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“We’ll react to the 18 teams in front of us.”
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) April 16, 2021
Takeaways from our front office’s pre-#NFLDraft press conferencehttps://t.co/qOTexyL6rO
Current Quarterbacks:
Washington GM Martin Mayhew: "We do feel very confident and comfortable with the quarterbacks on our roster now."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 16, 2021
Drafting a QB:
Wrapped up a zoomer with Martin Mayhew and Ron Rivera... Mayhew on if they HAVE to get a long-term solution at QB: "It's a really good question and one I won't answer for strategic reasons. We feel very confident and comfortable with the quarterbacks on our roster right now."
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 16, 2021
Ron Rivera says with QBs: "It's about getting the right quarterback." A consistent theme this offseason: Yes they'd like to find their guy for the future; no they won't force (based on their reports, not yours or others).
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 16, 2021
Mayhew declines to answer whether Washington will consider drafting a quarterback for strategic purposes.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 16, 2021
Martin Mayhew says one of the benefits Washington has in this draft is that other teams don't know what theyre looking for in a QB, as each player has a distinct style
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 16, 2021
QBs with limited playing time:
Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew asked about the challenge of projecting QBs with limited play time.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 16, 2021
Mayhew: "Anytime you see guys with limited time on the job, that is a concern for me with the quarterback position."
Mayhew admits to being concerned with players who have limited playing experience. He was specifically asked in relation to quarterbacks since there are a number of QBs in this draft who only have one-year starting experience.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 16, 2021
Rivera: "Everybody is a projection in my opinion. There are very few sure hits, and even those are questions. ... I agree with what Martin said, and that is time spent — as many snaps as possible, getting as much work as you can — that helps a lot ..."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 16, 2021
Drafting players that opted out/COVID-19:
Martin Mayhew doesn't think the COVID landscape will affect who they pick. Rivera mentions they've watched a lot of tape from 2019 for players who opted out last year. "Drafted a guy who opted out ... you're hoping they've grown," Rivera says.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 16, 2021
Ron Rivera: "Each team can zoom a guy up to five times and a guy that you're truly interested in, you're going to use all five, in my opinion you would — I know we did — if he we opted out. You're going to use as many zooms as you can to get as much information as you can."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 16, 2021
Voluntary OTAs:
Ron Rivera says Washington will hold nothing against any players that choose not to come for OTAs, "it's all voluntary." II expect some or most players to attend, and Rivera says he's been in touch with players
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 16, 2021
Rivera reiterates this. Acknowledges the tough situation as everyone weighs what's best for them. https://t.co/WkWKaMdN3T
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 16, 2021
Trading up/down:
RE: trading up/down, Martin Mayhew said they're "open to doing either" and they're "working through some things now."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 16, 2021
Ron Rivera, when talking about hypothetical trades in the draft, uses the fourth slot in his example. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) April 16, 2021
Martin Mayhew's full answer when asked if they would consider moving up for a non-quarterback: pic.twitter.com/2X0085sm21
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 16, 2021
Drafting LBs:
Ron Rivera is asked about his history of success in drafting linebackers: "Luke Kuechly, that's hard to mess up."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 16, 2021
Sammis Reyes:
The first name that popped into Ron Rivera's head when looking at Sammis Reyes was Jimmy Graham. "Gosh, if this guy can grow and develop... [Reyes] has the background and the makeup that you feel good about."
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) April 16, 2021
Ron Rivera video talking about new TE Sammis Reyes: https://t.co/RLNYUpEzRp
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 16, 2021
Landon Collins:
UPDATE:
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 16, 2021
https://t.co/IAk3csAUDP pic.twitter.com/GzCNoVtVjY
Ron Rivera says Landon Collins was speaking for himself a month or so ago about not wanting to switch to linebacker from safety. Not for the organization.
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) April 16, 2021
Certainly made it seem like it's a possibility. @team980 @WSHFootballSI @LockedWFTPod
Last month, S Landon Collins posted on IG that he wouldn't play linebacker this season. Ron Rivera, asked if Collins was speaking for himself or for the team, said:
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) April 16, 2021
"That was Landon. Our plan for Landon is to have him here and have him compete."
Ron Rivera is asked whether Landon Collins' recent comments about not moving to LB was a group discussion he articulated: "That was Landon." Added the plan is to get him on the field but didn't say that automatically meant safety.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 16, 2021
Free agency:
Ron Rivera says WFT's free agency haul 'freed ourselves up' for NFL Draft https://t.co/wHlh4TJ2GZ
— NBC Sports Washington Football (@NBCSWASFootball) April 16, 2021
“I think what our front office did and what we were able to do in free agency really helped us,” Rivera said during a Zoom media session on Friday. “I think we freed ourselves up because of what they did.”
“I think [front office executives] Martin [Mayhew] and Marty [Hurney] and their guys really helped put us in a position where we’ve got to really look at drafting best player available, but always keeping in mind what we feel the true need is,” Rivera said.