Washington Redskins should walk out of Day 2 with a running back

Let’s not kid ourselves. The Washington Redskins need a new running back.

We can tell ourselves that Fat Rob (excuse me, Fit Rob) is the answer. And we can say that Samaje Perine will grow in his second season. Neither of these statements are proven false. But there is uncertainty. These statements depend on a chance. And in football, it isn’t safe to gamble.

The Washington Redskins know this well; gambling at the running back position is exactly what they’ve done for the past few years. In 2016, after the departure of Alfred Morris, the team gambled that third-round running back Matt Jones would be fit for duty. He fumbled that opportunity away, and Robert Kelley, then an undrafted rookie out of Tulane, shined in relief.

The team followed a similar philosophy the next year, putting their faith in Robert Kelley as the starter while drafting Oklahoma bruiser Samaje Perine in the fourth round.

That didn’t work, either. In seven games, Kelley would only run for more than three yards per carry twice. He was deactivated following the team’s 30-38 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and Samaje Perine would take on the brunt of the workload.

Perine wasn’t bad. Statistically, he was far better than Kelley. But don’t fall into the trap of relying on stats to assess this position. Matt Jones had some statistically brilliant games in 2015. The same can be said about Robert Kelley. Now one player is gone, and the other is only the starter until a new back joins the ranks.

That’s right. We need a new back. And not just another Day 3 player. Both of the Washington Redskins’ lead backs, whether it be lack of vision, or lack of burst, or both, have fundamental limitations that will hinder the Washington Redskins offense as long as they are starting.

The Washington Redskins need a back with more dynamic ability. A back with the full package. Sure, we can “get by” with Samaje Perine, just like we “got by” with Matt Jones and Robert Kelley. But if we want to see Jay Gruden’s offense maximize its potential, then we have to do better. We’ll only have Alex Smith and Trent Williams for so much longer. We need to maximize their talent while we have it.

So who should the Washington Redskins pick to reinvigorate their run game? The answer remains to be seen. Derrius Guice is the most talented runner in the entire class, and he will be available at pick No. 13. The Washington Redskins, were they to pick Guice, would immediately turn their running game from a weakness to a strength. But he’s not the only option. There are other names in Round 2, such as Ronald Jones, Rashaad Penny, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel (who the team met with yesterday), and Kerryon Johnson.

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Guice would be a great pick in Round 1. So would any of the previously listed names. The bottom line is this: The Washington Redskins should walk out of Day 2 with a new running back on the roster, whether it’s a holdover in Guice, or a newly-acquired running back in Round 2. Personnel deficiencies in the running back room have handicapped the Washington Redskins’ offense for far too long. It’s time the team gets an early-round talent to pair with Chris Thompson and Samaje Perine.