Every year, teams like to move up in the NFL Draft, and often it is to get a quarterback. The Washington Redskins could be in prime position to trade down if they don’t like any of the players on the board.
The Washington Redskins are in a terrific position with the No. 13 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. It looks like the team is going to land a top defensive player, and it seems that they are targeting Minkah Fitzpatrick and Da’Ron Payne as the top options right now. But, there’s also a possibility that the team could make a move and trade their pick.
Right now, it’s unclear what the prime position to trade down from will be. But, as it stands, there are five quarterbacks who could potentially go in the top 15 picks. If one of these players is still on the board when the Redskins are picking, a team wanting a quarterback may be willing to trade up to get them. The Cardinals and the Chargers are both teams that could potentially select a quarterback, so getting into the top 14 could be a move that some teams want to make.
Trading down may not be the right move, depending on how the board shakes out. But, if there are options to move down, the Redskins should look at them closely. That said, here’s a look at three teams that could try to make the trade with the Redskins.
3. New Orleans Saints (Pick 27)
The Saints really need to add a quality backup behind Drew Brees. In free agency, the team did add a backup option. Well, that might be a bit generous. They signed Tom Savage to a deal. While Savage wasn’t awful as a backup, the Saints need someone with long term upside behind the 39-year-old Brees. But, they won’t be in position to land a player at 27.
Because of this, the Saints will have to move up if they want a quarterback. They were one of the teams involved in the pursuit of Patrick Mahomes last season, but the Chiefs jumped over them last year. So there’s a chance that they could explore a move into the top 15 for a quarterback they like.
In terms of quarterbacks that would fit the New Orleans system, Baker Mayfield would be ideal. But, he appears to be on the fast track to being a top 5 pick. So, he’s probably out of the question. But in the teens, the Saints could have a chance to land Lamar Jackson, and he would be a nice fit in their offense.
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Jackson has great athleticism and would be similar to the gunslinger type that Mahomes represented last year. His accuracy wasn’t as good as Mahomes’ in college, but that can be worked upon. And learning behind Brees could do wonders for Jackson, and he could greatly improve his ball placement and ability to hit receivers in stride.
In the event that the Redskins traded down with the Saints, they could probably pick up the Saints’ first round pick, their third round pick, and a future second rounder as well. That’s the type of deal that WalterFootball.com’s Walter Cherepinsky outlined when speaking about the possibility of the Saints trading with the Packers at 14. This trade would be ideal, as the Redskins could pick up the third rounder that they lost in the Alex Smith trade, and they could still land some quality players.
It’s unclear who the No. 27 pick could be, but guard Will Hernandez could be in the mix at that juncture. Running backs Derrius Guice and Sony Michel would be options as well, and with the third rounder, the team could add some extra talent and ensure that the guard, running back, and nose tackle positions are addressed on the first two days of the NFL Draft.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (Pick 28)
The Steelers are another team who could consider moving up in the draft to get Lamar Jackson. The team really needs to add a quality backup behind Ben Roethlisberger, as Roethlisberger may retire in the near future. And with the Steelers, Jackson could be a great fit.
Jackson was a terrific college quarterback, and he compares favorably to Michael Vick at the next level. Jackson has elite athleticism and mobility and if he can improve his accuracy, he will be a very good starter at the next level. While he learns behind Roethlisberger, he could get a lot better and be ready to start by 2019 or 2020.
The Steelers seem like the kind of team that would be interested in Jackson. They did give Vick a chance to be their backup quarterback at the end of his career, and he fared well in limited action and proved to be a solid starter in their system. Since Jackson is similar, and more than a decade younger than Vick was during his time in Pittsburgh, they could think that they could develop Jackson very well.
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In a trade with the Redskins, the Steelers would have to surrender a lot to get Jackson. If they were to only use 2017 picks, they would have to give up their first, second, and third round picks to give equal value to the Redskins. The other option would be acquiring a future first round pick, which might be better for the Redskins in the long run.
If the Redskins moved down to the No. 28 pick, they could grab the best player remaining on the board, whether that’s a defensive player or a running back. That also could be a chance to take a guard like Billy Price or another player who they like. Either way, if they pick up extra value by moving down, that would be beneficial for the team.
1. New England Patriots (Picks 23 and 31)
The Patriots recently did something that the team rarely does. They traded into the first round to acquire a second first round pick. By moving Brandin Cooks at a more than fair price, the team was able to ensure that they will have enough ammo to move up and nab a quarterback who might be falling.
The word on the street is that the Patriots are fans of Josh Rosen, though they have recently been connected to Jackson as well. This would make sense, as Rosen is arguably the best quarterback in this class in terms of on-field ability. Giving him a year or two to learn from Tom Brady could make him elite, and it’s looking possible that Rosen could slip out of the top 5.
The Patriots may end up being desperate to move up in the event that Rosen continues to fall. In all likelihood, Rosen won’t make it past the No. 11 pick to the Dolphins, so if the Patriots think he’ll get to that point, they may have to leapfrog a team. While the Redskins pick may not necessarily be the exact value they need, it could be used as a stepping stone to get the team into the top 10.
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In this type of trade, the Redskins probably wouldn’t be able to land both of the Patriots’ first round picks, as the trade value doesn’t perfectly match up. It would be more likely that the Redskins would pick up the No. 23 pick and a second rounder, No. 43, in a deal. While that may not seem like a lot, it matches up on the NFL Draft trade value chart. So, it would be a possibility.
At the No. 23 pick, the Redskins could opt to target a running back, and Derrius Guice could make sense at that point. Also, they could target a falling prospect at a defensive position and pick up extra value.
In an ideal situation, in this trade down, the Redskins could get Guice with their first round pick, nose tackle B.J. Hill with their first second rounder, and then get interior lineman Frank Ragnow immediately after. This would be a great haul for the Redskins, so perhaps if the Patriots call, trading down could make a lot of sense.
Should the Redskins make a trade?
This question is an interesting one, and it has a two-pronged answer. In the event that neither Da’Ron Payne or Minkah Fitzpatrick are on the board at the 13th pick, the team will have a choice to make. They could opt for Vita Vea, if he’s available, or they could try to trade down.
The benefits of taking a nose tackle with their top pick are obvious. They would no longer have a glaring weakness on their defense, and that would do a lot to help the team defend against the run in their base defense. But, if the team can pick up enough extra value via a trade while still getting B.J. Hill in Round 2, it could be worth a move down.
The same could be said of taking a running back at 13, but the positional value would be better in a trade down. Neither Guice or Michel are worth the No. 13 pick, so trading back to get either would make more sense.
Next: Redskins Top 10 running back Big Board
It’s frankly too early to tell if trading is a sensible option for the Redskins. Once it’s better known who the top 10 picks will be, the Redskins will be able to weigh their options more. Right now, anything should be an option for the team, and if any of these trade offers become more than speculation, then the team should seriously consider them.