Senior Bowl week of 2019 concluded on Saturday, and with it, the Redskins gained an opportunity to take a closer look at this year’s draft prospects.
There’s good news and bad news for the Washington Redskins from this year’s Senior Bowl. The bad news? If they’re looking for a quarterback this year, few options command confidence. Most of the quarterbacks failed to separate themselves in Saturday’s action, further complicating Washington’s decision at football’s most important position.
The good news? Every other position is stacked.
The 2019 NFL Draft is truly a deep overall class, with troves of quality players at many positions, especially Redskins positions of need. Whether it’s wide receiver, tight end, offensive lineman, edge rusher, or linebacker, there are value deals out there, waiting for Washington. The Redskins just have to make the right picks. Their evaluation of Senior Bowl prospects is one step toward that conclusion.
Keep in mind that the Senior Bowl is just one game, and one game that many can weigh too heavily against the game tape. But despite its relative unimportance, it allows college players to step into the spotlight against similar competition. Some of those players revealed themselves as true NFL prospects on Saturday, giving NFL scouts glimpses of their potential. There were a lot of flashes at the Senior Bowl, but these five players stood out the most.
No. 5 – QB Drew Lock – Missouri
Other Standouts at QB: Tyree Jackson – Buffalo
As mentioned earlier, none of the quarterbacks were great at the Senior Bowl, and some, like Trace McSorley and Gardner Minshew, were particularly bad in limited action. But there was one quarterback who flashed superior traits not just all day, but all week during practices and interviews as well.
Missouri’s Drew Lock.
Lock’s stat sheet from the Senior Bowl isn’t eye-popping: The rumored first-round pick logged a measly 57 yards on nine completions, out of fourteen attempts. Box score scouts will go for their pitchforks. But Lock, while he still displays sloppy footwork on occasion, showed better mental poise than all of the other quarterbacks in attendance on Saturday, and at times, he did everything he needed to do, only for the receiver to fail to capitalize.
Lock responded to adversity well on Saturday, always keeping his composure, and his best rep came when he was rolling out to the right. As he rolled out, waiting for something to open up downfield, he kept losing space, with defenders closing in. Losing time, Lock improvised and tossed an underhand pass back inside to an open receiver, who ran the ball for a good gain.
Lock showcased his ability to think on the fly on that play, a trait NFL quarterbacks have to have in order to succeed. Combine his awareness with his athleticism and his cool, stabilizing confidence, and Lock was the Senior Bowl quarterback who looked the most like a leader of a team.
No. 4 – OL Dalton Risner – Kansas State
Other Standouts at OL: OG Dru Sarnia – Oklahoma, OT Andre Dillard – Washington State
The Redskins have invested heavily in the defensive line. Now it’s time to solidify the trenches on offense.
As it stands, Washington is at least one starting-caliber lineman away from fielding a complete offensive line, and with the uncertainty of Brandon Scherff’s pectoral injury, Trent William’s ever-increasing age, and the regression of Morgan Moses, the Redskins can’t afford to take this need for granted like they did last offseason.
Luckily for the Redskins, this draft class is stocked to the brim with offensive line talent, from tough, mean pro-ready guys to physical specimens with sky-high potential. Few prospects balance these attributes better than Kansas State’s Dalton Risner, who was exceptional for the North team on Saturday. Peep the right tackle in the video below.
Chris Lindstrom and Dalton Risner we’re getting fired up with each other all week. Risner said to @BenjaminSolak “I love Lindstrom. That dude’s a Guard. He’s a GUARD!” Not sure what that means but their combo blocks are pretty #SeniorBowl: pic.twitter.com/W792Cu3tfs
— Brad Kelly (@CoachBKelly) January 26, 2019
Quick get-off, leverage, strength, aggression. It’s all there with Risner, who stands at 6-foot-5, 308. And while he played offensive tackle at the Senior Bowl, many have Risner switching to offensive guard at the next level, as he doesn’t have the best length for an outside lineman.
The Redskins could draft Risner, who will likely go in Round 1 after his performance in Mobile, and move him as they did with Brandon Scherff. Scherff’s panned out so far at his new position. Risner, a relentless lineman with solid athleticism and power, could have a similar career arc. The Redskins met with Risner during the week. His in-game performance had to draw their attention.
No. 3 – DE L.J. Collier – TCU
Other Standouts at DE: Charles Omenihu – Texas, Byron Cowart – Maryland, Jaylon Ferguson, LTU
Between Charles Omenihu, Khalen Saunders, and L.J. Collier, the Senior Bowl was stacked at defensive line, just like the 2019 NFL Draft will be in a few months.
That said, Omenihu, while he provides versatility, will likely be gone by the end of Round 1, and Khalen Saunders plays at a position the Redskins don’t have a need for. L.J. Collier demanded the most attention for the Redskins on Saturday; he’s a versatile line prospect who showed up in a big way.
Collier was the most productive lineman at the Senior Bowl, notching two sacks and two tackles for loss, totaling at 36 yards lost for the opposing offense. He also forced a fumble. At 6-foot-4, 276, Collier has impressive size, and surprising twitch to go with it, and he used those traits to keep himself relevant with lots of competition on his own line.
Collier could play edge rusher for the Redskins, if they prepared him the right way, but at his size, and with his relative quickness, he’d provide valuable versatility, at a discount price to Omenihu’s. Collier isn’t as dominant of a prospect, but on Saturday, he proved that he shouldn’t be overlooked.
No. 2 – S Nasir Adderley – Delaware
Other Standouts at S: Will Harris – Boston College, Khari Willis – Michigan State
After losing both their starting safeties in the span of a couple weeks, one to a release, and one temporarily due to legal troubles, the Redskins are in the running for a new starting safety this offseason.
They could dive into what will be a plentiful free agent market, but with minimal cap space, opting to grab a safety through the NFL Draft might be the best bet. In the draft, safety is one of the weaker relative positions, but there’s still a good amount of early round prospects, as well as mid-tier gems. The two most common names thrown into the former group are Alabama’s Deionte Thompson and Delaware’s Nasir Adderley. Adderley played on Saturday, and in that game, he solidified his status.
Adderley wasn’t entirely polished; that hasn’t been his game, and in the NFL, he will need to polish mental inconsistencies on the field. But Adderley’s wired instincts are exceptional, and along with his range and athleticism, they allow him to make plays tracking the ball that few across the league can make. Adderley spent his time in Delaware coasting across the field, and his time at the Senior Bowl was no different; he was his team’s leading tackler with five total, and he logged a key interception for the North team.
Adderley, just like Thompson, isn’t a perfect prospect. He has his inconsistencies, just like all young players. But unlike other young players, Adderley has a very well-rounded skill set, and his best traits set him apart as a safety with outstanding developmental potential. After his Senior Bowl showing, the Redskins may want to consider him in Round 1. He won’t last past pick No. 32.
No. 1 – WR Hunter Renfrow – Clemson
Other Standouts at WR: Deebo Samuel – South Carolina, Andy Isabella – Massachusetts
Hunter Renfrow won’t be drafted as high as some of the other names on this list, but no one jumped higher than Renfrow on Saturday, or played at a higher level. Renfrow cemented his status as a reliable pass catcher no matter the circumstances, accruing five receptions for 63 yards.
Renfrow, South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel, Georgia State’s Penny Hart, and Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin tore up opposing cornerbacks in practice during the week, but on game day, it was Hunter Renfrow who came out and produced. While Samuel, in particular, was at the mercy of bad quarterback play, Renfrow made his quarterbacks better with the opportunities they provided him. Check out this play below, where Will Grier floats a deep ball over the middle. Renfrow tracks it across the field and shows perfect timing and concentration, high-pointing the ball and slipping through contact.
https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1089252338873688066
Over the course of his career with the Clemson Tigers, Renfrow’s earned a reputation as a receiver who simply doesn’t drop passes. On Saturday, he lived up to that same reputation, transcending relatively small hands with toughness, laser focus, and very smooth route running.
The Redskins may want to address wide receiver earlier than when Renfrow will go off the board (Likely early Day Three), but if they choose to double-dip at the position, picking a more talented player early, and Renfrow later on, would be a very solid haul, infusing depth and proven playmaking ability in Washington’s receiving core.