What scouts said about Redskins’ picks before the draft

Apparently, every year the Packers’ correspondent for The Athletic, Bob McGinn, does a series of pre-draft articles covering scouts’ opinions of top draftees.....and it’s amazing. Sorting through those articles, I was left with the genuine sentiment that they alone might be worth my annual subscription cost to the online publication.

A number of the players the Redskins drafted (or picked up as UDFAs) were discussed in those articles, and I’ve excerpted those pieces below:

Round 1: Chase Young (EDGE)

1. CHASE YOUNG, Ohio State (6-5, 264, no 40, 1): The third-year junior played as a backup in 2017 and started at DE in a 4-3 in 2018-’19. “He damn near can do anything he wants,” said one scout. “He can do it all. Just draft him. I thought Nick (Bosa) was better than Joey (Bosa) with his hands, and I think Nick is better than Chase Young.” Young doesn’t win through use of hands. “He wins down the middle (of blockers) and with inside counters,” said another scout. “He’s not an elite bender. He’s explosive on contact. That’s what makes him who he is. I did Myles Garrett. He was a more gifted bender on the edge than Chase.” Young finished with 99 tackles (42 ½ for loss), 30 ½ sacks, 10 forced fumbles and eight passes defensed. “I love him,” said a third scout. “But I think the (Nick) Bosa kid last year is better because I think he’s tougher.” Scored 19 on the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. “I don’t think he’s a really great competitor but he is so big and so talented,” a fourth scout said. “I don’t think he’s as talented as Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney was lazy. Cruise control isn’t a term that I use but that’s exactly what (Young) does. He puts it in cruise control. He was dominant anyway, but he picked his spots. He overpowers guys or just runs around those big, slow tackles in the Big Ten.” Young is from Hyattsville, Md.

An interesting series of comments that essentially boil down to, “this guy has some minor weaknesses, but it would be crazy not to draft him.”

Round 3: Antonio Gibson (RB/WR)

11. ANTONIO GIBSON, Memphis (6-0 ½, 228, 4.41, 4): Gibson played two seasons in junior college and caught six passes as a backup WR in 2018 at Memphis before exploding for 12 TDs from scrimmage in ‘19. He moved from WR to RB late in the season, then played RB at the Senior Bowl. “The guy just came out of the blue,” said one scout. “The last two games they stuck him in the backfield and the guy just exploded. He looked extremely natural playing back there.” Gibson opened more eyes in Mobile, especially during the game. “You want to watch the Senior Bowl game,” another scout said. “He flashes speed. He’s got power. He can catch the ball. Will run a little high. Has to get that down. Will run aggressively inside. Has the feet to make defenders miss on inside runs. Huge ceiling.” Just 44 receptions and 33 carries in his career, and he scored 12 on the Wonderlic. “They had Tony Pollard the year before, and he kind of made a name for himself at Mobile,” said a third scout. “Gibson’s the same way. As a receiver this dude breaks a million tackles. If you draft him you need a really creative coordinator. He could end up being a better player than Jonathan Taylor.” Gibson is from Stockbridge, Ga.

This set of reviews should make Redskins’ fans salivate. Phrases like “huge ceiling” and “better player than Jonathan Taylor” taken nearly a full round before Gibson, are very encouraging to hear about our third round selection.

Round 4: Saahdiq Charles (T/G)

SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE

Saahdiq Charles, T, LSU: This is a first-round talent. Charles (6-4, 321, 4.98), a three-year starter at LG, has terrific feet, flexibility and body control. “Nobody ever beats this guy,” said one scout. “…But guys might get scared away from this dude.” Multiple failed drugs for marijuana led to a six-game suspension last season.

“First round talent.” It’s going to be up to Doug Williams and his staff to help this monstrous prospect on the straight and narrow. I will also use this opportunity to again remind readers that Charles is only 20 years old.

UDFA: Isaiah Wright (WR/RB)

Kickoff Returners

3. Isaiah Wright, WR, Temple (6-foot-1, 214, no 40): He’s a four-year kickoff returner and three-year punt returner. “He reminds you some of Cordarrelle Patterson,” one coordinator said. “Not quite as fast, but he’s got good size. He runs strong.” He averaged 24.2 yards in 84 kickoff returns with two touchdowns and 10.3 yards in 43 punt returns with three touchdowns. Wright is from West Hartford, Conn.

In McGinn’s profile of kick returners, Wright was the number 3 player on his list (behind only Raegor and Aiyuk). I remain convinced he was an absolute steal as an UDFA and has a very real chance to make the 53-man roster.

UDFA: Thad Moss (TE)

SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE

Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU: As the son of Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss, there are advantages and disadvantages. Moss played just one season for the Tigers as the fifth wheel in a wildly explosive offense, so scouts wonder how much of his production (47 receptions, four TDs) was the result of defenses basically ignoring him. Medically excluded at the combine, Moss’ 40 time has been estimated at 4.85 and 4.9. At his size (6-2, 250), that type of speed won’t cut it.

Another LSU player, another “Scouts’ Nightmare.” Given that he was picked up as an UDFA, he’s not that big a nightmare however. The hope remains that he could be a dream come true, particularly at that “cost.”