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After a slow start, more information about the 30 pre-draft visits the Redskins have lined up is coming out every day. The newest name? USC DE Leonard Williams will be visiting with the team next Wednesday. Williams has arguably been the top prospect in this year's draft since the 2014 college football season ended. He has been considered out of the Redskins reach at #5, but that doesn't stop mock drafters from coming up with scenarios where he falls to Washington.
Williams is the second defensive linemen that has been linked to the Redskins for a pre-draft visit, with Houston DT Joey Mbu also reportedly meeting with the team. Scot McCloughan put a heavy emphasis on restocking the DL in free agency this year after releasing veterans Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen. The team signed Ricky Jean-Francois, Stephen Paea, and Terrance Knighton to go along with returning players Jason Hatcher, Chris Baker, Frank Kearse, and others.
If Williams did somehow become a Redskin in two weeks, he would immediately be competing for playing time with the established veterans on the team. The Redskins have not drafted defensive linemen early or often in years which has led to them relying on free agency to fill the position which has had mixed results due to age, injury, and performance. Williams does have some concerns due to shoulder issues(labrum tears) over the last few years, but he would be too talented for McCloughan to pass up if he were available. This is a dream scenario for a lot of Redskins fans that will likely never happen, but the Redskins are happy to keep hope alive by bringing him in for a visit.
Actually, #USC’s Leonard Williams’ schedule picks up next week: He’s at the #Jets on Monday, then the #Redskins on Wednesday.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 16, 2015