Washington Redskins Schedule Visit With Wisconsin Linebacker T.J. Watt

The Washington Redskins will undoubtedly host a bevy of talented incoming rookies in the weeks leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft. One of those visits will reportedly be Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt. What would he provide the Redskins? What are the risks? Possible rewards? Let’s take a look.

T.J. Watt will make the trip to the Washington Redskins facilities in the coming weeks, according to NFL Network’s Path to the Draft. The younger brother of the famed J.J. Watt burst on to the scene in his final season as a Badger, making his own impression as he threw his name into the first-round conversation. Before his breakout season, however, he was known for little more than his name.

Watt began his collegiate football career as a tight end, rarely seeing the field. He was redshirted his first year. He saw little action in his second. As a redshirt sophomore, Watt made the transition to edge rusher. His length was well-suited for the position, and so the coaches decided to give it a shot.

The results were not immediate. But when they came in 2016, the coaches learned that it wasn’t just Watt’s length that suited edge rusher, but also his aggressive hands and sheer tenacity on the football field. Watt became a fierce defender for the Badgers, functioning well as both a pass rusher and a run stopper. He recorded 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks on the season, vaulting up the draft boards. His name has been at the back end of many first-round mock drafts. He’s list as a borderline second-rounder on CBS’s Draft Board. The 2016 football season proved that the Watt family belongs on defense.