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We're getting into the home stretch of mock draft season, and the 1st round will begin two weeks from tonight. The Redskins have finally started getting some of the top prospects to Redskins Park for visits this week with Dante Fowler here yesterday, and Vic Beasley arriving next week. They also happen to be the top two options for the team according to multiple projections over the last month. Beasley has pulled ahead of Fowler this week by a good margin after being in a dead heat for the last month. Shane Ray continues to get less attention at #5 and Randy Gregory has returned to the Redskins, but mainly due to several trade back scenarios with the Browns at #12.
As the draft gets closer, more people are switching up a few picks to generate clicks discussion about possible draft scenarios. That means more Amari Cooper and Marcus Mariota, and a mock draft with projected #1 overall pick Jameis Winston falling to the Redskins at #5(Thanks CSNPhilly).
14 more days...
Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB/DE, Florida
Team this hulking edge rusher with ever-improving OLB Ryan Kerrigan? Safe to say, it's not a concept Tony Romo, Eli Manning or Chip Kelly will embrace.
Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
Iowa OL Brandon Scherff is the wild card considering the obvious need at tackle and guard. He seems like more of a trade-down target than the call at five. The idea of drafting Washington NT Danny Shelton made more sense before the Redskins spent quality dollars on that line. There's a long-term argument for Shelton since Terrance Knighton signed a one-year deal. At this point, there is a stronger case for going with a perimeter pass rusher based on the board and Brian Orakpo's departure. Fowler recorded 8.5 sacks last season even though the Gators used him all over the field, including inside. That the 6-foot-3 physical threat was moved around rather than just tasked with getting after the QB might actually hurt his initial development, but the raw athlete oozes upside.
Round 2: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
This scenario represents targeting a need area and a potential trade down. The assertive, run-stuffing Perryman is worthy of the selection, though he's limited on passing downs. He's also one of 4-5 ILB who could hear their names called in round two. Plenty of different options available for the Redskins in this spot, including offensive line (Duke G Laken Tomlinson?), wide receiver (Ohio State's Devin Smith?) and secondary (Utah's Eric Rowe?). Oregon OT Jake Fisher would be an easy-ish call if the Redskins were still using zone-blocking schemes.
Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
Brandon Scherff was penciled in at this spot during previous mocks. Moving him down a few spots says nothing about his potential—I'd argue he can start at guard or RT next season. Washington can find O-line help in Round 2 or beyond; it can't find an edge player with Fowler's upside.
Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
With the Redskins targeting defensive linemen in free agency it seems that won't be what they target at this pick unless they trade down. Dante Fowler Jr. at 6'3, 261 has great size and he ran a 4.6 forty at the NFL Combine. So he has good combination of speed and size and has the ability to make an immediate impact for the Redskins on defense.
Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB/DE, Florida
Edge rusher is now a significant need with Brian Orapko bolting for Tennessee. The numbers don't always show it, but Fowler is the definition of disruption and his experience in a hybrid system at Florida will make his transition at the next level even easier.
Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB/DE, Florida
Pass-rush help is a need, and with Beasley gone, they select Fowler. Randy Gregory also could also be in play.
Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, Florida
New Redskins GM Scot McCloughan fills a major hole opposite Ryan Kerrigan now that Brian Orakpo is gone. Trent Murphy is a nice player, but don't be fooled; he's nowhere near the all around force Fowler is. This also is a strong trade-down slot if the right deal materializes. Otherwise, we also could see a very safe pick such as Iowa's Brandon Scherff.
2nd Round: Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
Coverage ace who looked like a first-round-caliber athlete at his pro day.
Round 1: OLB Dante Fowler, Florida
Round 2: OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
Round 3: G A.J. Cann, South Carolina
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Beasley's offseason workouts (with additional weight on his frame) have teams feeling some type of way and with Brian Orakpo gone, this works.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Brian Orakpo is gone. Who is going to replace him for the Washington Redskins? Tough question to answer. Certainly one option would be Vic Beasley. He's an ideal fit as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme given his speed and violence off the edge coupled with the power to turn inside and deliver a bull rush. He could take full advantage of that remade defensive front and ease the pressure on that beleaguered secondary.
2nd Round: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
True cover corner type who does his best work in coverage. A good fit for the Redskins.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
With Brian Orakpo in Tennessee, the Redskins have an opportunity to replace him in the first round. Beasley has Von Miller-like flashes on tape and his Combine numbers back that up.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
With Brian Orakpo gone, the Washington Redskins need an edge-rusher. And the best edge-rusher prospect in the draft falls to them at No. 5. And with all the speed, power and agility Vic Beasley has, he will upgrade the position right away.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Washington could easily look to deal out of this slot, perhaps to a receiver-needy team (the No. 10 Rams?) in pursuit of either White or Cooper. But if no one bites, I'm giving them Beasley, a standout edge rusher who helps fills the void created by Brian Orakpo's departure. With Beasley added to Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy, Washington's pass rush gets a whole lot better.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Washington has one established pass rusher in Ryan Kerrigan, but there's not much on the roster after him. Trent Murphy is a solid player, but not someone who you use as a reason to pass on Beasley. The Clemson pass rusher is an out-of-the-box edge threat and one of the best athletes in this year's draft.
2nd Round: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Ogbuehi is the last really good offensive tackle available, so a team like Washington would have to pounce. Ogbuehi has some added value because he's played guard, if Washington happens to want to stick with Morgan Moses at right tackle.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
I had the Redskins picking Danny Shelton in a previous update, but with Terrance Knighton signed on, Washington can select the top player available who makes sense for them. That would be the rising Vic Beasley, who was terrific at the NFL Combine.
Beasley doesn't really fill a glaring need, as the Redskins have Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy as edge rushers. However, Brian Orakpo left for Tennessee, so depth is needed. Beasley would join the two to form a very strong rotation of pass-rushers to harass Tony Romo and the other opposing quarterbacks in the NFC East.
2nd Round: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
The Redskins obviously need to make multiple upgrades to their woeful secondary. Help is needed at both corner and safety, so Washington can take the best player available at either position.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Pick change. If they stay at No.5 and Mariota is off the board, then this pick might make the most sense for Washington. Brian Orakpo is gone and the Redskins' pass rush would be completely rejuvenated if Beasley is added to a mix that included Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy. I've said it since my first Mock Draft - Beasley is easily my favorite player in this draft and he's going to be a star right away if stays healthy and hungry. There is a chance Washington will go wide receiver here, so either Amari Cooper or Kevin White could be in play here. If that's the case, Beasley won't slip too far.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
It's been a good (albeit a tad bit quiet) offseason for the Redskins thus far. Defensive tackles Terrance Knighton and Stephen Paea and cornerback Chris Culliver were signed to smart deals and can all contribute at a high level next year. Ray fits the base 3-4 defense, filling any void the departed Brian Orakpo left as the outside linebacker opposite Ryan Kerrigan. He's arguably the best pass-rusher in this draft class.
Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
The Redskins have needs all over the field, so they're in a good position to take the best player available that fits a need. They desperately need to add a pass-rusher, and Ray is the top one available here. I had previously mocked Randy Gregory here, but with his failed drug test at the Combine I don't think a team can justify using a top-5 pick on him now. Ray would be an immediate impact player. He's explosive off the edge, and may have the best first step of any player in the draft. He times the snap well and can get around the edge before the offense knows what hit them.
TRADE: Cleveland gets #5(Marcus Mariota)
Washington gets #12, #43 and #147
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Scot McCloughan continues a stellar offseason by nabbing the exceptionally-talented Gregory after the trade back. There are off-field concerns with the former Huskers star, but a handful of teams had him tabbed as the finest pass-rusher in the class due to his ranginess and dynamic burst off the snap.
#38 Quentin Rollins, CB/S, Miami (Ohio) -- The Redskins would like some secondary help. They need secondary help. Rollins is raw but has plus ball skills and needed athleticism. His basketball background shows up on tape, and that's a good thing.
#43 Jalen Collins, CB, LSU -- Suddenly, with Bashaud Breeland, Quentin Rollins and Collins, Washington's secondary has a strong young nucleus.
#69 Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
#105 Vince Mayle, WR, Washington State
#141 Ali Marpet, OG, Hobart
#147 Jesse James, TE, Penn State
#182 Casey Pierce, TE, Kent State
#222 Anthony Boone, QB, Duke
TRADE: Cleveland gets #5(Marcus Mariota)
Washington gets #12 and other picks
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
The Redskins land Gregory, whom some feel is the best pass rusher in the draft.
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
They'll have plenty of options at this pick, but the best value would be to grab a top pass-rusher. Dupree is still rough around the edges, but he's got the size and athletic ability to develop into an impact player.
2nd Round: Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
Leonard Williams, DE, USC
The Titans end any discussion of Marcus Mariota landing in Washington, but no tears are shed in DC. The Redskins happily welcome the versatile defender to the nation's capital.
Leonard Williams, DE, USC
The Redskins signed Stephen Paea and Terrance Knighton, but any team could use a player like Williams, who is considered by some as the best prospect in the 2015 class.
Leonard Williams, DE, USC
The Redskins lost Brian Orakpo in free agency and could use another pass-rusher to team with Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy. Joe Barry could get a versatile weapon for his defense with Williams, who played the three-technique for Barry's mentor Monte Kiffin as a freshman and would also be a perfect fit as a five technique in a 3-4.
Williams recorded 80 tackles, seven sacks, 8.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, three forced fumbles and three passes batted in 2014. The 6-foot-5, 302-pounder has some natural strength and speed, plus the ability to play all over on the defensive line as a 3-4 defensive end, 4-3 end or tackle. Williams could stand to get stronger for the NFL and gets in trouble when he plays too high, but a shoulder injury that required surgery could have impacted his power in 2014. Still, Williams is very disruptive and capable of taking over games.
Williams played well for USC in 2013. He recorded 74 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and five sacks. The sophomore generated more pass rush than the numbers indicate. Williams was the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2012 after a fabulous debut for the Trojans. He totaled 64 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, four passes batted and an interception that season.
2nd Round: Byron Jones, CB/S, Connecticut
Obviously, the Redskins need safety help. Adding a fast defensive back who can cover a lot of ground would help them to improve their defense in the deep portion of the field.
Jones (6-1, 199) recorded 24 tackles, four passes broken up and two interceptions in 2014 before a shoulder injury ended his season after seven games. He made himself a star of the Combine with huge broad and vertical jumps. He followed that up blazing a fast 40 time at his pro day.
Jones played well in 2013 - his first season at cornerback - with 60 tackles and three interceptions. In 2012, Jones was a starter at safety and had 88 tackles with an interception. He broke into the starting lineup during the 2011 season and had 51 tackles.
Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Mimicking the recent approach of a division rival. I bet many teams will think Scherff is this year's Zack Martin. Some might think this is early for a guard. Maybe, but acquiring prospects with traits that translate is paramount.
Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Jay Gruden's success as the play-caller in Cincinnati came with one of the league's biggest offensive lines. He inherited one of the smallest in Washington and there is no question that upgrading the talent there will be an offseason priority. Not everyone sees Scherff (or any offensive lineman this year) as a top 10 talent, but he plays with the grit and physicality Washington is lacking and would be an immediate upgrade at right tackle.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Let's get nuts. The idea of the Redskins grabbing a wideout with Jackson and Garcon already on the depth chart sounds crazy, but this is a best-available-player situation for McCloughan and he's got his pick of wideouts here. Look at his draft run in San Francisco: the 49ers took offensive players in the first round during 4/7 first-round picks from 2005 through 2009. If you're thinking about life post-Garcon, Cooper probably matches up best with Jackson, though there's no guarantee he'll be there forever either.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
New head honcho Scot McCloughan promises to add to his new roster with a strict "best player available" mindset. Each of his previous teams adopted a similar mindset, drafting the top player on their respective boards regardless of need. Here, Amari Cooper would be a steal. Cooper is a top 3 player on most boards and is one of the most-polished receivers to come into the NFL in years. He can run any route and he can use his deceptive speed to test a defense deep. Adding Cooper to an already strong receiving corps in Washington would allow the Redskins to use Cooper and/or Garcon in the slot. This would allow Jay Gruden to open up the entire playbook and find mismatches all over the field for RGIII to exploit. While the Redskins' #1 desire may be a pass-rusher to play opposite Ryan Kerrigan, there may not be an edge-rusher left on the board worthy of the fifth pick, and that would violate McCloughan's maxim.
2nd Round: Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
According to most analysts, this draft is going to be all about value at each position. For example, the value for pass-rushers is going to be early in RD1, while the value for offensive linemen is going to be in RD2. If the Redskins play their cards right, they could land a top-flight pass-rusher and a top offensive lineman in the first two rounds of the draft. According to Pro Football Focus, the Redskins ranked 29th in short-yardage situations and 19th in adjusted yards in the run game. With ex-Dallas Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan in town, the Redskins are looking copy the Cowboys and add big, tough offensive linemen to replace the smaller, zone-blocking unit Gruden inherited. Jake Fisher is big, nasty, and has plus athleticism. He would fit in perfectly on the right side in Washington.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Washington Redskins could go a couple routes with this selection in the end they take the best wide receiver in the 2015 NFL Draft.
2nd Round: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
Washington takes a play maker on defense. Perryman will definitely get playing time his rookie year for whoever gets him.
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Now this pick would blow the roof off of the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. It's no secret that RG3 is close to wearing out his welcome in DC, and the selection of Winston would make it easy to move on from him. The Redskins don't mind rolling high stakes dice, but they hope this gamble pays off.
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Player Selections:
|
Player |
# of Selections |
|
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson |
11 |
|
Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, Florida |
8 |
|
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska |
3 |
|
Leonard Williams, DE, USC |
3 |
|
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama |
3 |
|
Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri |
2 |
|
Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa |
1 |
|
Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky |
1 |
|
Jameis Winston, QB, FSU |
1 |
|
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon |
1 |