Washington Redskins post-NFL Combine seven-round mock

If Preston Smith walks, which is implied in this mock draft, then the Redskins could very well address half of their safety need in free agency, perhaps with a high-caliber player like Landon Collins.

The addition of Collins would resolve the Redskins need at safety somewhat. Montae Nicholson is still on the roster, and there’s always a chance he could be given another shot at the starting role. But there needs to be another defensive back added, whether for depth purposes, or for developmental purposes. Of course, if the Redskins are drafting for developmental purposes, they shouldn’t use their fourth-round pick on that kind of safety, like they did last year.

In this mock, the Redskins instead wait until the sixth round, where Utah’s Marquise Blair is waiting. Blair offers very little polish, and there’s a lot of unknowns surrounding him. He wasn’t a premier defender at Utah, partly because he didn’t get a lot of opportunities to show his worth on the field. But Blair has the athleticism to warrant a late pick.

Going off of Kent Lee Platte’s grading system again, Blair posted a very good RAS score at the NFL Combine. His 40-yard dash time of 4.48 showcased the speed he possesses at 6-foot-1, and his 1.44 10-yard split alludes to good initial explosion as well. Blair didn’t partake in agility drills, but he did manage to log a ten-foot broad jump, which is a great figure at his position.

Strength and weight are two problems that could persist for Blair at the next level, but as it stands, he has a good amount of tools for the Redskins to use as they see fit. With Montae Nicholson and Deshazor Everett potentially battling for one starting job, adding another high-upside safety is a must.