Redskins 7-round mock: What if they embraced the tank?

Round 6 – CB Justin Layne – Michigan State

Cornerback is one of the most important positions in football in today’s game. Impacting the passing game is of the utmost importance. Edge rushers pressure the quarterback directly, but cornerbacks pressure the quarterback in their own way: If they’re good enough, they keep him from throwing.

Finding a cornerback who’s “good enough” might be hard in Round 6, but the draft was nearing to a close, and the Redskins still needed to add a player at that position. Josh Norman is soon to be 31 years old, and while the depth is decent behind him, with Greg Stroman exceeding expectations in year one, a cornerback with upside could be added, to improve future prospects at the position.

That’s where Michigan State’s Justin Layne comes in.

Layne’s frame immediately stands out. He’s 6-foot-3, with long arms that helped him be one of the more disruptive cornerbacks in the Big Ten last season. In his final season with the Spartans, he earned a reputation as a sticky, physical, tenacious cornerback, logging an interception and a whopping 15 pass deflections in 12 games. That’s a very good amount of ball production for a developmental cornerback, and it speaks to Layne’s upside. Learning from Norman, he could reach new heights in the NFL.

Layne won’t be asked to start. Norman still holds one slot down, and one would hope Quinton Dunbar will able to return to full health over the course of an offseason. But no matter the case, Layne offers something right away with his range as a cornerback. Despite going up against big names like N’Keal Harry and Terry McLaurin, Layne, per Pro Football Focus, logged an 89.5 coverage grade in 2018, while allowing a passer rating of just 71.2. This pick could be a gem in the rough, and it comes at a key position.