The 2019 NFL Draft is just over two months away. The Washington Redskins have a lot of options, and here’s the latest look at a seven-round mock for the team.
Two weeks have passed since the Super Bowl. Two weeks stand between NFL teams and the Combine. We’re officially at one of the first “dead” periods of the NFL offseason.
While there are still storylines emerging, impactful moves are few and far between and draft and free agency chatter are just getting started. At this time, it’s often important for teams to weigh all of their options for the offseason to see all the ways that they could impact their team.
The Redskins will certainly be one of the teams in the NFL that needs to make a lot of critical changes. They are entering a huge offseason in which they will be choosing a direction for the future. They’re hamstrung by Alex Smith‘s likely absence coupled with his contract, and their decision at quarterback will tell us a lot about what they think may happen this season.
Quarterback will be the focus for the Redskins, but they don’t have to take one in the first round. They will almost certainly draft one at some point, but it’s important to look at all the ways they could acquire one. Here’s a look at a mock 2019 NFL Draft that has the ‘Skins address quarterback in the middle rounds and bolstering the defensive side early.
We used the FanSpeak On The Clock Simulator to help make this realistic. So, let’s get the simulation underway.
The Redskins will have plenty of options with their first-round pick this year. They have needs at virtually every position except for running back and interior defensive line. However, one of their most pressing needs may come on the edge.
Preston Smith is set to hit the open market this offseason. Though Smith can be a streaky performer, he still has an excellent athletic skill set and generates a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He is only 26, so he still has time to reach his ceiling. Because of this coupled with the fact that many of the other top edge rushers on the market will be franchise tagged, Smith could be a hot commodity.
If Smith doesn’t return to Washington, the Redskins will have Ryan Kerrigan, Ryan Anderson, and Cassanova McKinzy as the only edge options on their roster. Kerrigan is still good, but he is turning 31 in August. Meanwhile, Anderson and McKinzy are merely backups (though Anderson was once a second-round pick by the team). They will need a new starter and possibly some depth to ensure their edge rush complements their interior playmakers well.
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In this simulation, Montez Sweat was on the board with the 15th pick. If that happens, the Redskins should be ecstatic. Sweat hails from the same Mississippi State team that produced Preston Smith, and Sweat’s credentials are very good. Over the course of the last two seasons, Sweat has posted 22.5 total sacks and has put a lot of pressure on his opponents. He has really long arms, a big frame (6-6, 245 pounds), and plus athleticism. He really is built to be an NFL contributor right now.
At the 2019 Senior Bowl, Sweat was one of the best players on the field. He won one-on-ones constantly in practice, and even his weigh-in impressed NFL teams. He’s a player that is on the rise and right now, he looks like a lock for the top-15. He would immediately give the Redskins another potential double-digit sack threat across from Kerrigan.
If Sweat is off the board, the Redskins could consider Jachai Polite or Clelin Ferrell with this pick. The former is a better fit for the 3-4, and his speed could create some matchup problems for opponents. An edge player is a strong option with this pick andi f the draft falls like this, Sweat could be a great value pick for the ‘Skins.
The Redskins clearly need help at the safety position. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is going to be a free agent while D.J. Swearing was cut for repeatedly calling out his teammates and the coaching staff. Now, all the team has at the position is a couple of former fourth-round picks and Deshazor Everett.
While Montae Nicholson has been solid at times as a starter, the Redskins need to add some more talent to compete with the other options for a starting job. Also, they need depth. Deionte Thompson would provide both and could become a big playmaker for the team’s defense.
Thompson started the season well for Alabama, demonstrating great range and playmaking ability. However, later in the year, he struggled to stay disciplined in coverage and his stock will fall as a result. In particular, Thomspon had trouble in the College Football Playoff against Clemson. He took some poor angles and seemed late to react in certain coverage situations.
Despite Thompson’s shortcomings, he’s still one of the best safeties in this draft class. It’s possible that he could be the best. With solid coaching, he could become a quality starter at the NFL level. He has the athletic ability and range to be a centerfield-type player that can succeed in coverage. It’s just a matter of whether or not he’ll be able to be that during his first season or if he’ll have to develop for a year before reaching his top level.
Some may be surprised to see Thompson last until the middle of the second round, but it remains a distinct possibility. In a down year for safeties, a lot of the guys may last until the second frame. Additionally, teams may opt for different types of safeties, like the hyper-versatile Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, ahead of Thompson. Either way, the Redskins could have a shot at him on Day 2.
Considering that Thompson was a potential option with the 15th pick at one point, this is a pretty good value. I also had the Redskins selecting Thompson at this juncture in my most recent full, two-round mock.
It’s no secret that the Redskins need some help on the offensive line. They need a starter at left guard, tackle depth, and a backup center. Erik McCoy could check off both the first and the last needs.
McCoy was one of the best centers at Senior Bowl. He has worked himself into the conversation to be the first center off the board, though he will be competing with Garrett Bradbury and Elgton Jenkins for that distinction. In this case, McCoy ended up lasting until the early third round, so we were happy to scoop him up there.
McCoy has a great frame for an interior lineman at 6-4, 315 pounds. He has a wealth of starting experience at Texas A&M, as he has started 38 games in the past three seasons. Most of his starts came at center, but he should have a good chance to play well at the guard position as well.
In terms of his skill set, McCoy has great technique and a strong frame that will allow him to block well at the next level. He’s a better run blocker than pass blocker at the moment, but he has a lot of room for growth in the former department. His arms are a bit short (33 inches) but on the interior line, that should be less of a problem. He can make up for that with good movement skills.
For the Redskins, McCoy could either take over at left guard or push Chase Roullier to that position while taking over at center. Either way, he would challenge for a starting job early in his career. And considering that McCoy won’t turn 22 until August, he has a lot of upside. Getting him as a third-round pick could end up being a steal for the Redskins.
If the Redskins don’t end up taking a quarterback in the first round, they should try and get Brett Rypien on their team. Rypien has the tools needed to be a decent starter at the NFL level and at the very least, he would be a high-level backup.
Rypien was a four-year starter at Boise State and actually beat out fellow 2019 NFL Draft prospect Ryan Finley for the job when he first got to the school. Rypien has been rock-solid with Boise State and each year, he was able to improve his game.
Our own Ian Cummings has been complimentary of Rypien in the past, and here’s what he said about him in a midseason scouting report.
Washington Commanders
"As a thrower, Rypien has a relatively elastic arm, and at times, he shows flashes of stellar anticipation. He can hit players in stride at all three levels, and he’s not afraid to take chances and push the ball down the field. He brings a gunslinger mentality that keeps the offense humming. There are some concerns with Rypien. He has an average, not great arm, and although he can put zip on it, he will force some deep throws, and overshoot them as a result. He has a tendency to float touch throws too far as well; he’s still working on how to diversify his throwing arsenal."
Despite the minor concerns with Rypien, he could be the perfect candidate to join the Redskins quarterback room. He would offer youth and upside, and he could compete with Colt McCoy for the starting job. In some ways, Rypien is reminiscent of McCoy as a prospect, so the two could work well together. Of the mid-round quarterback prospects, Rypien might be the best value.
Rypien is the sixth-ranked quarterback on my QB big board for the 2019 NFL Draft. That could change in the lead-up to the draft, but as a late-third-round option, he makes a ton of sense for the Redskins.
David Sills is a steal at this juncture, but he was available in this simulation. I have a Round 3 grade on him, so I don’t necessarily expect him to make it this far. Still, running just off what the simulation says, he was available here.
Sills was once recruited to USC to play quarterback when he was 13. Since that time, things have obviously changed and he has transformed into a very good receiver at the college level.
In the past couple seasons at West Virginia, Sills has put up monster numbers. He has caught 125 passes for 1,966 yards in the past two seasons. Even more impressive are his touchdown numbers. In 2017, Sills caught 18 touchdowns. Last year, he had 15 scores. This shouldn’t come as a surprise.
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Sills has great size for a receiver at 6-4, 210 pounds. He understands how to go up for contested catches and how to make plays in the red zone. For the NFL level, he could end up being a big-time possession receiver and red zone threat.
With the Redskins, Sills would push for the No. 1 receiver role and could eventually take away a starting role from Josh Doctson. At the very least, he would be a terrific red zone threat could pair well with Paul Richardson, if Richardson can stay healthy. No matter what, adding another player to help the team with their red zone issues would be a good move.
If Sills is off the board, the other name to consider here at receiver is Emanuel Hall. The big-bodied Missouri product would have similar upside to Sills but comes with more injury concerns. Either way, look for the team to invest in the position in a deep receiver class.
Adding a second safety may not seem like a priority, but the team could really benefit from some extra depth, especially if Ha Ha Clinton-Dix leaves in free agency.
Late in the fifth-round, Delvon Randall was one of the best players on the board. Randall was a solid, consistent playmaker at Temple. On tape, he shows good ball tracking ability and is opportunistic. In each of the past three seasons at Temple, he has grabbed four interceptions and has good instincts.
In addition to his ball tracking ability, Randall has the potential to be a solid tackler. He needs to make faster moves and take better angles to get to the ball, but he has the frame needed to be a good tackler from the safety position in the NFL.
The biggest concern with Randall is his lack of overall athleticism. He doesn’t have a lot of speed and as a result, he relies on his instincts to help him make plays. These instincts exist in passing situations, but they need to be honed more against the run. If he can’t do that, it will be hard to justify keeping him on the field in obvious running situations.
Still, at this point in the draft, Randall is a good option. He can come in along with Thompson and strengthen one of the team’s weakest positions. There weren’t many better players on the board than Randall.
A second offensive lineman from Texas A&M? Why not?
Keaton Sutherland had a strong performance at the East-West Shrine Game and demonstrated that he was a strong blocker during practices and the game. In the actual contest, he had a couple of nice blocks to open up running lanes for the backs operating behind him. He could end up becoming a fine starter at the next level, so grabbing him in the sixth round seems like a good move.
Sutherland has really good size for a guard at 6-5, 315 pounds. He came to Texas A&M as a tackle but moved inside due to the other strong candidates the Aggies had at the position. While he best projects to be a guard at the NFL level, Sutherland could become a super-sub off the bench in the right situation. At the very least, he will be a solid depth piece for the team that drafts him.
As mentioned earlier, the Redskins need depth everywhere across the offensive line. By adding Sutherland and McCoy, the team will ensure that the interior line is stronger than it once was and they will create some friendly competition for the left guard position. It would not be surprising to see the team double-dip on the offensive line, especially if they don’t address it in free agency.
I wanted to get the Redskins a tight end earlier, but the value was never right. All the top players kept going off the board just before the Redskins pick. I would have taken Caleb Wilson in Round 5, but he went just one pick ahead of that slot.
In the seventh round, Tommy Sweeney is a good option. The Boston College tight end is a solid receiver with a 6-5, 260-pound frame. For the next level, he could become a good backup tight end and has the potential to be a do-it-all player at the position.
During Sweeney’s Boston College career, he racked up 99 catches, 1,281 yards, and 10 scores. He played for four years, but he didn’t see much action as a freshman. Coming from a run-first system, Sweeney should be slightly ahead of the curve in terms of blocking, and that could give the Redskins a chance to add a player to help them out in the run game. If they are looking for a technically sound player, Sweeney should fit the bill.
Sweeney is a low-risk pick here and at the worst, he would be a practice squad option. But with the team (likely) needing a new backup at the position, he could be brought in to compete for that.
Overall, this draft is a decent one for the Redskins, but they would still definitely have some holes to fill. Double-dipping at safety and on the interior offensive line will address the depth issues there, but it also prevented the team from plugging some other holes. It will be clearer what their plans are after free agency, but right now, the imbalanced approach of this mock might leave them a bit vulnerable.