BOISE, ID – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Brett Rypien #4 of the Boise State Broncos looks downfield for a open receiver during second half action against the Utah State Aggies on November 24, 2018 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 33-24. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
The Washington Redskins have some critical decisions to make in the lead-up to the 2019 NFL Draft. Draft season is now underway, and scouting players at the East-West Shrine Game is their next big task.
This upcoming offseason will truly shape what the Redskins future is going to look like. Right now, the fans are disgruntled by the front office’s instability and poor decision making, especially in regards to the fiasco that was the team’s attempts to hire a defensive coordinator while still having Greg Manusky under contract. Regardless of this, the team will still be trying to build a winning squad for 2019, and their efforts in the 2019 NFL Draft will play a big role in this.
For each of the past couple of seasons, the Redskins have done well to find contributors in the draft. Armed with eight picks in 2019, they should have a good shot at finding some once again.
There is a lot of depth in the ’19 class at various positions. That said, the EDGE and WR positions are particularly deep, so there will be intriguing prospects available throughout the draft at those positions. Meanwhile, quarterback is a need for the Redskins, and while they may not ultimately spend a first-round pick on one, they could target one in the early rounds. Thus, watching all the quarterbacks in action this offseason will be important.
The first chance for the ‘Skins to get a glimpse at some draft prospects during the offseason will come on Saturday during the annual East-West Shrine Game. Here’s a look at five players they should keep a close eye on in the game.
BYU always seems to have solid linebackers on their squad. This year is no different. Sione Takitaki is a player that has been rising thanks to his performance during practices this week. And on Saturday, he will have a chance to showcase his talent on the field.
Takitaki had a great four-year career at BYU, and he capped it off by posting a career-high in tackles (119) and posting four sacks. Interestingly enough, Takitaki has posted at least three sacks in each of his four seasons at BYU. He has played as a linebacker but also has spent time on the edge, so that explains why his numbers are a bit higher in the sack department than most linebackers.
Takitaki really is a hyper-versatile player that should be a weapon in the modern NFL. He can play at linebacker in a 3-4 or 4-3 front, and can play on the edge as well. He has good tackling technique and while he isn’t the most athletic player, he has good instincts and always ends up near the ball. He also has good quickness when rushing the passer, so that is a major plus as well.
The Redskins have already met with Takitaki this week which makes sense. The team needs some help at linebacker, as they could cut Zach Brown and/or Mason Foster while Reuben Foster‘s fate is not yet known (regarding a potential suspension). Takitaki is the type of verstaile playmaker the defense could use. And thanks to his strong fundamentals and instincts, he could earn a role as a top backup or special teams option in the later rounds.
Takitaki may be able to greatly improve his stock with a good performance this week. He has already piqued Washington’s interest, so keeping an eye on him will surely be important.
For the past few seasons, Kendall Blanton has been overshadowed at the University of Missouri. Albert Okwuegbunam has been the No. 1 target at tight end, and for good reason. That said, Blanton hasn’t been getting as much love as he deserves in the lead-up to the 2019 NFL Draft.
Blanton stands at 6-6 with a 265-pound frame. He has good athleticism, length, and was productive when on the field for Missouri. Over the course of the past three seasons, Blanton has logged 44 catches for 476 yards and six touchdowns. That may not seem great, but considering that it was over 22 games and he was the TE2 for the Tigers, the stat line becomes more impressive.
WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell pointed out Blanton as a solid option after his performance at practice on Tuesday. Here’s what Campbell said about the Missouri product.
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"Missouri tight end Kendall Blanton is an intriguing player. He is a well-balanced tight end with a big body that he uses to his advantage as a run blocker and receiver. Blanton had a bad dropped pass downfield during the team install, but he came back to run a great route to get open against UCLA safety Adarius Pickett to get a one-on-one win for a completion down the seam. Blanton could be a day-three pick who ends up making a team as a backup tight end."
It sounds like Blanton is the type of player that looks the part but still hasn’t put everything together. The raw talent is there though, and if the Redskins want to add a depth TE on Day 3, Blanton could end up being one of the better options available.
In what appears to be a very deep tight end class, Blanton stands out as a sleeper option. If he has a big performance in the Shrine Game, he could definitely start to climb up draft boards bit by bit.
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.
There are three Ole Miss receivers that are in the running to be early-round picks. While D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown tend to get more of the love, DaMarkus Lodge is a talented player in his own right. And he is arguably the most talented receiver at the East-West Shrine Game.
Lodge had a great final season for the Rebels, logging 65 catches for 877 yards and four touchdowns. He has shown the ability to release well at the line of scrimmage and has a solid 6-2 frame that allows him to go up and make catches. His length offers a solid catch radius as well, and he has made some highlight plays during his time at Ole Miss.
Jon Ledyard of The Draft Network scouted Lodge earlier during the college football season. He liked Lodge’s potential and said the following of him in that scouting report.
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"Lodge is the most polished and pro-ready of the [Ole Miss] trio, from his bevy of releases against press coverage to his body control along the boundary and his blocking on the perimeter. The peak plays from Lodge are incredible, due to both his exceptional ball skills and blazing speed, but he has to become a more consistent finisher in the air and cut down on the drops. There will also be a learning curve for him as a route runner thanks to Ole Miss’ system, but Lodge has all the traits and refined technique to reach a tremendous peak in the NFL."
Lodge has the chance to develop into a starter at the NFL level, but he is definitely an under-the-radar option. He should end up solidify his standing as a sure-fire Day 2 prospect with a solid performance.
The Redskins need help at receiver, as they could lose Jamison Crowder to free agency while the rest of their group isn’t that talented. Lodge would have a chance to win a job on the outside, so grabbing him in Round 2 or 3 could be a smart move — depending on how he looks this week.
It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Redskins are going to be looking for a quarterback at some point during the 2019 NFL Draft. They may have their eyes on grabbing one in the first round, but if they wait until Day 2 or Day 3, Brett Rypien could be an appealing option for them.
Rypien is probably the best quarterback that will see the field at the East-West Shrine game, and he has been the best performer in practice this week, earning praise from those who have seen him in action. It’s unsurprising, as Rypien has strong mechanics and good footwork. So, in that regard, he appears to be NFL ready.
In his final season at Boise State, Rypien showed excellent accuracy, completing 67.3 percent of his passes for 3,705 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. He has the fundamentals of the quarterback position down, and he shows the ability to read the field as well.
The one big concern for the next level is his lack of upper-level arm strength. Rypien can complete short to intermediate throws, but if he can’t show solid arm strength and the ability to get the ball downfield, that may earn him the “game manager” moniker that some have already given him. The Shrine Game will be his first big chance to showcase his downfield ability during draft season.
If the Redskins want a quarterback but don’t want to use a first-round pick on one, Rypien would be an ideal fit. He’s the nephew of former Redskins starter Mark Rypien, so there’s already a connection there. If Rypien plays well against the higher level of competition in the Shrine Game, expect him to establish himself as a potential Day 2 pick. Either way, the ‘Skins will have an eye on him.