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Redskins: First-round prospects the team is most likely to select at each position

By Jacob Camenker

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a pass for a touchdown during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a pass for a touchdown during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 03: Deionte Thompson #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after the LSU Tigers missed a second half field goal at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 03: Deionte Thompson #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after the LSU Tigers missed a second half field goal at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

S Deionte Thompson, Alabama

If the Redskins want a safety in Round 1, they are going to have to reach. Frankly speaking, there aren’t many safeties that make sense as top options. All the best safeties in this class have their flaws and for that reason, many will be early second-round options as opposed to first-round picks.

However, if the Redskins were that desperate for safety talent, the only option they could legitimately consider is Deionte Thompson. The underclassman from Alabama was en route to becoming a top-25 pick before struggling late in the season and in the College Football Playoff. Thompson has range, but he needs to improve his instincts to avoid getting lost in coverage at the next level.

Too often in the final weeks of the season, Thompson was caught out of position for the Crimson Tide. This cost his team many big plays and in the final game of the season against Clemson, he had a particularly slow reaction that caused the Tide to allow a massive play to the Tigers’ passing game.

There are still plenty of positives for Thompson though. He does have good athletic ability and coverage skills and he proved to be a playmaker early on in the 2018 campaign. He’s just a bit raw and could stand to improve. But, there is no doubt that he will have the potential to become a starter at the next level. And for that reason, the ‘Skins could consider him this early.

Next. Redskins top 15 first-round picks of all-time. dark

Thompson makes more sense as a second-round option for Washington, and I have them selecting him at that juncture in my latest two-round mock. But if he rises during the Combine and the rest of the draft process, he might be one of the only safeties that the team could realistically consider with the 15th pick. But even still, that would probably be a reach. They should trade down if they end up wanting a safety in the first round.

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