Washington Redskins trade up to get LB Shaun Dion Hamilton in Round 6 of 2018 NFL Draft
The Washington Redskins saw a player they liked. So, they traded up in Round 6 to get linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton.
The Redskins have been active on the trade market during the 2018 NFL Draft. After moving down in Round 2 to add a third round pick, the team elected to move up in the sixth round to get a talented player who had slipped. They grabbed Alabama’s Shaun Dion Hamilton, and he is a good option at this point in the draft.
Hamilton was a starting linebacker at Alabama, but he was slowed by injuries during his final season at the school. He suffered a knee fracture that prematurely ended his 2017 campaign, and this was after he had suffered an ACL tear just before the end of the 2016 season. So, that is a major concern for him, but that won’t necessarily bother the Redskins.
At the linebacker position, the Redskins are in pretty good shape. They have Zach Brown and Mason Foster as starters signed to new contracts this offseason. The tandem should be in position to serve as the starters for the next couple of seasons, so they didn’t need a starter.
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Additionally, the team had solid depth at the position, as Zach Vigil proved to be a quality backup last year and Josh Harvey-Clemons has a lot of athletic upside. Not to mention Martrell Spaight has upside as a tacklers, though I’m not particularly a fan of him. The point is that the Redskins don’t need Hamilton to be productive right away. But if he can develop into a role player, he will be well worth the pick.
Despite the injury concerns, Hamilton totaled 104 tackles and 4.5 sacks with two interceptions over the course of his final two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He is a disciplined tackler with good technique. Sure, he’s a bit shorter and slower than desired for the linebacker position, but he could become a role player and a special teamer. So, there’s no doubt that he could find a spot on this roster.
Next: Redskins take NT Tim Settle in Round 5
In Round 6, there was little risk to taking Hamilton. If he needs extra time to recover from injuries, he can take what would essentially be a red-shirt year with the Redskins. And if he’s ready, then he can fight for a position on the depth chart. Either way, Hamilton is a solid add and continues a strong performance in the draft for the Redskins front office.