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NFL Mock Draft 9.0: Quarterbacks push defensive prospects down board

By Jacob Camenker

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs walks in to the locker room prior to the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs walks in to the locker room prior to the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Da’Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Da’Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The No. 13 pick is looking like more and more of a favorable option for the Washington Redskins. As quarterbacks continue to rise up the board, more of the quality defensive prospects are going to slip down the board. With this selection, the Redskins are going to have a few options, but none are better than Da’Ron Payne.

The Redskins have a massive hole at the nose tackle position. They have had one since they converted to a 3-4 defense. This offseason, the team has done little to address the hole they have. They brought in Johnathan Hankins for a visit, but they didn’t sign him to a deal.

The team did elect to bring back Phil Taylor as a nose tackle, but Taylor hasn’t played a snap since 2014. He looked great last offseason before going out with a quad injury in the preseason. But, he can’t be counted on. So, that will not preclude the team from taking a nose tackle early in the draft.

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Payne is one of the most athletic nose tackles in the draft. He tested very well at the Combine, running a 4.95 second 40-yard dash with a ridiculous 1.67 second 10-yard split. Payne also tested very well in the movement drills, and his ability to get around with his 6-foot-2, 311 pound frame will be critical to his success at the next level.

Payne’s athleticism matched up well with his on-field performance at Alabama. He was able to quickly shoot gaps and get into the backfield to make tackles. While Payne’s pass rushing production, three sacks in three years, doesn’t necessarily match his ability, he still has the upside to become a great all-around player at the NFL level.

Unless Fitzpatrick is on the board with this pick, Payne will probably be the pick. The Redskins really like him as a prospect, have visited with him, and he fills a need. That should be enough to make him the No. 13 pick.

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