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Washington Redskins Draft Grades: Class Turns Them Into Contenders

By Lawrence Jason Dukes

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jonathan Allen (Alabama) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 17 overall pick to the Washington Redskins in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jonathan Allen (Alabama) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 17 overall pick to the Washington Redskins in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jonathan Allen (Alabama) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 17 overall pick to the Washington Redskins in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jonathan Allen (Alabama) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 17 overall pick to the Washington Redskins in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 Redskins draft class is one of the best Washington has had in quite some time. Which players in this Redskins draft class could be difference-makers for the Burgandy and Gold this fall?

Bruce Allen and the rest of the front office deserves a ton of credit for the recent Redskins draft class. It’s been a tumultuous off-season for the Redskins. There were the Kirk Cousins trade rumors. That was followed by Scot McCloughan firing. Washington extended Jay Gruden amidst the McCloughan drama but the move was widely viewed as damage control.

Depending on who you ask, the Redskins free-agent signings were a mixed bag. As a result, it was imperative Washington drafted well. They went into the draft with 10 selections. The Redskins used six picks on defensive players, addressing the defense in the first three rounds. Offensively, Washington filled major needs at center, tight-end, running back, and wide receiver.

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    • Perceived by many to be a top-5 selection in the draft, Jonathan Allen fell to the Redskins with the No. 17 overall pick. A run on offensive players in the top-10 and shoulder issues attributed to Allen’s fall. Possibly the steal of the first round, Allen should fit in nicely with Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain. If the Redskins are to dethrone the Cowboys in 2017, they’ll need Allen to make a huge impact.

    After announcing Matt Jones is on the trading block, the Redskins selected Samaje Perine in the fourth round. The talented runner out of Oklahoma split carries with Joe Mixon and could possibly do the same thing in his rookie season. In 2014, he set a NCAA record with 427 rushing yards in a game.

    Perine fits the mold of Rob Kelley and it appears as the offense will attempt to pound teams with this duo. Perine has solid size at 5-foot-11, 235 pounds, and is a more polished receiver than Kelley. The Redskins struck gold two years ago in the fourth round with the help selection of Jamison Crowder.  Could Samaje Perine be the next mid-round selection to have a big role on offense for the Redskins?

    One of the more tenacious pass rushers in the draft, Ryan Anderson isn’t as explosive as other prospects but he’s one of the more mechanically sound edge rushers in the draft. Anderson should be able to contribute immediately for the Skins on third downs in the nickle and sub-packages. With Trent Murphy suspended for the first four games, Anderson will get ample opportunities early on.

    The Redskins had 38 sacks in 2016, tied for seventh in the NFL. Despite the high total, the defense failed to provide a consistent pass rush. Other than Ryan Kerrigan the team lacks a true threat. Preston Smith is wildly inconsistent and Junior Galette hasn’t played a NFL down since 2014.

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