Redskins 7-round mock: What if they embraced the tank?
By Ian Cummings
Round 5 – TE Josh Oliver – San Jose State
The Redskins will likely cling to Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis for another year, even if their combined cost-effectiveness is below average. Both are good players, particularly Reed, who can still separate on his own, but their cap numbers are cumbersome, to say the least.
Those cap numbers might not go away, but neither will the talent if both players stay in Washington in 2019. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that long-term, Reed and Davis will be insufficient. Because of that, it’s important that the Redskins add a tight end in a very deep class.
That tight end would be afforded a bit more time to develop if Reed and Davis stay, so with the Redskins first pick in the fifth round, San Jose State’s Josh Oliver was selected over other enticing options like Foster Moreau and Dax Raymond.
Some people might want a pure blocker with this pick, to compensate for the shortcomings of both Reed and Davis. But Josh Oliver is an able blocker in his own right, and he brings the same receiving upside that Reed and Davis have used to thrive. With their futures uncertain, Oliver could be brought in to carry the torch.
Statistically, Oliver’s prowess as a receiver stands out right away. In his final season with the Spartans of San Jose State, Oliver logged 709 yards and four touchdowns on 56 catches. He wins with a 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame, and his stellar athletic ability allows him to do more with his opportunities. He’d be able to rotate in right away with the Redskins, and his athleticism makes him a potential full-time starter down the road. Just another future weapon for the team’s eventual franchise quarterback.