Ron Rivera/Martin Mayhew Presser: “There’s an opportunity here for all of these guys.”

Rivera has had a lot of life-changing conversations with players over the past few days. That's pretty cool, he said, because it's part of a life-long dream they've been trying to accomplish.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

GM Martin Mayhew following @WashingtonNFL's draft:

"We will be ready and have a very solid roster by the time we start in the fall."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) May 1, 2021

Rivera gave credit to Washington's scouting department for going through unprecedented circumstances with COVID to create a draft board that they were comfortable with.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Ron Rivera said Washington's scouting staff did an excellent job under the conditions of working through a pandemic: "You feel very confident about the work that's been done."

Martin Mayhew says he has "conviction" in every player that's been picked.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) May 1, 2021

Ron Rivera: "I love the long snapper."

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) May 1, 2021

Washington has done a good job of picking solid players during later rounds in the past. There isn't really one player who stood out, Rivera, but they are guys who they had good conviction about when it came time to make their picks.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Rivera reiterated that their picks were about cultural fit first, and then football fit second. Once they determined they were able to fit into the culture, they tried to see where those players would fit into their system.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Ron Rivera is asked about if he feels they hit on a common theme throughout the draft. He says character fit, but then adds later: "I know you guys are dying for me to say team speed."

They did.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) May 1, 2021

Mayhew said on both the teams he was with that made the Super Bowl had great locker room cultures. “That’s what I want to build here,” he said. “We’re going to get the locker room right, get the culture right.”

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 2, 2021

As good as Washington was on defense last year, Rivera believes they can be better, and he is confident in what Jack Del Rio has done to improve on the foundation they set in 2020.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Martin Mayhew on the WFT's trade with Philly to get a 6th and 7th in exchange for a 2022 5th: "It's a pick for next year, but we felt there were enough quality players left that we wanted to get some extra picks."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 1, 2021

Rivera on the thought that teams may prefer keeping picks for next year's deeper draft yet Washington dealt one for two this year: It's about what's happening not what's gonna happen. "We're focusing on the now."

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 1, 2021

GM Martin Mayhew just said fifth-round safety Darrick Forrest was one of Nate Kaczor's top special teamers in the entire draft.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) May 1, 2021

Mayhew said Darrick Forrest will first carve out a role on special teams as he learns more about the defense. Once he grows with more experience, he envisions Forrest being more involved.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Martin Mayhew's full answer when asked about the possibility of re-signing Ryan Kerrigan in the wake of drafting two defensive ends: pic.twitter.com/5xmIT6seRU

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 2, 2021

Asked Rivera and Mayhew about the two defensive ends they drafted and whether they'd explore adding a veteran. Say, Ryan Kerrigan. Mayhew said yes to possibly add a veteran, but he didn't touch the Kerrigan angle. Added that other vets likely become free agents post-draft.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 1, 2021

Mayhew said Washington's draft process was the best he's been involved in during his time in the NFL. Says a lot about the collaborative process Washington has incorporated with the front office.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Mayhew: “everybody thinks they’ve had a great draft... we’ll find out in a year or two.” But he loved the process and how it worked here.

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 1, 2021

GM Martin Mayhew on @WashingtonNFL's 2021 NFL Draft class:

"There's an opportunity here for all of these guys."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) May 1, 2021

Martin Mayhew says John Bates could develop into a "really good blocking tight end." As a receiver, he's "functional" and has a good catch radius. "Not the most explosive guy ... but he was well rounded," Mayhew said.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) May 1, 2021

On John Bates, Mayhew said he has the potential to develop into a really good blocking tight end. As a receiver, he has a really good catch radius. He's a well-rounded player, he said, and they felt like he could make for a good addition to the TE group.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Ron Rivera confirmed @WashingtonNFL will have a rookie minicamp in two weeks, and the team will follow what the league allows for its rookie development program. Malcolm Blacken will again lead that program.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) May 2, 2021

Camaron Cheeseman is addressing the media right now. He thinks his performance against the Senior Bowl helped show people that he was still staying in shape and trying maintain his accuracy as a long snapper.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Washington 6th-rounder, LS Camaron Cheeseman, is speaking to the media now. Scored in the 93rd percentile on the dental exam. Applied to dental school this past fall and got accepted to Michigan & Ohio State. Called it his "emergency backup plan" if he didn't have NFL interest.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) May 1, 2021

Cheeseman has always had a dream of going to dental school. He has been accepted as an emergency plan, but he wants to give football a shot first and once his career is all done, he'll try to get back into it.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Cheeseman said Washington originally reached out to him about a month and a half ago on Zoom. He's already established a good connection with Nate Kaczor.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) May 1, 2021

Cheeseman said he spoke with Washington several weeks ago initially. When he heard about Nick Sundberg, Washington became the team he kept in mind to the point he bought a Washington hat just in case.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 1, 2021

Camaron Cheeseman's favorite cheese is pepperjack. I'm sorry, but I just had to ask him. "It's not a bland cheese, has a little spice to it"

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) May 1, 2021

William Bradley-King: "I look up to Montez Sweat and Chase Young. I really model my game after Chase Young."

Said he tried to take parts of Young's game and apply it to his. Feels they have similar play styles.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 1, 2021

William Bradley King, Washington's new defensive end, says he looks up to Chase Young and Montez Sweat: "I really model my game after Chase Young. ... I feel we have the same playing style, the same tenacity."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) May 1, 2021

Former Baylor DE William Bradley-King, who was selected by Washington at No. 240: "I feel like I'm one of the smartest football players and one of the most sound football players that was in college football."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 1, 2021