What do the Pick-3 predictions say about pick #66?

In the Redskins Draft: Pick-3 Contest - 2020 we have 46 entrants, each nominating 3 players as projections for each of the Redskins’ 7 draft picks. The highest possible number of projections for any given player at any given pick in the contest is 46.

I thought I would take a few minutes to look at the draft-eligible players who were most-nominated by the entrants to be selected by the Redskins at #66 overall, early in the third round.

Could one of these players turn out to be the Redskins actual pick on Friday night? After all, the entrants to the contest are pretty good prognosticators — all 46 of them correctly projected Chase Young in the first round.

Here are the seven most nominated players, and the number of times each was nominated:

• Chase Claypool 18
• Adam Trautman 13
• Cole Kmet 13
• Lucas Niang 11
• Prince Tega Wanogho 10
• Ashtyn Davis 5
• Michael Pittman Jr 5

Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

6’4”, 234 pounds

The Draft Network Analyst’s Report:

Chase Claypool projects as a big slot or traditional X-receiver at the NFL level. Claypool has ample catch radius and effective physicality — he’s able to claim space with aggressiveness and hand fighting in order to create separation. I’m not sold on his vertical push to create soft coverage on underneath routes but this is a big body who is fearless over the middle of the field and will bring ample toughness as a blocker in the slot or on the boundary. A potential starter but limited upside.

Colts.com:

In his time in college, Claypool developed into a leader and good locker room presence, and he’s a sharp guy academically. He’s an accomplished player with a high ceiling and a lot of room to still grow. The special teams prowess in his background and desire to keep playing it is a big cherry on top.

Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

6’5”, 255 pounds

The Draft Network Analyst’s Report:

A high school quarterback, Adam Trautman never caught a pass prior to college but left Dayton as the program’s all-time leading receiver. Trautman needs a ton of technical work as a blocker and receiver but his blend of size, length, athleticism and competitive toughness gives him a chance to develop into a quality NFL player. There are outstanding flashes of NFL traits but his newness to the position combined with the level of competition he played against is a lot to consider when forecasting him to the next level. The tight end position is already challenging for refined college prospects to come into the NFL and make an immediate impact so projecting Trautman to do that is aggressive. With that said, he’s a worthwhile developmental prospect who could find early work in subpackages and has the ceiling of an impact starter.

Hogs Haven Profile:

Even the highly ranked TEs taken in the 2019 draft, Fant, Hockenson, and Irv Smith had, at best, middle of the road numbers in their rookie seasons. In that sense, Trautman is a bit of a gamble, or perhaps a project, given that he hadn’t played TE at all until college.

If the Redskins think a player like Logan Thomas could step into a TE1 role for the course of the next two seasons, giving a player like Trautman time to work on his fundamentals, he could be a critical addition to an area of dire need, likely available in the late second or early third round.

Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame

Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

6’6”, 262 pounds

The Draft Network Analyst’s Report:

A two-sport athlete at Notre Dame, Cole Kmet played baseball in addition to football for the Irish. From a frame perspective, Kmet is exactly what the NFL is looking for in an in-line tight end prospect and there is plenty to like about his projection to that role in the NFL. He is a smooth route-runner with excellent ball skills and the ability to win in contested situations. With that said, his modest functional athleticism does temper some of the enthusiasm about him being an overly dynamic weapon. Kmet has the traits needed to be a sound blocker and his effort, strength and flashes of technique are promising signs for him being able to produce in that regard at the next level. Kmet has the upside to be an eventual starter or frequent option in 12 personnel sets.

Hogs Haven Profile:

The Redskins would benefit from having Cole Kmet in many ways. Most importantly, Cole has the frame to withstand the NFL’s physicality at the position in which he plays. Kmet already established himself as a polished pass-catcher, so he has the potential to start sooner rather than later. His versatility allows him to play at in-line without diminishing what an offense can do. Moving forward though, he will need to develop as a blocker, in addition to developing his technical skills and ability to separate as a receiver. Nevertheless, Kmet can be an excellent option in a two tight end offense.

Lucas Niang, OT, Texas Christian University

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

6’6”, 315 pounds

NFL.com:

Dancing bear with good agility and a great football IQ. He doesn’t carry his weight proportionally and looked heavier/slower in 2019, but he clearly has NFL starting talent. Niang is a scheme-diverse run blocker with athleticism for move blocks and technique/leverage to open running lanes with power. He plays with top-notch awareness and instincts in pass pro, but he’s an early opener in his pass sets and I’m not completely sold he can meet edge burners at the top of the rush on a consistent basis. The medicals need to check out on the hip, but he’s a help-now right tackle prospect who should be a long-time starter.

The Draft Network Analyst’s Report:

Lucas Niang is a high-upside starter in the NFL. Niang’s mobility would make him a great fit in a zone style system and his length and range as a pass blocker make him an attractive option for teams with deeper passing concepts. There is some refinement needed in Niang’s footwork but he shows all the requisite physical skills to be a plus starter in the pros. Should find the field early and improve through first few seasons. Should be healthy for the 2020 season.

Hogs Haven Profile:

As Washington looks to get younger on the offensive line, Niang should be one of the offensive tackles it takes a hard look at. Given the ongoing drama with former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Trent Williams’ holdout, it makes a lot of sense for the Redskins to trade Williams and recuperate some value while looking for a younger long-term solution at the position. Lucas Niang could bolster Washington’s offensive line with admirable athleticism, mobility and a competitive edge necessary to succeed at the next level.

Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn

Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

6’5”, 308 pounds

NFL.com:

Tega Wanogho (pronounced TAY-ga wah-NO-go) grew up in Nigeria swimming and playing soccer and basketball. He earned a hoops scholarship to Edgewood Academy in Alabama, and once arriving there took up football just to get in shape — now it appears he has a professional future in the sport. He played in 10 games as a reserve his redshirt freshman season, then started seven of 14 games played at left tackle in 2017. Wanogho started all 13 games in 2018 at left tackle. He was named a second-team All-SEC pick for his play in 12 starts at left tackle during his senior campaign. Received medical flag at Senior Bowl. Prince is, in fact, a prince in the real sense of the word, as his grandfather was the king of a village.

The Draft Network Analyst’s Report:

Tega Wanogho is a toolsy prospect that is still new to playing football and that becomes apparent when studying his tape. While he has an ideal frame to develop, long arms and excellent functional athleticism, his technique and application of his physical gifts are very much a work in progress. Tega Wanogho has an exciting ceiling to reach should he develop and his tools make him an intriguing option. With that said, patience could be required and he profiles more as an eventual starter at tackler, ideally in a zone blocking run scheme.

Hogs Haven:

Taking a chance on Wanogho may be worth it for Washington, given its need to project first-round selection Dwayne Haskins behind center for the foreseeable future. Offensive line is an area of need for the Redskins, and taking a flier on the Auburn product if he slips to the third round could end up being a great value for a player with such a high ceiling. Prince Tega Wanogho is a raw but promising offensive tackle who may be well worth a roll of the dice for Washington at the right price.

Ashtyn Davis, Safety, California

6’1”, 202 pounds

NFL.com:

Davis earned a scholarship in track at Cal and walked on to the football team. He has excelled in both sports. As a redshirt freshman in football, he was named the team’s Most Valuable Special Teams Player and started the final three games at cornerback (25 tackles, three pass breakups). Davis was again the team’s special teams MVP in 2017, co-leading the FBS with 39 kickoff returns and posting 826 yards on those returns (ranking ninth in the country). He also started six times at safety (33 tackles, one interception) that season, the position in which he would start all 13 games and gain honorable mention All-Pac 12 status as a junior (56 stops, 1.5 for loss, four interceptions with one pick-six, five pass breakups). Davis was a second-team all-conference pick as a senior (57 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles) in 12 games (11 starts). He missed the team’s bowl game due to injury, however, and received a medical flag at the Senior Bowl. In track, Davis had many accomplishments, including winning the 2017 Pac-12 meet in the 110-meter hurdles and finishing third in the 2018 outdoor nationals in the 60-meter hurdles.

The Draft Network Analyst’s Report:

Ashtyn Davis wasn’t recruited to play football but found his way to becoming one of the Pac Twelve’s best defensive players as a walk on. His best fit at the next level comes as a traditional free safety that lurks over top and uses his athleticism to work in pursuit. In addition, he has matchup-specific appeal to work in man coverage from the slot. Davis is a tough and physical player but he must clean up his tackling form, improve his understanding of run fits and do better to shed blocks in pursuit. Davis has immediate upside in subpackages and as a four-phase special team player with the upside to start by Year 2/3

Hogs Haven:

The Redskins were just average against the pass in 2019, allowing 238.9 passing yards allowed per game. New head coach Ron Rivera’s team finished with the sport’s second-worst record for a reason after a 3-13 year, and there are plenty of holes up and down the roster. Among them is the secondary, and Davis could make an impact there for the Redskins on new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s unit. Ashtyn Davis has the physical tools of speed, quickness and agility to make plays as a safety or cornerback in the NFL, and with more experience, which he may gain by playing special teams as a reserve for a season or two, he has potential to be a dynamic playmaker.

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

6’4”, 223 pounds

The Draft Network Analyst’s Report:

Michael Pittman is an appealing prospect for a team in search of a possession wide receiver that brings alpha qualities to the table. Featuring a massive catch radius, Pittman features a long, stocky frame with outstanding hands. He’s physical in everything he does and defensive backs will be challenged with his blend of size, strength and ball skills. Pittman does not come without limitations and his gradual acceleration and lack of fluidity does present some challenges. While he doesn’t project to being a great separator in the NFL, his route-running technique is pretty crafty despite the need for technical development with his releases. Pittman has starting upside in somewhat of a niche role and he should bring four phase special teams contributions to the table.

Hogs Haven:

Pittman has experience at the X, Y and Z positions, but has primarily lined up as the outside receiver on the left side of the formation this season. Pittman has the desired size and body control to out muscle smaller defensive backs and could likely start at either an iso-X or as a “big slot” in the NFL. He is a good athlete with with long arms and strong hands, and presents a large catch radius. Once the ball is in his hands, he has the strength and physicality to break tackles and create yards after catch. He is an above average blocker and a good special teams player.