NFL Mock Draft 5.0: Could Saquon Barkley fall to the Redskins at No. 13?

Here we are. Pick No. 13 in the NFL Draft. And Saquon Barkley is on the board.

You’ve seen how it might happen. And there are other ways. There could be a longer run of quarterbacks in the top ten, one that pushes Barkley, along with other talented prospects like Smith and Nelson, out to this pick. But what does this pick mean? What would Barkley bring to the Washington Redskins offense?

Let’s not act like Barkley would drop for no reason. As good as Barkley is, even he has his flaws, and those flaws may cause some teams to favor other positions with their early first-round picks.

We all know Barkley is an incredible talent. He has very good size, standing at 5-foot-11, 221. His speed, coupled with his size, makes for a devastating combination on the field. When faced with contact, Barkley, like Derrius Guice, has outstanding balance, and as far as athletes go, Barkley could be the best one in the NFL Draft. His return skills only make him more valuable to the Washington Redskins. But why would he fall here in the first place?

As natural of an athlete as Barkley, the running aspect doesn’t come so naturally. His decisiveness is inconsistent, and sometimes, he gives up on holes that would be favorable routes for him. Running backs do need patience, but they also need to know when to stop using the flutter feet, and start bursting up the middle. Barkley doesn’t have the feel for that yet. In time, it may come, but he may never be perfect.

Barkley also doesn’t often play to his size. His thick frame allows him to carry dangerous momentum into defenders, but rarely does hie use that to his advantage. Barkley doesn’t demand contact. He doesn’t create it. He sheds it. Shedding contact is fine. And it’s a good skill to have. But if Barkley doesn’t impose himself against professional defenders at the next level, he could find it hard to stay on his feet as often as he did in college.

The big issues with Barkley are indecisiveness and happy feet. Neither of these issues will keep him from being at least a decent back in the NFL, and many would say that other quality NFL backs share the same inefficiencies from time to time. But these kinks, as small as they may be, may convince scouts that they can settle for less later on, rather than use a high pick on a running back who, with all of his promise, still needs refining.

As for the Washington Redskins, this shouldn’t scare them one bit. If Barkley is on the board at No. 13, the value of that pick would be astronomical. They would have to pull the trigger. Barkley would give the Washington Redskins a more athletic version of Derrius Guice. His big plays in college were no flukes; Barkley’s ability to stay on his feet and make defenders miss is matched by players few and far between. He would be an exciting partner for Chris Thompson, and he could be the missing piece for the Washington Redskins offense.