Redskins Draft GM: 6th Round Edition

Brent Urban won in the closest vote so far in this year's Draft GM series.  With 35% of the vote, Urban will be drafted to be part of the Redskins defensive line rotation.  The Redskins DL is full of question marks, and a big, young, cheap replacement is a definite need for the future.  Stephen Bowen is telling anyone that will listen that he will be healthy for training camp, and that he is one of the best 3-4 DE's in the league, but he is coming back from microfracture knee surgery, is 30 years old, and is very expensive.  Jason Hatcher has his spot locked down for the next few years, but he is also 32 years old.  Urban could be a steal this late in the draft, and he could be drafted much earlier based on his potential.

It's time to move on to the 6th Round of this draft, and try to find this year's Alfred Morris.  This is where GMs and scouting departments earn their paychecks and gain their reputations.  Has the removal of Darth Shanahan improved the scouting of the Redskins enough?  Will the committee of Scott Campbell, Morocco Brown, Doug Williams, and Bruce Allen be able to form a hive mind?  Time will tell, but now it is up to Hogs Haven to make the decision and find a future starter in the 6th.

2nd Round: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

3rd Round: Marcus Martin, C, USC

4th Round: Christian Jones, ILB, FSU

5th Round: Brent Urban, DE, Virginia

6th Round Options:

Aaron Lynch, OLB, USF:

The Redskins haven't addressed OLB in this draft yet, but it appears they are interested in bringing in some insurance in case Orakpo leaves next offseason.  Lynch is available in the 6th round here, but could go much higher in the real draft.  He has a wide range from the 3rd-7th round, due to his physical potential, but questions about his motivation.  The talent is there for a team to take a chance on, but do the Redskins have the staff to maximize his potential?  He is currently ranked #188 overall by CBS Sports, and is projected to go in the 5th-6th Round.

COMPARES TO: Quinton Coples, DE, New York Jets - It's hard to find an NFL comp for a guy who possesses physical tools that most players would only dream of having, yet doesn't appear to be very motivated to maximize them. The reason it's hard to find a comp for such a player is because most of those guys either never make it, or simply don't last long at the next level. One player who may be considered a success story to some extent, however, is Coples, who, like Lynch, entered the league amidst great skepticism regarding his chances of being an NFL success, due to a lack of consistent interest and effort on tape despite possessing freakish physical tools. Coples has amassed 10 sacks as a 3-4 end over his first two years in the NFL, and is beginning to show flashes of the player many scouts knew he had the potential to be. Lynch has similar upside, but the team that picks him will certainly be taking a gamble.

Dontae Johnson, CB, North Carolina State:

David Amerson's former teammate could be a late round option for the Redskins in this year's draft.  Johnson has played all over the backfield, playing cornerback and free safety last season.  He is a big, versatile corner who is raw and will need some time to refine his game.  DeAngelo Hall signed a 4 year deal, but could be replaced sooner if someone younger and cheaper can step in.  Johnson is  currently ranked #208 overall by CBS Sports.

STRENGTHS

Good balance and athleticism. Can run with tight ends in coverage. Good zone awareness. Efficient plant-and-drive. Nice length to compete in the air. Sets a hard edge as a force player -- works to get off blocks, throws his weight around and tackles aggressively. Has played safety, cornerback, nickel and special teams. Smart and hardworking.

WEAKNESSES

Is lean and needs to bulk up and get stronger. Has short arms and small hands. Lacks elite top-end speed (struggled mightily to contain Clemson WR Sammy Watkins). Hesitates to diagnose from depth and takes some inaccurate angles. Shows tightness in transition. Struggles to break down and tackle in space. Ordinary ball production.

BOTTOM LINE

Wiry, narrow-framed, high-cut, athletic defensive back who started the first five games of his senior season at left cornerback before manning free safety for the final seven contests. Would be best in a predominantly zone scheme where he would have value as a versatile backup.

Marion Grice, RB, Arizona State:

Coach Jay Gruden has indicated that the Redskins could be looking to bring in a pass catching RB, and the team brought in Marion Grice for a workout last month.  Grice fits the criteria, and will be available later in the draft if the Skins don't want to spend an early pick on a running back.  His season ended last year after breaking his fibula, which has contributed to him falling down draft boards.  Grice is currently ranked #257 overall by CBS Sports, and projected as a 7th-FA round prospect.

STRENGTHS: Shows good plant-and-go burst with the patience and instant acceleration to let defenders over-pursue before surging for positive yardage. Talented ballcarrier, willing blocker and reliable pass catcher out of the backfield.

WEAKNESSES: Isn't the most impressive-looking prospect with a lean body type and upright running style. Needs to show more finishing toughness and lacks many distinguishable traits.

Marion Grice Redskins Workout

Marcel Jensen, TE, Fresno State:

Tight End could be a need this year, but the type of Tight End the Redskins need is the question.  Jordan Reed enters the 2014 season as the go-to "Joker" Tight End that Jay Gruden will use as his favorite toy in the passing game.   If the Redskins don't trust Reed to stay healthy they could look to draft a tight end earlier.  If they are looking to replace Logan Paulsen, or just add depth, the later rounds could provide the answer.  Jensen is currently ranked #210 overall by CBS Sports.

BOTTOM LINE

Athletic, long-armed, ascending talent who did not play a starring role in a run-and-gun, receiver-dominated spread offense, but has raw physical tools to develop into a balanced "Y" tight end. Should only get better and has potential to become an asset in the running game and a mismatch in the passing game.

Jeff Janis, WR, Saginaw Valley:

Is the 5th Round when the Redskins start looking at a tall WR to develop?  There should be several options in the later rounds with a deep class of receivers this year. Janis is a tall receiver(6'3") that ran a 4.42 40 and had one of the top 3 cone drills at the Combine this year.  He is currently ranked #195 overall by CBS Sports and is projected to go in the 5th-6th round.

STRENGTHS: Looks the part with a tall, muscular body type. Has worked hard to fill out his frame. Fleet of foot with very good build up speed to accelerate away from defenders. Controlled routes and shifts his momentum well with smooth footwork in/out of his breaks. Good hesitation to sell patterns. Good tracking skills and judgment on deep throws. Solid functional strength for the position, making it a chore for tacklers to finish him off. Strong competitor with an intrepid, fearless approach to the game. Very tough and holds onto the ball after jarring hits. Ambitious worker with strong intangibles and excellent character on and off the field. Try-hard player who gets the most out of his ability. Productive resume (37 career starts) with back-to-back 1,500+ receiving yard seasons the past two years. Holds the school record for single-season receiving yards (1,635), single-game receiving yards (300) and single-game catches (18).

WEAKNESSES: Marginal initial burst and needs a few steps to get back up to full speed after gearing down. Bad habit of rounding some routes and will try to freelance too much. Will have some double-catches and fight the ball at times. Hand/eye coordination appears to very average. Limited after the catch and lacks suddenness in space to create much separation. Not the most consistent in traffic. Limited experience as a return man on special teams. Career production and experience came against a lower level of competition