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It’s draft day, and all the hype for the 1st round comes to a boil tonight at 8pm in Dallas. The Redskins hold the 13th overall pick, and a total of picks over the next three days. Defense is the most popular pick, but we’re still getting a few projections for RB Derrius Guice, and a WR(Calvin Ridley).
The professional mockers have former Washington Huskies DT Vita Vea as the clear favorite, and he has been the player projected to the Redskins the most all year. He has almost half of the votes this week, 20 out of 38 mock drafts. SB Nation’s mock draft database has him getting 42%. Who has been the best mock drafter over the last few years? Check out the Huddle’s rankings here.
Vita Vea, DT, Washington
It was Vea or Da’Ron Payne -- Washington needs a nose tackle.
I feel like I’ve been mocking Vea to Washington for a year now, but the NFL’s worst run defense (134.1 rushing yards per game) needs help. Putting Vea next to 2017 first-rounder Jonathan Allen should help to fix that problem.
He’s a freak. The key to his value is how much he’ll actually play in sub package.
Vea would team up with last year’s first-round pick, Jonathan Allen, to help fix the Redskins’ awful run defense.
I love the idea of Jim Tomsula and Greg Manusky coaching up the 340-pound run-stuffing Vea. He’s not Danny Shelton. He’s viewed as a better and more polished big-boy prospect coming out of Washington. He can also sack the quarterback. An absolute handful to deal with inside.
Round 2: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Stout, competitive, and energetic, Vea will pair nicely with last year’s first-round DL, Jonathan Allen.
Another big addition to the defensive line for the Redskins, who continue to add Hog Mollies up front.
Washington starts by landing a premier run-stuffer in Vea, and he’s shown enough as a pass-rusher that he has the potential to be a three-down player if coached up. No. 13 might be a little high for that type of player, but he has the chance to be special and should be a good fit in Washington.
Jones comes in to form a nice tandem with Chris Thompson, as neither are good bets to handle a massive amount of touches but both should wow with lesser workloads. Cole and Harrison bring much-needed depth to the offensive line, with Cole having a great chance to start early and Harrison serving as important depth behind two recovering tackles. The Rams end up trading a seven-rounder to move up for Harrison on Day 3.
Kelly could try and land a key role as a corner or end up being a long-term starter at safety. Blanding brings depth at safety as well. Wilson brings depth at receiver and could grow into an eventual role in three wide sets if coached up.
Round 2: Ronald Jones, RB, USC
The Redskins have invested a number of picks in their front five, yet they still need plenty of help. Vea could lock down the interior and instantly improve the run defense. That’s his floor. I question how consistently disruptive he can be game to game, but others do not. I’m not naive enough to think my evaluation is the only one that matters. Uncle Tony writes Vea to the Redskins is a poorly kept secret. I still like Guice as an option here, safety and edge rusher are also possible.
This has been a popular choice in mocks since draft season started in December. Vea is a strong, disruptive lineman who would give Washington someone next to Jonathan Allen to stuff the run.
Washington has to become more stout up front.
Playing on an excellent Washington Huskies unit, Vea has played multiple positions along the defensive line but projects as a pure one-technique in the NFL. His size and strength allows him to take on double teams and control the line of scrimmage.
From a size and power perspective, Vea would fit well clogging up running lanes in the middle of the Redskins defense.
Guess who was the worst run defense in the NFL last year? A healthy jonathan allen + Vea with Preston Smith and Ryan Kerrigan on the edges …
Vea and Washington are one of this draft’s most sensible pairings. The 6-4, 347-pounder can step in at nose tackle and clog holes for the NFL’s worst run defense.
The Redskins covet both Minkah Fitzpatrick and Vea. Expect a team to move up for Fitzpatrick if he falls past No. 11, but the Redskins would be happy with either of the two.
There aren’t many human beings on the planet with Vea’s combination of size and athleticism. Dropping him into the middle of the Redskins’ line would not only help the team generate more push from the middle, but could help free up pass rushers Preston Smith, Ryan Kerrigan, and Jonathan Allen to do work on the edge.
They need to bolster their defensive front, and Vita Vea happens to be one of the best players available.
*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S - Fitzpatrick will certainly be in the conversation if he’s available, as he could be the top prospect on the board.
2. Da’Ron Payne, NT - I’ve had either Payne or Fitzpatrick slotted here in every single mock draft I’ve done since February. Until today.
Round 2: Ronald Jones, RB, USC
The Redskins are looking for a new running back, as all the options they have at the position are pretty lackluster.
The Redskins could go a few directions with this pick, but I believe Vea is the perfect fit. He gives them a tremendous run stuffer to pair with Jonathan Allen and cause disruption at the line of scrimmage. Vea also has the ability to nose tackle or five-technique in their scheme. Hence, he’s the pick over Alabama nose tackle Da’Ron Payne, who they also like a lot. Minkah Fitzpatrick is also in the running for the Redskins from what I’ve heard.
Vea recorded 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks and four passes batted in 2017. The 6-foot-4, 337-pounder was a load at the point of attack for Washington in 2016, too. He totaled 39 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one force fumble and two passes batted on the season. Vea has a serious combination of size, length, strength, and quickness at the point of attack. He is a heavy nose tackle who is a rock against the run and can occasionally collapse the pocket in the pass rush. For the NFL, Vea also has the height and length to play end in a 3-4 defense as well as nose tackle.
Round 2: Ronald Jones, RB, USC
Washington can’t rely on Rob Kelley, and Samaje Perine was up and down as a rookie. Here’s a feature back for Jay Gruden.
Jones (5-11, 205) ran really well for USC in 2017, showing more decisiveness and displaying more power after gaining weight over last offseason. He also showed a burst at the point of attack with the quickness to rip off some chunk runs. On the season, Jones averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 1,550 yards with 19 touchdowns. He also had 14 receptions for 187 yards and a score. Jones ran for 1,082 yards in 2016 and 987 yards as a sophomore. Jones is an athletic and versatile back in the mold of Jamaal Charles.
Drawing comparisons to Haloti Ngata, Vea is a freak athlete for a man his size. No team allowed more rushing yards than Washington last season, but Vea would go a long way in shoring up Washington’s leaky run defense.
Round 2: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Not only was Washington bad at stopping the run, but they struggled to run the ball as well. Their 90.5 rushing yards per game ranked 28th in the NFL and they were even worse on a per-carry basis (3.61, 30th in NFL).
Chubb rushed for 1,345 yards (6.0 YPC) and 15 touchdowns last season and had three 1,000-yard seasons at Georgia. Adding a big (5-10, 225) and powerful back like Chubb to the mix would make sense.
Washington has its quarterback of the near future with Alex Smith. Secondary could be an option, but Vea fills a big hole in the middle of Washington’s defense.
One well-placed source insists the pick will be Vea. Another insists it will be Derrius Guice. Neither will surprise me, nor would DaRon Payne.
Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Excellent run defender who has untapped potential as a pass rusher.
Payne over Vea is a surprise. They might trade down a few spots in this scenario.
Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Virginia Tech
This seems low for Edmunds, but players are going to fall when quarterbacks go early. Depending on what San Francisco does, I expect one of the linebackers to fall in Washington’s lap in this scenario. Luckily for the Redskins, they get a much-needed starter with Pro Bowl upside.
Edmunds is a player who has helped his stock tremendously during the process, to the point that he likely will go much higher than this. He’d immediately help Washington’s pass rush.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/S, Alabama
The Redskins need a Swiss Army knife-like defender with a versatile skill set and a high IQ in the back end. Fitzpatrick could get a look at corner before sliding inside to play as a nickel in sub-packages.
Round 2: Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
This is about scheme fit more than anything else. Denzel Ward and Jackson are premier cornerback prospects, yet Jackson is Josh Norman-like in his ability to make huge plays in zone coverage.
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
You can never have too many corners, and this defense just lost an emerging talent in Kendall Fuller. In steps Ward, who lacks experience but mirrors receivers exceptionally well and has great man-cover traits. Washington also could consider a DL option here, and there are a few candidates who could make sense.
Defensive line help is a must, but there is plenty available in this draft. Cornerback has to be addressed for the long haul. Josh Norman’s deal gives the team an out after 2018, and he’ll be 31 in the 2019 season. Orlando Scandrick has been an injury concern his entire career and is already 31.
Round 2: Donte Jackson, CB, LSU: Washington needs more depth in the secondary and could stand to look to the future, as well. Jackson offers crazy athleticism and plays a lot like division-rival Janoris Jenkins.
Derwin James, S, Florida State
With Vea gone the Skins go to their contingency plan.
The Redskins would be getting a real playmaker on the back end. His versatility would be a big addition to their defense.
Many expect this pick to be Washington’s Vita Vea—and I would too if Derwin James were off the board. In this mock draft, he’s still here and Washington can’t afford to pass on a top-10 non-quarterback in the class.
James slides in perfectly in the secondary and can be the force at strong safety the team so badly needs. He’ll also help stop the run and boost the entire defense to a level the team hasn’t seen. Defensive tackle is certainly a need—even with Jonathan Allen coming back healthy in 2018—but it’s not enough of a need to bypass a game-changing safety in James.
Round 2: Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn
Round 4: Josey Jewell, LB, Iowa
The Washington Redskins could use another big man in the middle of their defense, but they added Jonathan Allen in Round 1 last year. They could also use a cornerback, but they at least have Josh Norman on one side and Fabian Moreau to develop. This is why it’s Derwin James all the way here for me.
James is a tremendous safety. He has good range, he’s a force in the box, and he’s aggressive. James doesn’t want to just hit you—he wants to take your head off. He’ll provide the same things the Redskins got from Su’a Cravens when he was healthy, but he’ll do them better.
For a team that’s a little soft in the middle of the defense, James would add a lot. Whether Washington decides to play him as a true strong safety or as an extra linebacker, his physicality and aggressiveness are going to shine through.
With the size-speed combinations running backs and tight ends are bringing to today’s NFL, James is exactly the kind of safety teams need in the second level. He’ll instantly improve the Washington defense.
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
There is talk of the Redskins being interested in Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea, and that is a possibility. But adding Guice would help to make the transition to Alex Smith at quarterback more seamless by giving him a runner to attract the attention of opposing defenses.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is the safest pick at a position that’s been broken in Washington for a while.
Poll
Who should the Redskins take in the 1st Round?
This poll is closed
-
35%
Vita Vea, DT, Washington
(122 votes) -
20%
Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
(69 votes) -
8%
Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Virginia Tech
(28 votes) -
16%
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/S, Alabama
(56 votes) -
0%
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
(1 vote) -
1%
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
(4 votes) -
13%
Derwin James, S, Florida State
(45 votes) -
3%
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
(13 votes) -
0%
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
(3 votes)