Redskins select OL Geron Christian in Round 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft
With their first three picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins have filled three major needs. They added Louisville Geron Christian with their Round 3 pick.
When the Washington Redskins traded down from their third round pick, fans were excited. Instead of adding just one quality player on Day 2 of the draft, the team would get a chance to add two quality players. That feeling turned into elation when Derrius Guice made it to the No. 59 pick, and at No. 74, the Redskins added another quality player in Geron Christian.
Christian is a potential-packed player with a lot of upside. He played left tackle at Louisville, and has a nice 6-foot-5, 300 pound frame. He also possesses good length and athleticism, and he should be able to develop. However, he does come with some concerns.
While Christian looks the part at left tackle, he struggled at times during his time at Louisville. He allowed a lot of pass rush pressure on Lamar Jackson, and that caused Jackson to have to scramble a lot. Christian needs to improve his technique and pack on some strength. If he can do that, he will develop into a left tackle.
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For the Redskins, getting Christian now is a smart move. The team already has three tackles on their team that are capable of starting in Trent Williams, Morgan Moses, and Ty Nsekhe. Christian will come on as a depth option and be given time to learn the position. He could be given an opportunity to learn the position more and maybe two years down the road, he could take over a starting role. And after Nsekhe’s one-year deal expires in 2019, Christian can assume the swing tackle role.
For those wondering if Christian can play guard, the answer is probably no. He doesn’t have the strength needed to be a starter there, so he would have to work very hard if he wants to start at that position. That said, Bill Callahan is a great offensive line coach, so perhaps he has a plan on how to use Christian.
Next: Details of Redskins trade with San Francisco 49ers
At the end of the day, grabbing Christian here was a very smart move. He could have been an early second-round pick, and he was on the board in the third. The Redskins weren’t even supposed to have a Round 3 pick, so getting a guy as talented as Christian is a solid move. If he develops well, he will be a very good starter at the NFL level. At the worst, he should be a great swing tackle.