2019 NFL Draft Mock 3.0: What if the Redskins traded back?
By Ian Cummings
The second pick of the first round for the Redskins is up, and this time, they move to the offensive side of the ball.
Offense is arguably the side of the ball that should be prioritized by the Redskins in the 2019 NFL Draft. The unit was anemic for a good portion of 2018, and even with Derrius Guice returning to full health, the team is almost completely starved of reliable playmakers.
The Redskins could go the playmaker route with this pick, as Kelvin Harmon, Noah Fant, and Deebo Samuel are all still on the board. But the opportunity to grab an athletic, high-upside interior lineman presented itself, so instead, the Redskins went with North Carolina State lineman Garrett Bradbury.
Washington Commanders
The mention of “high-upside” next to Bradbury’s name might haunt Redskins fans with the recent memory of selecting Geron Christian in Round 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft. Christian was met with the same moniker, and in year one, he showed how much ground he truly has left to cover. But Bradbury isn’t the low-floor, high-ceiling type. His floor is a bit higher, as Joe Marino of The Draft Network wrote in Bradbury’s draft profile:
"Bradbury came to NC State as a tight end recruit and leaves as an outstanding NFL interior offensive line prospect. His technical refinement and consistency is even more impressive considering the relative newness to his position. Given his lateral mobility and proven success in the Wolfpack’s zone blocking run scheme, he projects most favorably to the same role in the NFL. Bradbury’s range as a blocker will be major asset to him and his NFL offense. By year three, Bradburry has the upside to become a solid starter that is primed to sign a lucrative second contract."
The Patriots showed the NFL in Super Bowl how impactful good offensive line play can be, and the Rams generously conveyed the inverse: The underwhelming offensive line play will, by extension, cause an offense to underwhelm. By drafting Bradbury, the Redskins ensure that their offensive line won’t underwhelm in 2019, as long as they stay healthy.