murphy stand up while a lone lineman like Stephen Paea or Jason Hatcher puts his hand down. Alternatively, he could line up Kerrigan and Murphy at ends while kicking Smith inside.

Those are just two crude examples of the many possibilities Smith's presence should help create. He can help Barry craft fronts that will generate increased pressure without the need to blitz and put a revamped secondary in jeopardy.

That's the best case. But what about the worst?

The worst involves Smith being a jack of all trades, master of none. Perhaps he fails to make a meaningful impact at any one position.

Maybe he simply lacks the natural athleticism and initial burst to win as an edge-rusher at the pro level. That's something that concerned B/R analyst Michael Felder when Smith was drafted.

In that case, Washington would be left without a credible deputy behind Murphy and Kerrigan. That means the pressure would again be on the latter to carry the pass-rushing burden.

Kerrigan was up to the task in 2014 when he registered 13.5 sacks. But he may struggle when offensive blocking schemes make him a marked man in the new season.

Realistic Expectation: Smith doesn't wow the crowds as a rookie, but his versatility does prove very useful. Slowly but surely he becomes an invaluable member of the sub-package defenses and finishes his rookie year with six sacks, while Murphy and Kerrigan blossom as a starting partnership.

Matt Jones, RB

Best-Case Scenario: Matt Jones tops the 600-700 yard barrier as a ball-carrier. He helps keep Alfred Morris fresh while also reassuring the Redskins they can cope without their three-time 1,000-yard rusher.

Jones even carves out a niche as a dependable receiver out of the backfield.

Worst-Case Scenario: Jones proves less than dynamic as either a pass-catcher or a ball-carrier. Morris remains overworked and the third-down offense stays too predictable.

Jones then looks like a worrying early reach from McCloughan.

No member of McCloughan's first rookie class has generated as much buzz as running back Jones. As a power-style bruiser taken in the first three rounds, he's seen as an obvious replacement in waiting for Morris, who will be a free agent in 2016.

There are obvious reasons to tout Jones this highly. McCloughan famously used a third-round pick to snag Frank Gore back when he was GM for the San Francisco 49ers. That gamble certainly paid off.

He also worked with another punishing workhorse, in the form of Marshawn Lynch, during his time with Seattle Seahawks. Jones even reminds McCloughan of the man they call "Beast Mode," per an interview with ESPN 980 (h/t CSN Washington's Tarik El-Bashir): “Matt Jones reminds me a lot—a lot—of Marshawn from the standpoint that he’s north-south. He’s downhill, and he’s not afraid of contact.”

That bruising brand of lugging the rock makes Jones a perfect fit for the power-based ground attack the Redskins are planning on Callahan's watch. The rookie runner is already relishing what he might do in the new scheme, as reported by CSN Washington's JP Finlay: "Being a runner like I am, I love to lower my shoulder."

But Jones may not be defined purely by how much thump he brings to Washington's running game as a rookie. He's also a surprising candidate for third-down work thanks to a deceptive array of skills as both a receiver and a blocker.

Gruden has already commented on how much Jones has impressed him with his versatility, per the team's official Twitter feed:

"

Gruden on rookie RB Matt Jones: "He has much more versatility than we thought." Can run, catch and has size to take on blitzing LBs.

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 26, 2015"

Jones becoming a short-yardage specialist, the way B/R's Matt Bowen initially sees him, as well as a third-down weapon, is only part of Washington's best case scenario. Ideally, he'll also justify taking some more carries away from Morris.

The nightmare scenario is a player too lacking in explosion, both as a runner and a receiver, to make an impact in either phase of the offense. That would mean an overworked Morris and leave Gruden still looking for a backfield playmaker on football's money down.

Realistic Expectation: Jones won't supplant Morris, even in a contract year. Perhaps especially during a contract year.

But the former Florida ace will emerge as a credible supporting player in the backfield. Jones will surprise as a receiver initially, before steadily refining his straight-ahead running style to eventually become a very useful relief runner.

While he won't hit the best-case yardage total, Jones is still a good bet for 350-400 yards on the ground. His steady first season, along with a more complete skill set, will strengthen McCloughan's position at the negotiating table when he begins talking contracts with Morris.

Jamison Crowder, WR

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Best-Case Scenario: Jamison Crowder emerges as the slot receiver Washington's passing game has missed for too long. He hauls in 40-50 catches and five scores as a reliable, third-down and red zone target.

Crowder also adds some true dynamism to a stale return game.

Worst-Case Scenario: Off-field issues continue to cloud Crowder's rookie year and stunt his development. He doesn't add any of the big plays he's capable of to either the aerial offense or on special teams.

Washington's quarterbacks won't get better until they have a dependable slot receiver to target over the middle. Such a player represents one of the best ways of quickly beating pressure in the modern game.

Crowder can be that player for the Redskins, provided his off-field troubles don't derail his pro career before it even begins. Crowder has been accused of domestic violence, an issue that still looms over the ex-Duke wideout.

It's cast a doubt over his ability to be counted on as the possession receiver Washington's offense needs. While question marks have hovered around Crowder, Ryan Grant has taken his chance to impress.

Gruden has been wowed by last season's fifth-round pick, another player capable of consistently winning matchups from the slot, per ESPN's John Keim. But Crowder is naturally more dynamic than Grant.

He can stretch the inside seams vertically, as well as turn short passes over the middle into big gains after the catch. That's the kind of playmaking potential the Redskins need from the slot.

Gruden knows how to use this kind of weapon. He may see obvious similarities between 5'8", 185-pounder Crowder and 5'7", 180-pound slot specialist Andrew Hawkins. Gruden coached the latter as offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals and coaxed a big season out of him in 2012.

He'll count on Crowder filling a similar role. Washington also needs the fourth-rounder to use his talent as a punt returner to revive an area of the special teams that's been flat for years.

Of course, all of these things depend on Crowder avoiding trouble off the field.

Realistic Expectation: This one's tough to call with legal issues pending. Grant is a good bet to take the slot role early. If he builds on his terrific offseason, the former Tulane star can make the position his own.

That will leave Crowder to initially make the grade as a return man. It may take him some time to settle in, but as the season progresses, he'll begin producing some much-needed big plays in the game's third phase.

Arie Kouandjio, G

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Best-Case Scenario: Arie Kouandjio begins life in Washington as Callahan's go-to lineman when he needs to plug in a starter because of injuries or loss of form. He eventually even pushes Spencer Long for playing time on the right side.

Worst-Case Scenario: Kouandjio's history of knee troubles prevents him from being more than just rooted to the bottom of the depth chart.

Kouandjio needs to provide competent cover at both guard spots as a rookie. Ideally, he'll do more, preferably pushing both Shawn Lauvao and Long for playing time.

The latter is the designated starter on the right side following the long overdue release of Chris Chester. But it's difficult to feel too confident about how Long will fare alongside Scherff.

After all, the third-round pick in 2014 failed to beat out the uninspiring Chester as a rookie, as Rich Tandler of Real Redskins has noted:

"

Long was given every opportunity to push Chester aside last year and he couldn’t do it. The hope is that Long will be better over time and he’ll certainly be cheaper. But there is no guarantee that Long will be better in 2015 than Chester was in 2014.

"

Callahan and the Redskins are certainly expecting several major steps forward from the former Nebraska man. That's why it would help if Kouandjio looks ready ahead of schedule.

He thrived in a power-based blocking system at Alabama. Kouandjio proved particularly effective pulling around the corner to obliterate second-level defenders in the running game.

He made a favorable first impression on Callahan during Washington's rookie minicamp, according to ESPN's John Keim. But finding fans of his game hasn't always been easy for Kouandjio.

One SEC defensive coordinator offered this very unflattering description of the ex-Crimson Tide starter during the pre-draft process, per NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: "Not a fan. I've always thought he was bad. Name only, can't play."

Kouandjio also endured "multiple knee surgeries" during his college career, according to CBS Sports' Rob Rang. So far at least, there's more questions than answers with Kouandjio.

Realistic Expectation: Kouandjio responds well to Callahan's coaching and eventually becomes Washington's top swing backup along the interior of the O-line. He keeps both Long and Lauvao on their toes throughout the season.

Martrell Spaight, ILB

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

Best-Case Scenario: Martrell Spaight's physicality continues to impress coaches. He refines his game and translates early special teams excellence into playing time ahead of Perry Riley Jr. late in the season.

Worst-Case Scenario: Spaight proves more bark and occasional bite than actual skill and talent. He barely makes it onto the final depth chart and is rarely seen on gamedays.

Spaight can be a key figure in helping the Redskins boast more quality depth at the inside linebacker spots. That's an underrated need, even after the fine work McCloughan has done to retool most of the roster this offseason.

Of the starters, Keenan Robinson is an exceptional talent. But he's also a highly brittle one, having missed 24 games in three pro seasons.

Next to him, Riley took several steps backwards in 2014. His coverage skills were ridiculous to the point of being offensive, while the veteran still doesn't make the number of tackle his instincts in the running game merit.

The team needs Riley to rebound and for Robinson to stay healthy. Of the depth options, Will Compton will give everything he has, but athletically speaking, that's not much. As for Adam Hayward, the veteran really only has a roster spot because of his role as captain of the special teams.

So there's room for a rookie like Spaight to make an instant impact. That's something he managed to do on a regular basis while at Arkansas.

As the top tackling machine in the well-respected SEC, Spaight became known for his hard hitting. His college coach even gave the linebacker's trademark tackles a nickname, according to Stephen Czarda of the team's official site: "He’s just a very powerful [player]. We had a term here – he knocked out three players in one practice—and we called it getting ‘Spaighted.’”

Realistic Expectation: Spaight initially brings his aggressive demeanor to bear on special teams. He plays with the mentality and attributes to become a key figure on coach Ben Kotwica's revamped unit.

Kyshoen Jarrett, S

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Best-Case Scenario: Kyshoen Jarrett turns out to be the proverbial late-round gem. He immediately competes with Duke Ihenacho and Jeron Johnson for starting time at strong safety, while also making his mark on special teams.

Worst-Case Scenario: Jarrett can't break through a crowded rotation at his position. He becomes strictly a camp body who struggles to avoid the final cuts.

Sixth-round safety Jarrett should be able to come close to meeting his best-case scenario. Specifically, that will mean making himself an impact player on special teams.

It's an area where Jarrett has already impressed. Gruden singled out the former Virginia Tech strong safety for praise during the team's OTAs, according to ESPN reporter John Keim:

"

Kyshoen has done an excellent job, man. He's fast. He's flying around. He's making his presence known on special teams. I mentioned that the late-round picks [are] going to have to make their mark on special teams, and Kyshoen has done that.

"

Kotwica's unit needs all the willing tacklers it can get for 2015. The group registered only minimal improvement last season and must soon shed its label as the annual bane of the team.

Jarrett can help, but he'll first have to ensure his place as a member of the rotation at safety. That will mean overcoming a crowded field, one featuring the likes of Phillip Thomas, Akeem Davis and whoever loses the battle to start between Ihenacho and new arrival Johnson.

Jarrett's aggressive tendencies may get him into trouble in coverage. But his temperament might mean those issues are overlooked by Barry, a coordinator who will value tenacity above many other qualities.

Realistic Expectation: Jarrett makes the final roster and becomes a key backup at both safety spots. On the field, he should quickly establish himself on special teams.

Tevin Mitchel, CB

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Best-Case Scenario: Tevin Mitchel makes the team and is the defense's nickel corner of choice by mid-season.

Worst-case Scenario: Mitchel adds nothing of note to a rotation needing as many talented bodies as it can get. He's cut before the season starts.

Mitchel may be a long shot to make an immediate impact as the second of three sixth-round picks used by McCloughan. But the former Arkansas cover man brings good size to the cornerback rotation and the tenacity to play in the slot.

There's no doubt Washington's defense would benefit from a talented and dedicated nickel corner. Bashaud Breeland and free-agent arrival Chris Culliver should start on the outside, while back-from-injury veteran DeAngelo Hall and disappointing third-year man David Amerson also vie for time.

Neither member of the latter pair seem like natural fits for the slot, even though Hall played there for most of the 2012 season. But Mitchel has already made a strong impression on his head coach, according to ESPN's John Keim: "Tevin Mitchel at the nickel and playing corner has really done some good things also. He's learning a new system and he's playing two or three different positions, so he's been very impressive."

That bodes well for the rookie's chances of sticking around and helping out at a position that could go either way in 2015.

Realistic Expectation: Mitchel won't win the nickel cornerback job outright. But the physical, 6'0", 190-pounder fits the mold of a bigger and more punishing secondary.

He sticks around as a useful sub-package corner for multiple-defensive back sets.

Evan Spencer, WR

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Best-Case Scenario: Evan Spencer becomes the first special teams standout the Redskins have had since Lorenzo Alexander.

Worst-Case Scenario: The practice squad beckons for a player unlikely to ever crack the rotation at his primary position.

If Spencer is as good as advertised on special teams, he'll make the grade as a late-round success from McCloughan's first draft class in Washington. The ex-Ohio State flanker was immediately dubbed a "demon on special teams" by Gruden, per Tom Schad of the Washington Times.

Spencer even told Stephen Czarda of the team's official site how he loves to work in football's third phase.

However, it's easy to be a little skeptical, or at least cautiously optimistic, about the praise for Spencer's special teams prowess. Last season, Gruden dubbed seventh-round pick tight end Ted Bolser a "war daddy" on kickoffs, per Rich Tandler of Real Redskins. Yet Bolser didn't even make the team.

That's why it's best to take a true wait-and-see approach with Spencer.

Realistic Expectation: Spencer makes the final roster thanks to his special teams nous. But he struggles to keep his place as a rookie.

Austin Reiter, C

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

Best-Case Scenario: Austin Reiter becomes the natural backup and heir apparent at center. He also provides solid cover at both guard spots.

Worst-Case Scenario: Reiter is cut before the season begins and looks like a miscalculated late-round gamble from McCloughan.

Reiter has to be nervous that Callahan is content to try out so many guards at his position, per Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. It's a move that already puts the former South Florida starter's place in jeopardy.

Reiter staying on the fringes is somewhat surprising considering how the Redskins could benefit from the presence of a natural depth player at center. Veteran starter Kory Lichtensteiger is now 30 and may struggle to adapt to the demands of Callahan's mix of power and zone techniques.

Meanwhile, Josh LeRibeus has never convinced anyone in Washington he'll ever be a competent lineman at the pro level. As a natural center who can also play guard, Reiter fits as an obvious backup.

Yet Callahan's mix-and-match approach already looks like the team is preparing to carry only a few depth players. That means blockers flexible enough to play multiple spots and help trim the numbers ahead of final cuts.

It's a scenario that spells real trouble for Reiter.

Realistic Expectation: The team's final rookie of note already looks like obvious practice squad fodder.

The sensible expectations attached to Washington's rookie class reflect the smart and steady approach McCloughan has taken this offseason. He's looking for unfashionable, yet necessary, building blocks for the construction of a team tougher on both sides of the ball.

The majority of this group will end up fitting the bill.

All statistics and player information via NFL.com.