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Why the Redskins shouldn’t pursue S Brandon Bryant in Supplemental Draft

By Jacob Camenker

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 12: Brandon Harris #6 of the LSU Tigers is brought down by Brandon Bryant #20 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the third quarter of a game at Davis Wade Stadium on September 12, 2015 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 12: Brandon Harris #6 of the LSU Tigers is brought down by Brandon Bryant #20 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the third quarter of a game at Davis Wade Stadium on September 12, 2015 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Brandon Bryant is one of the “Big Three” names in the 2018 Supplemental Draft. However, the Washington Redskins should not go after him. Here’s why.

This year’s supplemental draft is loaded with talent. For the first time since 2015, a player will certainly be taken with a supplemental selection. And for the first time since 2010, it seems highly likely that more than one player will be selected.

Among the big names are Sam Beal and Adonis Alexander, but don’t sleep on Mississippi State’s Brandon Bryant. The former Bulldog had a solid college career playing in the SEC and has the athletic traits necessary to be a potential starter or top backup at the NFL level. That said, while Bryant could be a late-round pick in the supplemental draft, the Washington Redskins shouldn’t be the ones spending a pick on him.

While Bryant does have nice athletic traits, in particular, his above average 4.45 speed, he still is a work in progress in terms of pass coverage. Bryant does well near the line of scrimmage as a run stuffer, but he can get lost when asked to cover players downfield. It just doesn’t come naturally to him. That said, he may need to be coached up at the NFL level, so that probably would render him as merely a special teams player early in his career.

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Getting a special teams player who has the upside to become a contributor on defense isn’t something the Redskins should be looking for. Recently, they spent a fourth-round pick on Troy Apke out of Penn State. Similar to Bryant, Apke isn’t a natural in coverage but is a solid tackler and potential special teams ace. Apke has elite athleticism compared to Bryant’s above average athletic skill set, so that’s the major difference.

During his rookie season, Apke figures to need time to develop as the fourth safety on the roster. He will primarily play special teams and, barring an injury, he is unlikely to see a lot of playing time. That’s the exact role that Bryant will need to play. So, given that the Redskins have a rich man’s version of Bryant, adding him to the roster would be redundant.

It’s also worth noting that the Redskins have a lot of young depth in their secondary that they would like to keep. By adding Bryant to the mix, that could force them to keep 11 defensive backs or part ways with quality, young depth like Fish Smithson and Joshua Holsey. Bryant’s ceiling wouldn’t be enough to outweigh the loss of either of those potential contributors.

If the Redskins were able to use a seventh-round pick on Bryant, it’s possible that they could keep him on the practice squad if he didn’t make the roster. That said, a move like that would once again come at the expense of a young talent, as Quin Blanding and Smithson will be fighting for a practice squad spot if they don’t make the roster. Thus, adding Bryant would probably be, at best, a lateral move.

Next: Scouting report for S Brandon Bryant

Adding Bryant just doesn’t make sense for the Redskins. If they want to add someone in the supplemental draft, it needs to be a player who will be higher on the depth chart. It needs to be a guy they can’t get elsewhere. Bryant just doesn’t qualify, so he shouldn’t be the pick. Another team will take a chance on the athletic safety out of Mississippi State. He just doesn’t have a logical fit on the Redskins current roster.

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