5 Redskins prospects to watch in the 2019 East-West Shrine Game

Lukas Denis is an intriguing option at the safety position. Many expected that he would have a chance to emerge as a potential late Day 2 pick after his junior season. That year, he logged seven interceptions and was one of the better ballhawks in the country. However, after a merely solid senior season, Denis is flying a bit under the radar.

Denis’ interception numbers as a junior were a bit overblown. A couple of the picks he happened to luck into off bad passes or passes that went off the hands of the intended receiver. As a senior, Denis had just a single interception and two pass defenses despite playing on what was, overall, a better Boston College stop unit.

That said, despite the statistical decreases, Denis still has solid ball skill and coverage ability. He is good at anticipating where the ball is going to be thrown, and he consistently is able to make an impact when teams throw the ball near him. That will be a plus for him, and he will get a chance to show off these skills in the Shrine game.

The biggest concern for Denis is his size. Standing at just 5-11, Denis lacks the size that most teams look for at the safety position in the modern NFL. That’s not to say that Denis couldn’t be impactful, but the fact is that he may struggle to cover taller tight ends. So, he will need to prove that won’t be an issue or at least showcase that his other skills help make up for that.

Denis is a player that the Redskins should watch. They need safety help and could stand to add some quality depth as well. Denis could be a solid option in the later rounds and if he can bulk up a little bit, he should be a well-rounded player thanks to his ball skills and good tackling technique.

Bonus: Temple’s Delvon Randall is another name at the safety position that the Redskins could be interested in. He’s another guy worth watching, and he has four picks in each of the past three seasons. He’s of similar ilk to Denis, but he measures in at 6-2.