Assessing Washington Redskins first-round options: EDGE Jachai Polite

It’s 2019, and the Redskins defense needs to have an edge heading into next season.

At their best in 2018, the Washington Redskins defense was tenacious, physical, and dominant in all facets. But the length of a sixteen-game season bore down on Washington’s defensive unit, revealing flaws that had previously been hidden. By season’s end, the defensive line was worn, one of the team’s starting linebackers was benched, and the secondary was eviscerated, with D.J. Swearinger heading to Arizona.

In 2019, the Redskins desperately need offensive talent, but they also need a facelift on defense. In the secondary, both safety slots need filling, and on the defensive line, a void will appear opposite Ryan Kerrigan if Preston Smith leaves for free agency.

With disrupting the passer becoming more and more important in modern football, finding an edge rusher who can do that consistently will be one of the top priorities for Doug Williams and Co. Smith would be fairly difficult to replace, as he’s solid against the run and the pass, but if there’s any draft class where the Redskins can make it happen, it’s this one.

One edge rusher who has a good chance of both being available, and being good value at pick No. 15, is Florida’s Jachai Polite. It’s well known that Polite has great speed, but what are the intricacies of his game that make him such an interesting prospect? Let’s take a look at one of the 2019 NFL Draft’s most enticing players.