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Redskins: A look at the team’s top 5 acquisitions of the 2018 offseason

By Jacob Camenker

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 05: Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 05: Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – OCTOBER 14: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers runs the ball during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The LSU defeated the Auburn 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – OCTOBER 14: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers runs the ball during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The LSU defeated the Auburn 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

2. Landing RB Derrius Guice in Round 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft

Throughout the lead-up to the draft, many Redskins fans were clamoring for Derrius Guice. They felt that the LSU running back was one of the most powerful runners in the draft, and that his mix of power and elusive ability would make him a great lead back at the NFL level. While this delegation did have a point, there was one major concern.

Guice wasn’t worth the No. 13 pick. In no circumstance would it have made sense to take him in the top 20 and maybe the top 25. So, the team was looking at the possibility of having to move up and get him, or trade down from their No. 13 pick to get maximum value. But in the end, it turns out the team was able to pull off an even better move.

Guice slipped in the draft due to concerns about how he had performed in the pre-draft process. Rumors came out regarding lies he had told about being asked inappropriate questions at the Combine, and there were also some reports of Guice getting into arguments during his pre-draft visits. It’s possible that these concerns could have been overblown, but that definitely caused him to slip.

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Had the draft fallen normally, without the concerns about Guice’s character, then he probably could have been a first round pick. As it stands, he was the seventh running back taken overall. And the Redskins were able to trade down to get him while picking up a third round pick. That’s a huge get for the squad, as they got a player they would have considered in the early second round with one of the later picks in the round. That was a smart move by Doug Williams and Bruce Allen, and they deserve credit for it.

For the Redskins, Guice will probably come in and be the starting running back from day one and onward. They really needed to find a true workhorse back with some power, especially after Matt Jones and Rob Kelley had failed in those roles in the previous two seasons. It also helps Guice’s cause that he can complement Chris Thompson well, so they will be an ideal tandem to use in game.

Overall, getting Guice in Round 2 and picking up a Round 3 selection was an excellent move. The Redskins could have gotten the steal of the draft in Guice, and being able to land their top targets in Guice and Payne was a huge get for the team this offseason.

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