The Senior Bowl will be a big step for talent evaluators ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft. Here’s a look at the players that the Redskins should be watching in the event.
The 2019 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a big one for the Washington Redskins. Needing a young quarterback, the team seems poised to select one at some point in the draft. The questions are, who will it be and when will it be?
We could get some answers about that this week. The 2019 Senior Bowl is loaded with potential early-round options at the position and the Redskins will strongly consider selecting one. They have met with quite a few of them this week, and have shown particular interest in the offensive line and quarterbacks at this event.
Of course, there are plenty of players at other positions of need that the ‘Skins should be watching. They need to make sure they shore up all their depth and replace a few starters that may end up walking in free agency. There are many options that the team could consider from this event, but there are certainly a handful that make a lot of sense for the team.
With that said, here’s a look at the top five players the Redskins should be watching during the 2019 Senior Bowl.
There are always a few small school guys that have a chance to improve their draft stock in the Senior Bowl. Nasir Adderley is one of them. Adderley’s stock was already on the rise after more scouts watched his tape, and Saturday will be his big chance to prove himself.
Adderley has a well-built frame and a well-rounded skill set. He is standing out as a potential top option in a weaker safety class, and with the Redskins in the safety market after having to cut D.J. Swearinger, Adderley will certainly intrigue them.
Jon Ledyard of The Draft Network was particularly fond of Adderley. Here’s what he had to say about the Blue Hen in a late-December scouting report.
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"The toughest thing about Adderley’s evaluation was finding a weakness, as he appears to be a top-notch athlete with exceptional short-area quickness and fluidity, while also possessing the ability to open up and cover ground with speed and range as a single-high safety. He’s incredibly physical, bringing the fight to everyone on the field without sacrificing technique or responsibility. I think he’ll check in around 205 pounds with an ideal build for a deep safety, yet also perfectly sized to slide into the slot against all types of receivers when a team needs that role filled as well. The only real question mark with Adderley is the level of competition he faces, as he wasn’t targeted a ton and will need to adjust some to the speed of the NFL game. His traits and intangibles seem to be perfectly in line with the top safeties in the league today…"
The Redskins would be able to plug Adderley in and play him right away. They have such a gaping hole at safety and Adderley would be a long-term solution as a do-it-all player in the defensive backfield. The team could live with him learning to play at the NFL level, and it likely wouldn’t take long for him to develop into a quality player for the squad.
Adderley simply isn’t getting enough attention right now. The Redskins have to be keeping a close eye on him to see if he will make it to their mid-second-round pick. If he does, you can expect them to have a high level of interest in the Delaware product.
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.
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"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.
It’s no secret that the Redskins need help at receiver. Jamison Crowder is hitting free agency while Josh Doctson will get one more chance to show improvement. But truly, at best, he seems like a No. 2 receiver for the NFL.
The team will definitely be searching for talent at the receiver position this offseason. They seem likely to target one early in the 2019 NFL Draft, and they should definitely have interest in South Carolina receiver Deebo Samuel.
Samuel had a breakout senior campaign after being sidelined for most of his junior season due to injury. Samuel showed a strong rapport with Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley and caught 62 passes for 882 yards and a whopping 11 touchdowns. Considering that he had only five scores in his first three seasons combined, that was a major positive for him. It also proves that he will have the capability to win with his speed and quickness in the red-zone despite his smaller 5-11 frame.
So far during Senior Bowl practice, Samuel has reportedly been one of the best players on the field. He has demonstrated great route running ability, speed, and quick feet that should help him to become a potential No. 1 receiver at the next level.
Samuel has consistently won in one-on-one matchups, so it’s clear that it will be hard to contain him at the next level. If he can continue to display this type of skill set in the game, his stock will continue to heat up.
It’s possible that Samuel could sneak into the first round given his strong performance during the Senior Bowl, but if he’s somehow available for the Redskins’ Round 2 pick, they shouldn’t waste any time before selecting him. Samuel has a future as a playmaker at the NFL level, so grabbing him would certainly be a strong move for the ‘Skins.
The Redskins are going to add a quarterback at some point in the offseason. And at this point, it seems highly likely that they are going to add a passer at some point in the draft. Luckily for them, there are many quality players on display at the Senior Bowl and watching any of them would make sense.
That said, there are seemingly two sure-fire first-round prospects in action at the Senior Bowl. Drew Lock has long been rumored to be a first rounder and it seems that he has really worked his way into top-10 range with his performance this week. So, it seems unlikely that the ‘Skins will be able to land him.
However, the other first-round quarterback that the team could target is Daniel Jones. The Duke passer hasn’t had a great week at the Senior Bowl, but he could change the narrative if he plays well in the game.
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The Redskins have been rumored to have interest in Jones as a potential option for their first-round selection. This would make sense, as Jones has Carson Wentz-type upside with a big frame and good mobility. He just needs to work on his accuracy and decision making a bit for the next level but if he can show strides in that area during the Senior Bowl, that would be good news for him.
Jones seems to be someone who will be tied to the Redskins throughout draft season. So, getting a good look at him now makes a lot of sense. And it still remains possible that Jones works his way into top-10 consideration and the ‘Skins attempt to trade up for him. Conversely, Jones could fall to the second round if he has a disastrous showing.
Other quarterbacks for the Redskins to keep an eye on in this contest include West Virginia’s Will Grier, NC State’s Ryan Finley, and Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham. But for now, Jones seems to be the one with the strongest connection to the Redskins.
Montez Sweat has helped himself immensely at the Senior Bowl. He was coming off two back-to-back 10.5-plus sack seasons at Mississippi State, but he was still just considered a late-first-round option. The Senior Bowl should change that for sure.
Sweat’s good week started when he was measured, as his 6-foot-6, 252-pound frame caught the eye of talent evaluators. Even more impressive was his 35 5/8 inch arms and 84 1/2 inch wingspan. He will be able to use that length to his advantage in the NFL surely, and as an edge player, he is certainly intriguing.
After the solid measurement, Sweat took to the field and continued to impress talent evaluators. He is quick, explosive, and long and he knows how to use his athletic ability and length to his advantage. That will give him a chance to be productive early in his NFL career, and it’s looking more and more likely that Sweat will go in the top 20. If not, he won’t make it out of the top 25.
The Redskins may have a massive need on the edge depending on what happens with Preston Smith. The former Mississippi State product is one of the team’s most important impending free agents and if he isn’t re-signed, the team will need to look for a potential replacement in the draft. Sweat could appeal to them with the 15th pick and he could be a perfect replacement for Smith.
Sweat has great length, athleticism, and solid speed. He could be a double-digit sack artist at the next level. If he shines in the Senior Bowl, his stock will catch fire and really give him some more momentum as he looks to climb draft boards in the course of the next three months.