Redskins: 10 prospects to watch this college football season

No. 3 – OLB Nick Bosa – Ohio State

Outside linebacker is a weird position to view as a need, or so I’ve been told. However, my reasoning is this: Preston Smith is in the final year of his contract, and if he has an excellent year, he may ask for more money than the Redskins are willing to pay. He also may have a down year, and convince the Redskins that he’s no longer the right man for the job. Obviously, this pick is made with the idea that Smith is no longer on the roster at this point next year.

But don’t worry. Nick Bosa is far from a downgrade.

Nick Bosa has an excellent blend of strength and athleticism. He’s flexible enough to bend the corner, and has the size to play inside or outside. In the Redskins scheme, however, he’d play outside linebacker.

If the Redskins are in a position to pick Bosa, that means the year was a disappointment, and they’ve ended with a top five pick. If that’s the case, and Preston Smith has departed, it will finally be time to get Ryan Kerrigan a running partner. A combo of Bosa and Kerrigan would be devastating and a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators. Bosa is the kinda of defensive player the franchises are built around.