Redskins: 5 players to watch closely during the 2019 Senior Bowl
One of the weakest positions the Redskins had last year was their left guard spot. Shawn Lauvao was returning for a fifth year of starting detail despite below-average performances and injury issues in the previous four years. The concerns about the position turned out to be warranted, as Lauvao got hurt again and the position became a black hole devoid of legitimate starting options. That can’t happen again.
The Redskins are going to try and shore up their offensive line, and Dalton Risner would be a great fit for them. Risner can play any position across the offensive line, and has experience at both center and tackle in college. He should have no problem kicking inside to guard at the next level, but he truly will have the opportunity to play anywhere across an offensive line.
Risner is a favorite of our own Matt Valdovinos, who included Risner as an option in his early-January Redskins first-round big board. Here’s what he said about Risner.
Washington Commanders
"Risner is one of my favorite players in the entire draft. He a selfless leader who’s played all along the Kansas State line at an elite level. A mauler in the run game and a wall in pass protection, Risner is gonna be a very good player in the NFL. He has the physical tools and attitude to be a pro-bowl level offensive lineman. Left guard has been the biggest hole on the Redskins roster for years. The line has four of its pieces set, and they’re some very good pieces. They’ve already dubbed themselves the “Hogs 2.0,” with Risner, they’d be able to put some real substance behind that claim."
At this point, it seems more likely that Risner will be an early Day 2 pick, but that should be music to the ears of Redskins fans. He could make it to their second-round pick and be an immediate upgrade at left guard for the squad. His positional versatility will also make him a potential super-sub for the unit and he can move around as needed. Thus, they should certainly be watching him closely on Saturday.
Risner has already met with the Redskins as well, as they appear to be prioritzing quarterbacks and offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl. That’s yet another reason to keep an eye on him during the rest of the draft process.