Washington Redskins post-NFL Combine seven-round mock
By Ian Cummings
I’ve maintained all offseason that offense should be emphasized in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, and while I still believe that the offense is in dire need of help, I’ve walked my stance back a bit since calling the need to bolster the offense a priority.
Yes, it still is a priority, in a sense, but some of the best players available at the Redskins’ draft positions are on defense, and at the most important defensive positions. It would have been ideal to pick an offensive guard at this slot, but the best ones were taken, leaving other positions’ candidacy open.
With this pick, in the post-NFL Combine mock, I settled on Michigan State cornerback Justin Layne, a preferred prospect of mine who did not disappoint at the NFL Combine. Layne carried high expectations coming into the combine, as a recently converted wide receiver with fluid movement skills and ball-hawking length, and he confirmed the assertions of his backers, putting on a stellar performance.
According to Kent Lee Platte, Layne posted an elite RAS score at the combine, with his combination of length and explosion standing out. You can find his results here, but to sum it up: Layne scored a 9.29 on the RAS card, posting an incredible broad jump of eleven feet, a 40-yard dash of 4.5, a shuttle time of 4.09, and a three-cone of under seven seconds.
Layne’s combine performance confirms what many saw on tape: He’s an easy mover who has the athleticism and developmental upside to be a high-level starter in the NFL. Like Quinton Dunbar, he comes to the NFL still very early in his development as a cornerback. Layne originally committed to Michigan State as a wide receiver, then switched to cornerback his sophomore year.
Once a Day 3 prospect, Layne is rising fast. He’s now getting Day 2 hype, and even Day 1 in some conversations. If he’s still here at this pick, the Redskins need to consider adding him to their roster, as a cheap successor to Josh Norman with perhaps more upside than the former All-Pro.