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Grading the Redskins Day 3 picks for the 2018 NFL Draft

By Jacob Camenker

ANNAPOLIS, MD - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Trey Quinn #18 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs scores a second quarter touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marines Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MD - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Trey Quinn #18 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs scores a second quarter touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marines Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: (L-R) Grant Haley #15, Nick Scott #4, head coach James Franklin, Marcus Allen #2 and Troy Apke #28 of the Penn State Nittany Lions walk out to field arm in arm before the start of the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl against the Washington Huskies at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: (L-R) Grant Haley #15, Nick Scott #4, head coach James Franklin, Marcus Allen #2 and Troy Apke #28 of the Penn State Nittany Lions walk out to field arm in arm before the start of the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl against the Washington Huskies at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Round 4: S Troy Apke, Penn State

At the start of Day 3, the Redskins had a lot of talent on the board that was staring them down. Many thought they may opt to take an interior lineman or a falling prospect like Maurice Hurst. Instead, they opted to take Penn State’s Troy Apke.

Apke wasn’t a name that many heard about in the lead-up to the 2018 NFL Draft. Many considered him to be a raw, later round player who needed to develop at the safety position to be a higher pick. He had 54 tackles and a pick during his final collegiate season, but he wasn’t a guy that made a lot of splash plays.

However, Apke possesses something that a lot of teams look for in a prospect: athleticism. At the Combine, Apke blazed a 4.34 second 40-yard dash and looked extremely fluid in the on-field drills. He was once a sprinter during his high school days, and it’s clear that he has speed to spare for the NFL level. This will give him a chance to contribute immediately on special teams.

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For the Redskins, Apke will likely get a chance to work as a gunner and fight for the third safety role. He has the requisite athleticism to be a solid player in Greg Manusky‘s defense. But to get better at the next level, he needs to improve his instincts and angling in order to make sure that he is able to make stops when needed.

The Redskins made a pick similar to Apke last year. They took traits-based player Montae Nicholson to play safety for them, and safe to say that worked out. Nicholson, when on the field, was one of the best cover men in the NFL. So, perhaps Torrian Gray will be able to work with Apke and get him to make an impact early in his NFL career.

Still, Apke was a bit of a reach in Round 4. He seemed like more of a Round 5-7 prospect, and the Redskins probably could have waited to get him. For that reason, the grade will be penalized slightly, but it’s nothing major.

Grade: C+

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