Washington Redskins: The cons of drafting a first-round defensive lineman
By Ian Cummings
The Needs
The team needs of the Washington Redskins are not set in stone. Free agency has yet to play out, and depending on who you ask, the Washington Redskins could need anything from a No. 1 running back, to a new general manager, to a brand change.
The NFL Draft can only solve one of those disputes, however, and that is the issue of positional need. What do the Washington Redskins need to add to their roster in 2018? Let’s compile a short list of possible needs.
- Late-round developmental quarterback
- No. 1 running back
- Speed wide receiver
- Any wide receiver
- A tight end who can stay on the field
- Starting left guard
- Offensive line depth
- More offensive line depth
- Depth on the offensive line
- Rotational defensive lineman
- Nose tackle
- Speedy inside linebacker
- Slot cornerback
- Depth at cornerback
- Depth at safety
- A returner that isn’t named Jamison Crowder
Okay, so the short list became a long list, but the message is clear. The Washington Redskins, as good as the team may be, when healthy, have a lot of needs that could be addressed this offseason.
The question now becomes ‘how should these various needs be addressed’? On an individual basis, which needs can be remedied in the first round?
You will find some variation depending on who you ask, but over the past few months, the consensus has been that the Washington Redskins will select either a running back, defensive lineman, linebacker, or defensive back with their first pick.
However, if Quenton Nelson drops to No. 13, then he would be the obvious pick, as the most talented player available at a pressing need. And drafting Calvin Ridley is also an option. But the Washington Redskins, by most accounts, need to pick a core player over a skill position player with their first pick. That narrows down the possible pick to either a defensive standout at a multitude of positions, or a No. 1 running back.
So now we know that there are several different areas the Washington Redskins could use their first-round pick on. Why would drafting a defensive lineman be the wrong way to go? Let’s take a look at the players themselves.