Washington Redskins prospect Roquan Smith declares for NFL Draft

It was already a foregone conclusion. But Washington Redskins prospect Roquan Smith has officially announced his intentions to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Washington Redskins will be looking for a defensive upgrade in the offseason of 2018. The unit looked much better at times in 2017, but consistency, as well as speed, yet eludes them.

If the team wishes to acquire those two qualities in the NFL Draft, Roquan Smith is officially available for them, if he makes it that far down the draft board.

Smith made waves in his junior season with the Georgia Bulldogs. In fifteen games, the 6-foot-1, 225 linebacker logged 137 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. He made an impact in the National Championship game, as well as throughout the season, using his rare combination of speed, strength, and athleticism to give his team an advantage.

Though the Bulldogs lost in the National Championship game, Smith was ready to return for his senior season, and he remained conflicted for some time following the loss. But in the end, Smith decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and head to the NFL. His resume in three years was more than promising, and it would be hard to top his 2017 numbers next year.

The decision to head to the pros early will likely bode well for Smith. He’s already projected to go in the first round, and he’ll walk into a hefty paycheck. Likewise, whoever acquires Smith will have a blue-chip player on day one. He turns just 21 this May, and he has the speed to cover both ends of the field.

Next: Washington Redskins: One dark horse at every position

We had Smith mocked to the Washington Redskins in the first round of our NCAA Championship Mock Draft earlier this month, and as draft season moves along, we could continue to see Smith connected to the burgundy and gold.