The Washington Redskins are armed with many draft picks. They should strongly look into these top performers from the East-West Shrine Game.
The East-West Shrine Game is one of the key moments for a lot of college football players. The first of the All-Star games is the moment that often kick starts draft season and speculation. Each year, the Shrine Game attracts top scouts from all NFL teams, and that includes the Washington Redskins.
Right now, the Redskins still have some uncertainty surrounding the team because of Kirk Cousins. Nobody knows what will happen with the team’s starting quarterback, but one thing is certain. The Redskins will have a great deal of draft picks that they can use on resources to improve their team.
Given the strong display that many prospects put on the field in the Shrine game, the Redskins are going to have to do some hard work on scouting these players. With that said, here’s a look at the top four guys that they should consider drafting following the display they put on at Tropicana Field.
One of the most dominant defense players on the field during the Shrine Game was Kentavius Street. The NC State defensive lineman made a big impact on the game, and he was the subject of a lot of talk from the analysts during the game. And rightfully so, as he was able to dominate at times.
Street has excellent speed at the snap and often was the first one off the ball. On one occasion, he was able to time the snap perfectly and nearly get a sack on the play. He would have done it if the play design didn’t require a quick throw from the quarterbacks. Street is also a freak in the weight room, and he was said to have benched 600 pounds. This strength and athleticism combination should make him an intriguing option for a team, and the Redskins will probably do their due diligence on him.
Actually, Street has already met with the Redskins, so they definitely appear to be interested in him. Here’s what our own Ian Cummings said about him in a recent story.
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"Street, 6-foot-2, 287, was a four-year player for the NC State Wolfpack. Over his career, he totaled 8.0 sacks, 19.0 tackles for loss, and 120 total tackles, as well as two forced fumbles. He was surrounded by an extremely talented defensive cast over his career, and his numbers may have caused him to be overlooked as a result."
It can never hurt to add help on the defensive line. Street could end up becoming a solid contributor for a team, and the Redskins will have interest. That said, he’s not a great fit in a 3-4 defense, as he is undersized for the end position, so it’s more likely that a team running a 4-3 defense will try and target him.
Despite Street’s lack of versatility between schemes, he is going to be a quality pro. He was the best defensive player on the field during the Shrine Game, and it’s possible that he could end up moving up into Day 2 consideration, much like Fabian Moreau did last year. Keep an eye on Street, as he is a name that will be on many draft boards after this performance.
Natrell Jamerson had one of the plays of the day for the West squad. After Bilal Nichols got pressure on J.T. Barrett and forced him to throw a backwards pass, the West players swarmed to the ball. The one who got his hands on it was Jamerson. The Wisconsin safety scooped the ball and went it all the way to the end zone. And on the play, one of his biggest strengths was on display.
While running back the fumble, Jamerson was in a full sprint, and it was clear that he has terrific speed. He hit second gear very quickly and went 0-to-100 at an excellent pace. This type of speed will allow Jamerson to make an impact in pass coverage and as a run defender. Having closing speed is important for a potential center field type safety, and Jamerson could end up being that at the next level.
Beyond Jamerson’s ability on the field at the Shrine Game, his versatility will come in handy. Jamerson played receiver in his first year at Wisconsin, and then he switched to defensive back. He has played safety and corner and has also functioned as a return man. While that ability wasn’t on display on Saturday, it’s still something that will be a net positive for him.
The Redskins could use a player like Jamerson. They need a safety to serve as a backup, and Jamerson could take over for Su’a Cravens, who doesn’t seem likely to return to the Redskins even if he comes back to the NFL. Jamerson can be a good potential starter or high level backup and special teams player, so he will get consideration on Day 3 of the draft.
Riley Ferguson had a very strong performance in the East-West Shrine Game. He wasn’t perfect by any means, but it certainly showcased what he might be capable of as an NFL quarterback.
Ferguson was the second quarterback in for the East team, as he ended up being the backup to the renowned J.T. Barrett. That said, Ferguson vastly outplayed Barrett thanks to his superior skill set as a passer.
The first couple of drives for Ferguson in the first half weren’t great. The offense couldn’t get moving, and he didn’t connect on many throws. That said, Ferguson did have a nice downfield throw on the drive that saw the ball glance off his receiver’s hands, partially thanks to the great coverage being provided by the defensive back. Additionally, his movement in the pocket allowed him to escape the pass rush and get throws off, though they weren’t always accurate.
On the final drive of the second half, Ferguson did well to lead his team on a two-minute drill drive down the field to score a field goal. On the drive, Ferguson threw some sharp passes to his speed receivers coming across the field, and he was able to read the field very well. His ability to make quick decisions and his excellent escapability also allowed him to extend plays and give his players more time downfield. Of course, it’s worth noting that Ferguson did take a sack on the final play of the drive before he spiked the ball, so that would qualify as a mistake. He should have tried to throw the ball away, but it didn’t end up making a major difference.
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The one concern with Ferguson is his lack of muscle. He only weighs 210 pounds despite being 6-foot-4, so he will have to fill out his frame to last at the NFL level. That should be doable, but he definitely needs to get it done. Otherwise, he could be injury prone for the team.
For the Redskins, Ferguson could end up being a mid-round pick who can function as a developmental quarterback. He has great college stats, and he has all the tools necessary to become a strong starter. He will take time to develop, but the Redskins won’t care much. They can develop him behind whatever veteran quarterbacks their team, and that could work out. For that reason, don’t sleep on Ferguson as a third or fourth round pick for Washington.
On both sides of the ball, Daurice Fountain was the most impressive player at the game. The Northern Iowa receiver demonstrated a nice combination of game breaking speed, ability to fight defensive backs for jump balls, and great ability to separate.
The first notable play that Fountain made came during the two-minute drill at the end of the first half. Fountain caught a quick slant from Ferguson and was able to take the ball out well across midfield. On the play, he separated from the corner and put on the jets to get across the field. If he had just a bit more burst in him, he could have probably gotten a touchdown for the team.
Later in the game, Fountain was the key player for the East on their first touchdown drive. It started when he was able to get 30 yards on a punt return. Then, Fountain made a couple of nice grabs, including one where he bodied up the opposing defensive back, went up and used his strong hands to catch the ball, and brought it down while reaching the ball across the first down marker. It showed Fountain’s excellent awareness and the strength that he has to go along with his athletic ability.
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The Redskins could use a player like Fountain. While he might not be a No. 1 receiver, he could be a No. 2 guy and would add a speed element to the team that they desperately need. Ideally, the team could get Fountain and use him across from Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder to create a versatile receiving corps. It’s also possible that he could be a No. 4 receiver that rotates in for certain speed packages. Either way, Fountain’s strong performance makes him the top player that the Redskins should target in the draft after the Shrine game.