Redskins must prioritize offense in the 2019 NFL Draft

Whether or not the Redskins pick a quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft, they need to prioritize their offense.

Some of the Washington Redskins most pressing needs exist on defense. The team is in the market for not one, but two safeties, especially if Montae Nicholson fails to return to the field. With Preston Smith’s contract pending, edge rusher is a concern. And even at inside linebacker, Washington could stand to add talent, unless they feel confident about the pairing of Reuben Foster and Zach Brown or Shaun Dion Hamilton.

Make no mistake: there are areas of need on the defensive side of the ball, but on offense, similar needs are present, and they perhaps have more gravity. While the team’s defense was outed as average late in the year, the offense was relatively inept for a full sixteen games. Even when Alex Smith was healthy, they failed move the football consistently, and when they needed to come back from behind, they lacked the capacity to do so, with no playmakers in tow.

Adrian Peterson was a bright spot for Washington, based partly on storylines alone, but even his usage was inefficient, and his week-to-week numbers inconsistent. He averaged less than two yards per carry in five games, and under four yards per carry in five more. Per Pro Football Focus, 754 of his 1,042 yards were after contact, a number that, while impressive for Peterson individually, is unsustainable for the offense as a whole, especially with holes on the interior.

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The Redskins can’t rely on that kind of rushing production to win them games in the future. Passing the football brings more inherent potential, and thus, it is the passing attack that must be built upon. Teams such as the Chiefs and the Rams have followed this formula, and it led them to championship games. Even if they won’t have the quarterback to field a competent offensive attack in 2018, the Redskins would do well to land a potential 2020 rookie quarterback the right pieces in the future. Thus, starting to build up the offense in the 2019 NFL Draft with young, cost-effective players is absolutely imperative.

Wide receiver and interior offensive line stand out immediately as positions to bolster. Even tight end could use a boost, as Jordan Reed is growing less and less cost-effective, and Vernon Davis could be gone this year. Adding pieces in those respective positions shouldn’t be hard for the Redskins, who will have a plethora of starting options to choose from.

At receiver, D.K. Metcalf, Kelvin Harmon, Marquise Brown, Deebo Samuel, N’Keal Harry, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, A.J. Brown, Hakeem Butler, Riley Ridley, and Damarkus Lodge should all demand consideration in the first two rounds, while on the interior offensive line, prospects like Cody Ford, Dalton Risner, Chris Lindstrom, Garrett Bradbury, Dru Sarnia, Elgton Jenkins, Michael Deiter, and Tyler Biadasz all contribute to an incredibly deep, top-heavy group. Even Jonah Williams could convert to guard, if he were to drop.

Next. Three FA edge rushers the Redskins should consider. dark

Going defense in the first two rounds wouldn’t be the wrong thing to do for the Redskins, but it’s clear, after 2018’s dismal offensive production, that offense should constitute a substantial amount of value from the Redskins picks. Whether that means going offense in the first three rounds, or only once in the first three rounds, but over half of the total picks, it’s up to the team to decide. But offense should be prioritized in the 2019 NFL Draft for the Redskins. It’s a passing league now, and it’s time the Redskins kept up.

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