The Washington Redskins are armed with the 15th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. They will have quite a few different options to address with the selection.
The 2019 NFL Draft isn’t for two and half months, but it’s never too early to consider what a team might do with their first round option. Rankings are ever changing and the NFL Combine will certainly shake things up a bit, but at the moment, the Washington Redskins appear to be in good position to address one of the bigger holes on their roster.
Washington has a lot of holes to address, as the outcomes of free agency haven’t yet had an impact on their roster, so their options are really open. They need to find a quarterback at some point in the draft, but they also will have to look at the offensive line, back seven, linebackers, edge rush, and receiving corps in order to have any shot at fielding a competitive team in 2019.
There are only a couple of positions that the Redskins realistically won’t consider in the first round. They are running back and the interior defensive line. The team already spent a second-round pick on Derrius Guice last year, so sinking a high-end resource on another runner wouldn’t make sense.
Meanwhile, the interior defensive line is already the strongest position on the team and they have three young starters there, including their last two first-round picks. Needless to say, they’re unlikely to address that position unless a superior value happens to be available.
Here’s a look at all of the potential top options for the Redskins in the first-round, starting with the quarterback position.
QB Daniel Jones, Duke
Daniel Jones isn’t necessarily the most exciting name at quarterback. He’s not as dynamic as Kyler Murray and he doesn’t have the same upside as Dwayne Haskins. That said, he may be the most pro-ready passer in this class that is short on quarterback talent.
Jones has a high floor. At the very least, he is going to be a high-quality backup. At the most, he could turn into an above-average quarterback in the NFL. There is a little Carson Wentz in his game, and if he can develop, his mobility and arm talent could make him a solid starter.
At Duke, Jones got great coaching from David Cutcliffe. Cutcliffe tutored both of the Manning brothers before coming to the NFL and runs a pro-style system at Duke. That puts Jones a bit ahead of the curve in terms of development, and that will intrigue teams.
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The Redskins have demonstrated an interest in Jones during the draft process, and it’s possible that they will look to take him with the 15th pick. He may not make it to that slot but if he does, expect them to strongly consider him as a potential solution for their quarterback issue.
There are some issues with Jones. He has to improve his decision making when reading the field and he is a bit injury prone. That said, he still has the talent and frame (6-foot-5) that teams look for in a prototypical passer.
Right or wrong, Jones will garner a lot of consideration from the Redskins and in a class with no clear-cut top option, teams will go with the player they like most at quarterback. Jones could possess the traits that the Redskins are looking for and may be the stabilizing presence they need at a position that has given them a lot of trouble over the course of the past few seasons.
WR D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss
The Redskins definitely need some help at wide receiver. Josh Doctson is looking like merely a tertiary option, Paul Richardson spent most of last year injured, and Jamison Crowder is hitting the free agent market. For that reason, they could consider a first-round option at the position.
D.K. Metcalf is one of the few receivers that would make sense with the 15th pick. Metcalf suffered a neck injury to end his college career, but he put up great numbers over seven games (26 catches, 569 yards, and five touchdowns). He did this despite having a limited QB and working with two other receivers that will go in the early rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Our own Ian Cummings is high on Metcalf and recently mocked him to the Redskins in a seven-round mock. Here’s what he said about Metcalf in that piece.
Washington Commanders
"Therein lies Metcalf’s greatest strength; he’s a dynamic weapon. At 6-foot-4, 225, he can win with his size and length, but he’s also a superb athlete, and it shows both vertically and laterally. Metcalf is quicker than most 6-foot-4 receivers, and he shows a lot of nuance with his route running, able to use head fakes at the line of scrimmage to deceive opposing cornerbacks. You might hear all this, and you might be concerned about Metcalf’s speed. Don’t be. His speed shows up on the limited tape he has, and his projected 40-time ranges from 4.46 to 4.58. From now until the combine, people will debate about Metcalf’s speed, but the debate should already be over. Metcalf’s shown on tape he has what it takes."
Metcalf seemingly has the ability to become a true No. 1 receiver, and that is what could cause a team to fall in love with him in Round 1. However, a deep receiver class could cause the Redskins to look in another direction, as there will be plenty of quality guys on the board that they can target on Day 2. Still, Metcalf shouldn’t be discounted as a potential option for the 15th pick.
TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
Taking a tight end at the 15th spot may seem like a bit of a reach, but there is a lot of talent at the position in this draft class. The position has excellent depth but also has a few top-end talents who could emerge as true playmakers and matchup nightmares at the NFL level.
One of those players is T.J. Hockenson. The Iowa tight ends in this draft will certainly be jockeying for draft position in 2019, but it seems possible that Hockenson and his teammate Noah Fant will be the top two off the board at the position. That said, I slightly prefer Hockenson’s skill set, and he appears to be a player on the rise.
Hockenson is a very good blocker with a well-built 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame. He also had a great season at Iowa last year, catching 49 passes for 760 yards and six scores. He’s simply a well-rounded player that comes from a school that has produced some successful tight ends in the past 20 years. For that reason, he should definitely be considered one of the strongest tight end options in the class.
For the NFL, Hockenson has upside in the mold of Rob Gronkowski. He’s not nearly as polished as Gronk was coming out of school, but Hockenson has the potential to be a top player at his position. So, grabbing him in the top-15 wouldn’t be considered a reach.
Taking a TE might seem like a bit of a luxury for Washington, but the fact is that Jordan Reed is injury prone and the team needs to add more receiving talent anyway. Hockenson would be a starter along with Reed and the duo could become a couple of matchup nightmares over the middle of the field. Plus, Hockenson would be a versatile weapon as a run blocker, too.
In short, if you’re comfortable with the ‘Skins taking a wide receiver in Round 1, you should be comfortable with them taking a tight end as well. If the value is there, adding another receiving weapon wouldn’t be a bad thing for the offense.
OL Cody Ford, Oklahoma
Of the top interior linemen that could be on the board with the Redskins’ pick, I tend to prefer Cody Ford as an option. He’s a big-bodied guy who has the potential to be an excellent guard at the NFL level, and should even be able to play some tackle. However, in Washington, he would fill one of the team’s biggest needs.
For a long time, the Redskins have needed a left guard. For the past five years, they have attempted to use Shawn Lauvao at the position, but he was below-average when on the field and injuries prevented him from playing frequently. Last season, after he went out, the team used a revolving door of options at the position. Only Jonathan Cooper had success in his stead, and Cooper only lasted a few games before getting injured.
Spending an early pick on a guard is not something that a lot of teams like to do, but sometimes, it ends up being the best option. Just look at how the additions of Zack Martin and Quenton Nelson shaped the Cowboys and the Colts respectfully.
While Ford isn’t on the same level as either of those prospects, the point is that getting an upper-level performer on the interior line can have a major impact on teams. In the modern NFL, with the great interior pass rushes we are seeing, interior protection is critical and really, shouldn’t be ignored.
With Washington, Ford would really be the final piece needed on the starting offensive line to make it a great unit. Morgan Moses had his issues last year and Trent Williams struggled with injuries, but if all are back and healthy, they could have a chance to become the “Hogs 2.0” that many foresaw a couple seasons ago. Either way, the 6-foot-4, 338-pound Ford should draw consideration from the Redskins as an under-the-radar option that could really help the team.
EDGE Jachai Polite, Florida
The Redskins need depth on the edge. It will be even more pressing if Preston Smith leaves, but it should be a priority either way. For that reason, they will strongly consider selecting an edge player with their first-round pick.
There are a couple of players that could be impactful additions for Washington at 15. They are Clelin Ferrell and Jachai Polite. While both would make sense, I think that Polite may be slightly higher on the board for the ‘Skins at the moment.
The top thing that Washington is lacking on their defense is speed. They have a lot of strength and skill-based interior rushers and Ryan Kerrigan who tends to win with his strength and motor. Adding a speed rusher would really change the game, and that’s exactly what Polite is.
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Polite can get into the backfield quickly and has a good first step. He is lightning quick and has great burst and closing speed. That’s how he was able to rack up 11 sacks last year for the Gators. By adding him, the team would force opposing offensive lines to prepare for multiple looks and it would give them a more legitimate threat on the edge. That’s exactly the piece the team needs to really solidify their front seven.
If the Redskins choose not to go the speed route, then Ferrell would make more sense. But for now, Polite is the perfect complement. So, he should get some serious looks with the 15th selection, especially since he figures to be on the board at that juncture.
LB Devin White, LSU
I’m still listing linebacker as a potential first-round option, but if the team holds onto Zach Brown and Mason Foster, they probably won’t go that route. They already have those two, Reuben Foster, and Shaun Dion Hamilton, so unless they decide they need another high-level starter, they probably won’t grab a linebacker this early.
Still, that could change if there is a top talent on the board. Devin White would qualify. The LSU product is the top linebacker in this draft class and has the skill set needed to be a top tackler in the NFL.
In the past two seasons, White has posted 133 and 123 tackles respectively. He has also combined for 25.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in those two seasons. He really is a do-it-all contributor, and while he could stand to improve his instincts and ability to diagnose plays a bit, he has all the talent needed to be a great starter at middle linebacker.
The other good thing about White is that he is scheme versatile, as he could play middle linebacker in a 3-4 defense or outside in a 4-3. He will likely be a highly valued commodity, especially after he proved that he can create turnover opportunities (three forced fumbles in 2018).
White may be too good for the ‘Skins to pass up if he’s on the board. But for now, I wouldn’t necessarily expect them to target a linebacker in the first round.
CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
There are three corners that could get legitimate consideration as the first to come off the board in 2019. They are Deandre Baker, Greedy Williams, and Byron Murphy. Any could make sense for the Redskins, but Baker may be the most well-rounded of the trio.
Murphy has good coverage skills, but he is being graded as more of a late first-round option by teams. Meanwhile, Greedy Williams has some minor off-field issues that could cause him to go in the 20s. Thus, Baker is probably the safest of the trio.
Baker has proven to be a solid corner in the SEC and generally allows little separation to opposing receivers. There are some minor concerns about his deep speed, but his coverage skills are still strong and he has the makings of a No. 1 guy at the NFL level. Pairing him long-term with Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau could create a nice trio of corners for the Redskins.
Of course, it’s notable that the ‘Skins don’t really need a corner unless they cut Josh Norman. Even if they do, they have a couple of promising younger players in Greg Stroman and Danny Johnson, so they may opt to wait until Day 2 to address corner. Still, they should at least consider adding a top guy if Norman is gone, so Baker would be the best option.
On the list of potential first-round options, corner is on the lower end. It might help the team in the long run, but short-term, the impact wouldn’t be as big.
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.
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.