Washington Redskins Mock Draft: Finding Starters in Every Round
Prospects who can start along the defensive line, at inside linebacker, pass-rusher and running back should be at the top of the Washington Redskins' agenda when the 2017 NFL draft begins later this month.
Fortunately for the Burgundy and Gold, they can find potential starters at their key positions of need in every round. In fact, the most difficult question for team president Bruce Allen to answer will be when and where to select the right prospects at each position of need.
It's not an easy question to answer. For instance, the depth of the running back and wide receiver positions in this class means the Redskins could expect to get a starter-ready player in the mid-to-late rounds.
On the flip side of the coin, a team still needing more talent in the defensive trenches would be wise to target eligible linemen early considering this year's class is top-heavy at the position. In other words, there is a small core of quality D-linemen who could start right away, but there's not enough depth to ensure much value in the later rounds.
By playing it smart, the Redskins can come away with a Florida product who would be ideal as a nose tackle or 3-technique end. Similarly, a runner from Toledo would be capable of becoming Washington's primary workhorse in the new season.
Here's a full mock draft with a starter in every round for the Redskins.
Round 1, Pick 17: Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
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In his latest mock draft for NFL.com, former Redskins general manager Charley Casserly sent Florida's Caleb Brantley to his old team with the 17th overall pick: "The Redskins don't have a defensive lineman who can stop the run. If Brantley is their guy, they could trade back and pick him up later."
While it's a stretch to say Washington doesn't boast a lineman who can stop the run, especially after signing Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain in free agency, Casserly's suggestion of Brantley has merit.
Drafting Brantley is an interesting idea not least because he offers intriguing crossover skills for multiple schemes. Those versatile skills are focused on his ability to play both one-gap and two-gap techniques.
At 6'3" and 307 pounds, Brantley has the thick base and low center of gravity of a natural nose guard. He can play over the ball or over a guard or offensive tackle and hold the point of attack to occupy two gaps.
Yet Brantley has also showcased the explosive traits to split gaps and be a game-wrecker in the backfield. He routinely got through gaps in an instant during his time with the Gators.
In Washington, Brantley could work as a 3-technique interior pass-rusher in a one-gap 3-4. Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky has frequently used versions of this scheme during previous stints with the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers.
Brantley, McClain and the returning Ziggy Hood would give Manusky a trio of linemen all capable of playing in multiple spots, increasing the X's and O's flexibility of 2017's defense.
Round 2, Pick 49: Jarrad Davis, ILB, Florida
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Nabbing Brantley in Round 1 would be a good way for the Redskins to start this year's draft. Snaring his Florida teammate, Jarrad Davis, in the second round would be a downright spectacular way to go.
Putting Davis behind Brantley and a new-look line would instantly transform what has been one of the softest run defenses in the NFL in recent years. Davis may not be a classic thumper in the middle, but he is tough enough to handle destructive chores in the guard-center-guard box.
Just as important, the ex-Gators tackling machine is also swift and agile enough to be a prolific sideline-to-sideline stopper. Not many teams would be able to bounce running plays to the edges and find joy with Davis on the scene.
Away from the running game, Davis is also a capable coverage linebacker. It's a niche talent separating him from many of the other talented prospects in a class loaded at this position.
Davis is an asset in zone shells thanks to keen instincts, good recognition skills and a smooth backpedal. His range of movement means he can be trusted to keep wide receivers, tight ends and running backs in front of him in space.
Linebackers who can cover like this stay on the field all three downs and offer defenses continuity and a simplicity of scheme all the best units covet.
There are certainly no inside 'backers currently on the roster as versatile as Davis. It's why the Redskins are meeting with free agent Zach Brown, per ESPN's John Keim.
Truly upgrading this position should mean signing a competent veteran like Brown, along with drafting a fresh talent such as Davis.
Round 3, Pick 81: Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
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If fixing the run defense should be Washington's top priority this offseason, improving their own ground game is surely a close second. It's why Allen should be thankful this year's draft class is rich in gifted and flexible running backs capable of starting from day one.
Toledo's Kareem Hunt is a prime example of the quality in this class. He's also the perfect choice for the Redskins in Round 3.
Hunt merits the praise because of his mix of quick-cutting elusiveness and deceptive power. He broke tackles for fun at Toledo, becoming a touchdown machine. Hunt found paydirt 11 times in 2016, per cfbstats.com, with the same source noting he also scored 34 touchdowns in the three previous seasons combined.
In terms of style, Hunt is a true zone runner, meaning he utilizes vision, quick and smart decision-making and one-cut-and-go moves. The Redskin still retain zone principles as the basis for their rushing attack thanks to the influence of former head coach Mike Shanahan, so Hunt would fit Washington's system like a glove.
Better still, he'd also give the Burgundy and Gold a ball-carrier current head coach Jay Gruden could trust to protect the rock. As Dane Brugler of CBS Sports reported in February, Hunt boasted the best career fumble rate of any back in this class.
The fumbling issues experienced by Matt Jones are among the main reasons the Redskins have struggled for continuity and production on the ground. Hunt would make those problems go away, while also offering greater breakaway capability than Robert Kelley, the man who replaced Jones last season.
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Round 4, Pick 114: Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech
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Like running back, wide receiver is a fully loaded position in this year's draft. It's good news for a Redskins team still needing a new wideout or two even after signing Terrelle Pryor Sr. and Brian Quick in free agency.
Washington can find a mid-round receiver ready to start by taking Isaiah Ford with its first of two picks in the fourth round. The former Virginia Tech flanker is a stellar route-runner who possesses dynamic acceleration and an array of move skills out of his breaks.
Combine Ford's sneaky vertical speed with a 6'1" and 194-pound frame, and the team drafting him would get a pass-catcher perfect for a West Coast scheme. Gruden still calls an offense rooted in this famous system and would surely find a variety of ways to create big plays for Ford after the catch.
Ford is perhaps the best of the receivers likely to be available at the mid-round stage, but there is still work to be done to further refine his game. The main need for improvement involves his rather inconsistent hands.
Walter Football's Charlie Campbell has noted how Ford "does a lot of body catching" and "needs to use his hands more to reel passes in and secure them." Refining his catching technique is something Redskins wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard, who has coaxed some superb performances from Washington wideouts since 2012, could teach Ford.
The right coaching would make Ford a true steal for this team in Round 4.
Round 4, Pick 123: Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M
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He was Texas A&M's other edge-rusher while Myles Garrett was becoming this year's presumptive top pick, but Daeshon Hall could start right away in Washington.
He could be an instant starter for the Redskins because he offers the rush skills and versatility currently in short supply on the edges of the front seven. Actually, it's accurate to say the rush skills and versatility are there on Washington's defense, but only if a lot of things go the Redskins' way.
Those things include Junior Galette making a strong comeback following two years on the injury shelf. They also include Trent Murphy not seeing the progress he made last year wasted by missing four games through suspension to start this season.
While Murphy was taking strides last season, logging a career-best nine sacks, Preston Smith took a few steps back. His production dipped from eight sacks as a rookie to just 4.5 in 2016.
All of these problems, potential and actual, mean Ryan Kerrigan will once again be expected to carry the pass-rushing load for the Redskins. What 2011's first-round pick needs is a productive bookend on the edge.
Hall could fill the role after making strides as a pass-rusher during four years with the Aggies. What will likely keep Hall on the board at the bottom of the fourth is the 'tweener nature of his career development.
Hall played as a "Wide-9, 5-technique and as an outside linebacker," according to Lance Zierlein of the league's official site. He also had to pile on the weight to fill out a relatively slight build, as he "packed on 60-plus pounds since arriving in College Station," per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports.
Now he's bulked up and is more assured as a pass-rusher, Hall could set one edge for Washington's 3-4 in 2016 and save the team from relying on a host of unreliable options.
Round 5, Pick 154: De'Veon Smith, RB, Michigan
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If there is one late-round running back in this class who could start quickly in Washington, it's Michigan's De'Veon Smith. Like Hunt, Smith protects the ball and is also an able cutback runner.
Quick and shifty feet, along with above-average vision, are the calling cards of Smith's game. He is also a formidable load at 5'11" and 233 pounds.
Smith has the frame and power to consistently punish would-be tacklers. Essentially, he is a tough grinder inside who can wear a defense down.
What Smith lacks is the speed and big-play skills to scare teams. He is no breakaway threat who will reel off long gains with any frequency.
However, Smith's absence of elite quickness need not worry the Redskins too much. In fact, the franchise may see someone familiar when it combines Smith's strengths and weaknesses.
The combination of excellent vision and raw power, but without top-end speed to match, is reminiscent of former Redskins 1,000-yard runner Alfred Morris. He surprised everyone as a sixth-round starter in 2012 and posted three consecutive triple-digit rushing seasons before the Gruden regime cut him loose.
Smith has the talent and potential to become the next late-round gem to lead Washington's backfield.
Round 6, Pick 201: Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, NT, USC
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He'll be 26 in June, but Stevie Tu'ikolovatu has the size, strength and skill to be Washington's starting nose tackle by the end of his debut season in the NFL. He certainly has steal potential in the sixth round.
What Tu'ikolovatu would offer the Redskins is a true, house-sized 0-technique to anchor the middle of their 3-4 front. It's not something you'll find on the current roster, even after Allen wisely invested dollars in beefing up the three-man line in free agency.
One of the better moves was signing McClain from bitter rivals the Dallas Cowboys. McClain is one of the most underrated players in the league at his position. Yet he's not the biggest nose guard at 302 pounds and might even play end in Washington.
Similarly, Ziggy Hood is another option at nose tackle but is a converted end playing the position. Big Phil Taylor is still on the roster, but he hasn't played a down in two years and experienced myriad injuries.
If Manusky wants a man-mountain in the middle, picking Tu'ikolovatu would make sense. At 6'1", 331 pounds, the former USC linchpin has all the qualities 3-4 teams usually look for in the man over the ball, per Lance Zierlein of the league's official website: "Has experience eating double-teams to keep his linebackers clean. Strong, wide base keeps him on his feet. Drain-clogger near the goal line."
A team with as many issues up front as Washington shouldn't overlook this classic sleeper pick.
Round 6, Pick 209: Jay Guillermo, C, Clemson
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The Redskins need a center after watching Kory Lichtensteiger retire then leaving John Sullivan on the veteran market. They should consider picking ex-Clemson pivotman Jay Guillermo late to help solve the problem.
Guillermo established himself as a more-than-competent pass protector during his time with the Tigers. He helped keep Deshaun Watson clean in the pocket and also showed some enticing move skills in space.
Guillermo is one of the more bulkier centers in this draft, tipping the scales at 325 pounds. Washington O-line coach Bill Callahan would be unlikely to mind, though.
Callahan helped boost his reputation by turning a mammoth-sized Dallas Cowboys front into one of the premier lines in football before joining the Redskins in 2015. He is one of the game's best teachers and would surely find a way to help Guillermo use his bulk more effectively in the running game.
Putting a more nuanced Guillermo between guards Shawn Lauvao and Brandon Scherff would give Washington one of the more formidable interior trios in the NFL.
Round 7, Pick 220: J.J. Dielman, C, Utah
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J.J. Dielman is another interior blocker with starter's potential for Washington. In fact, the ex-Utah man is reminiscent of JC Tretter, a fourth-round pick for the Green Bay Packers in 2013.
Tretter joined the Cleveland Browns in free agency, while the Redskins surprisingly opted against pursuing a player who could have solved their issues at center. Dielman has the core skills to offer a similar remedy, though, provided he's healthy.
Avoiding injury became a problem for Dielman at Utah, where a foot issue kept him off the field in 2016. However, when he's been on the field, Dielman has shown a nice mix of quick feet and solid hands usage to help win the battles at the heart of the trenches.
Dielman has also played tackle, but as Lance Zierlein of the league's official website noted, short arms and a lack of ideal bulk would make him a poor fit for the edges in the pro game.
Instead, Dielman may be a late-round gem who could help fill the hole in the middle of Washington's O-line.
Round 7, Pick 235: Hunter Dimick, OLB, Utah
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Dielman's teammate with the Utes, Hunter Dimick, is another prospect who has the ability to solve Washington's pass-rushing woes. The Redskins registered just 38 sacks in 2016, so they should pay close attention to an edge-rusher who logged 14.5 by himself last season, per cfbstats.com.
What likely places Dimick low on draft boards is his overall raw game, along with his injury history. Dimick barely featured in 2015 as he endured a variety of ailments.
To his credit, he returned with a vengeance during his final season with the Utes. However, many of his sacks came from a fairly predictable bull rush move.
Dimick also lacks the core agility likely to be needed in the big league, according to Pro Football Focus: "Not a natural athlete by any means. Nightmare playing in space. Liability as unblocked man versus option. Stiff as a board. Not going to bend the edge by any means. Short arms and stocky build limit his pass-rush repertoire. No real short area agility to speak of and rarely if ever crossed the face of an offensive lineman to make a play."
In fairness, though, most productive NFL pass-rushers rely on a familiar move or moves to get to quarterbacks on Sundays. Dimick's numbers indicate he certainly has the knack for taking down the passer, as PFF also noted he "led the nation with 83 total pressures."
Players with a natural gift for creating pressure are rightly prized at every level of the game. Dimick's innate talents can reward the team bold enough to give him a chance.
If it's Washington, he would surely develop into a key part of the situational and sub-package defenses. Using him along with Kerrigan, Murphy and Co. would give Manusky the weaponry to make life miserable for opposing signal-callers.
There is starter-ready talent to be found in every round for the Redskins in 2017's draft. It will take imaginative thinking, bold decisions and a commitment to strengthening those areas still looking weak, but Allen can come away with the rookies this team needs to inspire a return to the playoffs.
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