Washington Redskins to meet with former LSU running back Derrius Guice

Among other needs, the Washington Redskins are in dire straits at the running back position.

Chris Thompson is one of the best third down backs in the NFL, but the Washington Redskins, by most accounts, need a physical workhorse back who can be the thunder to Thompson’s lightning. Robert Kelley is a decent goal line back, but he’s too inconsistent as a workhorse. Samaje Perine, although just one year into his career, appears to be a similar player.

The Washington Redskins seem to know this, as they’ve expressed a desire to upgrade at the position of running back. They could grab a decent running back in Round 2, or even on Day 3, like they did last year, but to find a true starter, they may have to weigh their options in Round 1. Per a report from draft analyst Jon Ledyard, the Washington Redskins are doing just that. They will meet with first-round prospect Derrius Guice ahead of his pro day.

Some may think that the No. 13 pick is too high of a pick for Derrius Guice, but Guice’s talent and promise as a running back is undeniable. Here’s what I had to say about Guice in a scouting report done earlier in the offseason:

"Guice would give the Washington Redskins a true NFL running back. He has the physicality to body the biggest defenders, and he has the quickness and the focus at the line to make the most out of every run. His patience can be worked on, but at it stands right now, he would be a mid-tier starter in the NFL, right out of the gate. And the potential for quick and prosperous growth is there."

For more on Guice, you can check out our Draft Spotlight article on him by Nathan Britton. Guice has the balance through contact and the ability to create for himself that other recent Washington Redskins backs have lacked. He may be a bit slower than Sony Michel or Ronald Jones II, but his game is more well-rounded, and there are some things Guice can do that the others simply can’t do on a consistent basis (And Guice isn’t slow; he ran a 4.49 at the NFL Combine). Guice and Thompson would be a dangerous tandem behind one of the better starting offensive lines in the league, in terms of run blocking. Guice’s arrival would make Alex Smith’s transition a little easier to bear.

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Still, it’s not a given that the Washington Redskins will draft Guice. The meeting shows that they’re interested, but the team doesn’t meet with many prospects they ultimately end up drafting. They like Guice’s play. Now they want to see if they like the person. If they do, then Guice could be the next starting running back for the Washington Redskins.