Washington Redskins pre-2018 NFL Draft roster analysis
By Ian Cummings
Offensive Tackle
Starters: Trent Williams, Morgan Moses
Reserves: Ty Nsekhe, T.J. Clemmings, John Kling, Cameron Jefferson
The need at tackle is high, but only for a certain kind of tackle: Someone the Washington Redskins can develop.
Trent Williams will be 30 years old soon, and he’s had multiple injuries to his right knee over his career in the NFL. Morgan Moses isn’t as old, but both he and Williams are coming off of serious injuries, and as it stands, neither player in one hundred percent healthy.
Looking at the team’s backup options, it’s hard to have confidence. Ty Nsekhe is the only proven name out of the bunch, but he turns 33 years old later this year, and his play level is bound to fall off at some point. Aside from Nsekhe, the Washington Redskins have T.J. Lemmings, John Kling, who they’ve had around as a developmental take for over a year now, and Cameron Jefferson, who signed a futures contract earlier this year.
Clemmings is a known quantity; he struggled immensely in relief for Trent Williams last year and there are doubts that he’ll even be on the final roster. And while Kling and Jefferson have good measurables, there’s a reason each one went undrafted.
To find a young player with a more complete skill set, a player that can safely back up Trent Williams and Morgan Moses, while also learning the ropes so that one day, he can become a starter, the Washington Redskins will have to look to the NFL Draft. The tackle class this year is weak, but with other needs on the board, the Washington Redskins can wait until Day 3 to eye this position. The developmental player picked can then sit and learn, and when they are needed, they can come out of waiting.