Everyone knows you can judge an NFL draft class in a year or less, so enter the latest redraft of last year’s draft. ESPN released their 2016 NFL draft do-over this morning, and it does not give the Redskins a wide receiver this time. The Redskins go defense this year, as John Keim explains that the team will once again be looking for help on the defensive line this season. Drafting a stud defensive lineman, and one before the 5th round), last year would have made the DL position stronger heading into 2017. The Redskins best defensive lineman, Chris Baker is a free agent, and the rest of the players on the roster are backup level talent.
Chris Jones(6’5 3/4”, 310bs) was a player a lot of Redskins fans were interested in drafting last season. He was considered a reach by some at #21, but his talent put him into the conversation there. He was selected in the 2nd round at #37 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs traded it’s 1st and 7th round picks to the 49ers for their 2nd, 4th, and 6th round picks, making Jones their first pick in the draft. Jones started 11 games, recording 28 tackles, 2 sacks, and defending 2 passes.
The Redskins WR corp also has two of their best players entering free agency, and the team could be losing both of them as well. Josh Doctson was supposed to play last season, and help the team be in a better position for the potential loss of Pierre Garcon and/or DeSean Jackson. As Keim says below, a nagging Achilles issue sidelined Doctson for almost the entire offseason, and then ended his season after appearing in two games. Doctson has been posting videos showing he is running, and on the road to recovery, but his injury status has dropped him out of 1st round consideration in these draft do-overs.
Re-draft pick: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
Actual pick: Traded to Texans; Houston selected Will Fuller V, WR, Notre Dame
The Redskins received zero help from WR Josh Doctson because of a nagging Achilles issue. If he comes through this year, he will have been a good pick. But the bottom line is they'll be looking hard for defensive line help, a too-long-neglected area in the draft by the Redskins. In fact, they haven't selected a D-lineman before the fifth round since 2011. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound Jones blossomed with Kansas City, after a draft process in which his desire was often questioned. But by the second half of the season he was playing at a high level, providing something the Redskins need: a big, athletic player who can collapse the pocket. - John Keim
More 2016 NFL Draft Do-overs:
Fox Sports: #22 Chris Jones, DL, Mississippi State (Su’s Cravens drafted #26 by the Broncos)
Sports Illustrated: #22 Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (Su’a Cravens drafted #28 by the 49ers)
NFL.com(Brooks): #22 Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
For the Win: #22 Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky
Which player should have been drafted by the Redskins last year?