Top College Targets for the Redskins in the 2018 NFL Draft

I wanted to wait until after the midway point of our season, and nearer to the end of the college football regular season, to give an early look at some prospects I feel would be a good fit for our team in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Below is a list of our top team needs (in no particular order), followed by some college prospects who could potentially fill some of those needs in the first three rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Keep in mind, this is a very early look at players who could potentially be available.

Team Needs:

Quarterback - If Kirk Cousins signs a long-term deal this offseason, then this no longer become an immediate need. If Kirk doesn’t, it sits at the very top.

Wide Receiver - Terrelle Pryor has not worked out as many had hoped. Josh Doctson is still a work in progress. Jamison Crowder has taken a huge step in the wrong direction.

Running Back - I’ve been listing this as a need for years. Now, it’s become even more evident that this team can’t simply rely on later-round draft picks and undrafted free agents to get the job done.

Tight End - I love Jordan Reed, but he just can’t stay healthy. Vernon Davis has done a tremendous job filling in, but we need youth and athleticism at the position.

Defensive Line - Despite drafting Jonathan Allen, and the development of Matt Ioannidis, this unit, which has been neglected in the draft for years, still needs another impact player or two.

Inside Linebacker - This is a big one. Both of our starting linebackers (Brown and Foster), are set to become free agents next year. Retaining both would be nice, but even so, we need a young, athletic, sideline-to-sideline linebacker to groom for the future.

Safety - I love Montae Nicholson, and D.J. Swearinger has proven to be a very solid free agent signing. Still, this unit could use a major playmaker on the back end.

College Prospects:

Quarterback: This position could be absolutely loaded in the draft. Although some of the guys on this list may not have preformed like many experts thought this season, their talent is undeniable.

Sam Darnold (rsSO) - USC 6’4” 225 Round 1

Josh Rosen (JR) - Cal 6’4” 220 Round 1

Baker Mayfield (SR) - Oklahoma 6’1” 218 Round 1

Mason Rudolph (SR) - Oklahoma St. 6’5” 230 Round 1

Josh Allen (SR) - Wyoming 6’5” 223 Round 1-2

Lamar Jackson (JR) - Louisville 6’3” 200 Round 1-2

Luke Faulk (SR) - Washington St. 6’4” 205 Round 2

Clayton Thorson (JR) - Northwestern 6’4” 225 Round 2

Wide Receiver: This is not a great class early on for wide receivers, but there are a few prospects worth taking note of.

Courtland Sutton (rs SO) - SMU 6’4” 215 Round 1

Calvin Ridley (JR) - Alabama 6’1” 190 Round 1

Equanimeous St. Brown (JR) - Notre Dame 6’4” 205 Round 1-2

Christian Kirk (Jr) - Texas A&M 5’11” 200 Round 1-2

Running Back: The running back class within the first two rounds should be pretty solid this year, and the Redskins would be wise to take advantage of that.

Saquon Barkley (JR) - Penn St. 5’11” 230 Round 1

Derrius Guice (JR) - LSU 5’11” 215 Round 1

Josh Adams (JR) - Notre Dame 6’2” 220 Round 2

Bryce Love (JR) - Stanford 5’11” 195 Round 2

Damien Harris (JR) - Alabama 5’11” 216 Round 2

Sony Michel (SR) - Georgia 5’11” 212 Round 2

Nick Chubb (SR) - Georgia 5’10” 228 Round 2

Ronald Jones (JR) - USC 6’1” 195 Round 2

Akrum Wadley (SR) - Iowa 5’11” 195 Round 2-3

Royce Freeman (SR) - Oregon 5’11” 231 Round 2-3

Bo Scarbrough (JR) - Alabama 6’2” 236 Round 2-3

Tight End: Overall, this is a very weak tight end class, but there are a few prospects that could fall in the first few rounds.

Mark Andrews (JR) - Oklahoma 6’5” 252 Round 1-2

Mike Gesicki (SR) - Penn St. 6’6” 252 Round 2-3

Troy Fumagalli (SR) - Wisconsin 6’6” 250 Round 2-3

Defensive Line: The 2018 class should be pretty solid at the top with 4-5 players who could go pretty early.

Christian Wilkins (JR) - Clemson 6’4” 310 Round 1

Mo Hurst (SR) - Michigan 6’2” 285 Round 1

Derrick Nnadi (SR) - Florida St. 6’1” 312 Round 1

Da’Ron Payne (JR) - Alabama 6’2” 308 Round 1-2

Taven Bryan (JR) - Florida 6’5” 295 Round 1-2

Vita Vea (JR) - Washington 6’5” 340 Round 2-3

Inside Linebacker: There may not be a ton of top-end talent, but the guys who are here are legit.

Roquan Smith (JR) - Georgia 6’1” 225 Round 1

Malik Jefferson (JR) - Texas 6’3” 238 Round 1-2

Rashaan Evans (SR) - Alabama 6’3” 234 Round 1-2

Kendall Joseph (JR) - Clemson 6’0” 230 Round 2

Jerome Baker (JR) - Ohio St. 6’1” 225 Round 2-3

Tegray Scales (SR) - Indiana 6’0” 230 Round 2-3

Cameron Smith (JR) - USC 6’2” 250 Round 2-3

Safety: This is a potentially excellent safety class both in terms of elite talent and depth.

Derwin James (rsSO) - Florida St. 6’3” 211 Round 1

Minkah Fitzpatrick (JR) - Alabama 6’1” 205 Round 1

Ronnie Harrison (JR) - Alabama 6’3” 215 Round 1

Justin Reed (JR) - Stanford 6’1” 205 Round 1-2

Jordan Whitehead (JR) - Pitt 5’11” 192 Round 2

Armani Watts (SR) - Texas A&M 5’11” 205 Round 2-3

Quin Blanding (SR) - Virginia 6’2” 212 Round 2-3

Marcus Allen (SR) - Penn St. 6’2” 205 Round 2-3

Very Early 3 Round Redskins mock draft:

Without signing Cousins (assuming we are picking in the middle at #16):

1st - Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma St.

2nd - Equanimeous St. Brown WR Notre Dame

3rd - Tegray Scales ILB Indiana

Signing Cousins to a long-term deal (assuming we are picking in the middle at #16):

1st - Roquan Smith ILB Georgia

2nd - Josh Adams RB Notre Dame

3rd - Vita Vea DT Washington

...Just a quick note - I like the 2nd draft a lot better, so here’s to hoping we sign Cousins this offseason.