Assessing the Redskins First Round Options: LB Roquan Smith

Jacob Camenker

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield

Roquan Smith was one of the best linebackers in the country during his final season at Georgia. If the Redskins need an inside linebacker, Smith would be a great fit.

The Washington Redskins are facing uncertainty at the inside linebacker spot this offseason. They had their top three players at the position set to hit the open market, and only recently did they retain Mason Foster to be one of their starters. They need to get another starter at the position, if they don’t re-sign their remaining free agents, and they could try to do that in the 2018 NFL Draft.

In the first round, there’s only a couple of linebackers who will be worthy of first round picks. One of them will be Roquan Smith. The former Georgia Bulldog put together a great final year in the SEC, and he is shaping up to be a potential top 10 pick. With the Redskins picking at No. 13, they could be in position to land him if he falls.

With that said, here’s a look at whether or not Smith would be a fit for the team. First, here’s the reasons why he would be a smart investment.

ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs after a catch during the first quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Case for Roquan Smith

When watching Smith play, it’s easy to see what NFL scouts and decision makers like about him. Smith is a highly instinctive player with a quick first step who always seems to be around the ball. He always seemed to be involved in every play during Georgia’s run in the College Football Playoffs, and he was a defensive leader for them as well.

Against Oklahoma and Alabama, Smith was able to make a lot of key stops for the team. While Georgia had trouble containing both offenses at times, Smith wasn’t the problem. He was hyper reactive to running plays and held his own in coverage. Generally speaking, his playoff tape was a positive and should solidify him as a top 20 pick.

In his final year at Georgia, Smith was nothing short of outstanding for the Bulldogs. He finished the year with 137 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, and 6.5 sacks. He played all over the team’s defense, and he should end up being a true three-down linebacker at the NFL level.

The Case Against Roquan Smith

Smith has a couple of things that will be concerns for him at the next level. The first is that he will have trouble dealing with faster players in coverage. Smith has good athleticism, but against players with elite speed, he might have some problems.

However, the bigger concern for Smith is that he is undersized for the linebacker position at the next level. Most linebackers at the NFL level weigh at least 230 pounds and Smith weighs in at 225 as of right now. He could definitely add some weight, but given his slightly smaller 6-foot-1 frame, it could be harder for him to keep his athleticism if he added another 5-to-10 pounds of muscle.

Because of this, it’s possible that Smith might not be able to play the middle linebacker position well. In a 4-3 defense, that might not be a major issue, as he could play outside. But in a 3-4 defense, Smith would have to play in the middle. And if he doesn’t have the weight to become an effective enough tackler at the next level, he might have trouble playing the 3-4 position effectively.

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As WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell recently pointed out, Smith could end up being similar to a particular Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker.

"The closest thing to Smith in the NFL is Bucs standout linebacker Lavonte David. Like David, Smith is a speed demon who flies around the field making tackles in the ground game while also being good in pass coverage. They each have size issues, but make up for it with great instincts and big-play ability. David was a second-round pick, and Smith also will be an early-rounder. Other similar players to Smith are Falcons linebackers Deion Jones and Duke Riley, but Smith is a better player and prospect than they were coming out of LSU."

If Smith does become David, he will be well worth a first round pick. But, David likely wouldn’t fit well into a 3-4 defense, the same way that Smith is a questionable fit for the position. For that reason, the Redskins might not end up being as high on Smith as some other teams picking in the top 15 would be.

ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 02: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers is tackled by Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Overall

There’s no doubt that Smith is going to be a quality linebacker at the next level. For a 4-3 team, Smith will be a sure-fire success and he should become one of the better linebackers in the NFL.

That said, there are a few more risks involved in taking Smith to be a part of a 3-4 defense. It just has to do with his lack of size, as he could have a tough time being a tackler without extra support if he is forced to be the middle of a defensive unit. Granted, there’s no guarantee that he wouldn’t succeed, but there just aren’t many players his size that fit that position.

While this concern could impact the Redskins’ evaluation of Smith, there’s still no doubt that he has the skill set that teams look for in a top 15 pick. He has excellent production, intangibles, and should be versatile provided that he can add some weight to his frame. If the Redskins need a linebacker, they will certainly consider him.

Next: Redskins first round option - RB Derrius Guice

If Smith is on the board with the No. 13 overall pick, the Redskins will have to give him a look. He would likely be one of the best players left on the board, so unless they were high on another player, like Da’Ron Payne or Derrius Guice, Smith would probably be the best value. It will be interesting to see what the Redskins need at the linebacker position as the offseason goes along.

Jacob Camenker