The 2019 NFL Draft is under a month away. The Washington Redskins have a lot of needs and thus, have a lot of ways to tackle the first three rounds of the draft.
Draft season is about to reach its peak. With the first of April drawing nearer and nearer, rumors are starting to swirl like crazy about the 2019 NFL Draft. Teams have interest in players, player workouts, off-field concerns, and potential trades will dominate the headlines across the league in the coming 30 or so day.
The Washington Redskins will be involved in a good chunk of these rumors. The team is armed with four picks in the first three rounds of the draft and needs a young quarterback. Frankly, they need to rebuild a good chunk of their offense and could stand to add some depth and talent on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Because of the number of needs they have and the uncertain nature of the board in front of them, the Redskins could have a lot of different ways to tackle the draft. It all begins with the 15th pick, and that selection will depend on what’s in front of them on the draft board. But whichever player they pick will decide their direction for the rest of the draft.
With that said, it’s time to look at how the first three rounds of the draft could shake out. Here are five three-round mocks that all could be realistic scenarios for the Redskins.
Scenario 1: The very realistic but underwhelming haul
Round 1, Pick 15: QB Daniel Jones, Duke
Round 2, Pick 14: EDGE Chase Winovich, Michigan
Round 3, Pick 12: WR Andy Isabella, UMass
Round 3, Pick 32: G Nate Davis, Charlotte
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This is a group of prospects that ultimately could work out for the Redskins, but it may leave the fans feeling a bit uninspired.
In the first round, with all the other top quarterbacks off the board, the ‘Skins grab Daniel Jones from Duke. While a number of fans have soured on Jones, he has a prototypical skill set and was well-coached in college. He will likely go in the first round, given the rise that quarterbacks always see in the lead-up to the draft. And, in all likelihood, he will be the only first-round quarterback on the board when the Redskins are picking, as Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock seem unlikely to slip to the 15th pick.
With quarterback addressed, the team shifts their attention to the edge position with their first Day 2 pick. Chase Winovich is an intriguing prospect with a great work ethic, solid athletic ability, and proven production at Michigan. He would be a nice complement for Ryan Anderson and could ultimately end up starting across from Ryan Kerrigan. He wouldn’t be as flashy as a first-round edge, but he’s the kind of pass rusher Washington has targeted in Round 2 in recent seasons.
In the third round, the team elects to continue addressing their offense. Andy Isabella would be a great replacement for Jamison Crowder as a speedy slot guy with a lot of proven production. He would battle Trey Quinn for the starting job there, but he would give the team more versatility and depth in their lacking receiving corps.
Meanwhile, Nate Davis would give the squad competition for Ereck Flowers at left guard. He would be a solid value at the end of Day 3.
This draft would certainly help to plug up some of the Redskins’ biggest needs, and it would give them a quarterback of the future. At the same time, the value on these picks collectively isn’t great, as selecting Jones in the first round could cause them to land lesser players at other positions of need. Still, if the team views Jones as the franchise quarterback, this is well within the realm of possibility.
Scenario 2: The unlikely scenario where an O-Lineman goes in Round 1
Round 1, Pick 15: OL Jonah Williams, Alabama
Round 2, Pick 14: WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
Round 3, Pick 12: EDGE Oshane Ximines, Old Dominion
Round 3, Pick 32: QB Brett Rypien, Boise State
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After the decision to sign Flowers and convert him to guard, the odds of the Redskins taking an offensive lineman in the first round have decreased. Still, it is possible and if the team wants to grab a potential starter at guard and long-term left tackle replacement, they could target one of the top offensive linemen on the board. Jonah Williams should be able to play both positions well, so if he’s on the board, the ‘Skins could take him.
In the second round of this scenario, the Redskins go with a pass-catcher. N’Keal Harry had a really strong showing at the NFL Combine and performed well during his time at Arizona State. He is a potential No. 1 receiver that could be in the mix for the second round pick. At the very least, he seems like a solid No. 2 option, so grabbing him in that area makes sense.
By ignoring the edge in the first two rounds, we have to get creative to find a potential replacement. That would be Oshane Ximines from Old Dominion. Ximines logged 32.5 sacks over his last four years at Old Dominion, and he has good size (6-4, 255 pounds) for the rush linebacker spot. He could create a strong rotation with Ryan Anderson, so getting him was a good move in the third round, though it may take him some time to adjust to the NFL after playing for the Monarchs.
Finally, we grabbed Brett Rypien late in the third round to compete with McCoy and Keenum and potentially progress into a starter. If he doesn’t progress, he can be used as a backup and his presence wouldn’t preclude the team from taking a top quarterback in the 2020 class.
On paper, this scenario seems like a strong one, as it plugs four of the team’s biggest needs very well. However, the edge would still be somewhat weak and it doesn’t seem that the team wants to invest in the offensive line that early. For that reason, this scenario is one of the least likely.
Scenario 3: The all-offense scenario
Round 1, Pick 15: WR D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss
Round 2, Pick 14: QB Will Grier, West Virginia
Round 3, Pick 12: TE Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
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Round 3, Pick 32: G Nate Davis, Charlotte
This would be a rapid way for the Redskins to rebuild their offense and fix a lot of their positions of need in the first three rounds.
For starters, D.K. Metcalf is the consensus top receiver in this class, and he has an insane athletic profile (4.33-second 40-yard dash despite well-built 6-3, 228-pound frame) and could develop into a top pass-catcher at the NFL level. There are some concerns about his route running ability and agility, but his upside is high enough that he will likely warrant a top-25 pick).
In Round 2, the Redskins grab a quarterback that can challenge Case Keenum and Colt McCoy for the starting job. Will Grier has some flaws in his game, but he has really good arm talent and has made some flashy throws. His biggest issue will be staying consistently accurate, but he’s a good get in the second round, as he has the potential to develop into a starting quarterback.
In the third, the ‘Skins continue to add weapons to their offense by getting top receiving tight end Jace Sternberger. The Texas A&M product is a bit of a one-year wonder, but he was an elite receiver in college and could end up being a mismatch weapon at the NFL level. His lack of blocking skills drops him a bit, but he can improve those with better technique.
Once again, Davis comes in as the final third-round pick to provide competition at guard.
This would be a really nice way to shore up the offense, but the lack of a quality edge would force the team to start Ryan Anderson. While that could work out, it’s a bit of a risk. Also, Metcalf has high bust potential because of his lack of a refined route tree, so that could dampen expectations a little bit for him, at least in year one.
Scenario 4: Grabbing T.J. Hockenson
Round 1, Pick 15: TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
Round 2, Pick 14: QB Will Grier, West Virginia
Round 3, Pick 12: S Deionte Thompson, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 32: EDGE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
T.J. Hockenson may not be on the board when the Redskins pick at 15. But if he is, he may be the best offensive weapon available. If Washington wants to fix their problems in the receiving corps, adding a talented tight end while targeting some receiver help later would be a smart move.
Getting Grier in this scenario would help the offense, too, as they would have a potential quarterback of the future and a top weapon for him in Hockenson. Passing on a receiver to pair with Grier in the first three rounds would be risky, but in the fifth round, there will be plenty of potential playmakers on the board and it’s possible the team could target one of Grier’s West Virginia teammates in David Sills or Gary Jennings.
This time in Round 3, we focused on defense to bolster that side of the ball. Deionte Thompson has the potential to be a long-term complement to Landon Collins and at the least, would upgrade the team’s safety depth. Considering that many thought he was a potential first-round pick before struggling late in the season, getting him at this juncture is a good value.
And to polish off this scenario, we grabbed Jaylon Ferguson to help on the edge. Ferguson is not athletic at all and had a dreadful 3-cone time at his pro day. Still, he had 45 sacks in college and could use his skills in that area to become a fine rotational edge rusher. It’s a risk given his lack of athleticism, but with few quality edge players left on the board, Ferguson was the best option.
The biggest issue here would be passing on receiver early. But, it remains possible, as the team could target two or three late-round guys and let them compete for spots on the roster.
Scenario 5: The best-case scenario
Round 1, Pick 15: EDGE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
Round 2, Pick 14: WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Round 3, Pick 12: OL Connor McGovern, Penn State
Round 3, Pick 32: QB Brett Rypien, Boise State
This seems to be the best overall three-round mock option. The team should take an edge in the first round no matter what, and the pick will probably come down to Montez Sweat or Brian Burns, depending on who is on the board. I prefer Sweat as a prospect, as I think he’s better in run defense off the edge while still possessing great pass rush ability, so I went with him at 15.
In Round 2, if Deebo Samuel falls into the team’s lap, he would be an excellent pickup. Samuel is a great route runner who also possesses game-breaking speed. He should be a red-zone weapon because of his route running and despite his 5-11 frame. He would be a No. 2 receiver at the least and could develop into a low-end No. 1 receiver.
Connor McGovern would be an ideal pick in Round 3. He has the versatility to play both guard and center. He would challenge Flowers for the starting job at left guard. If he wins, he would start. If not, he would fill the gaping hole that the team has at the backup center position.
And, finally, Rypien would give them the developmental quarterback prospect the team needs. He could battle McCoy and Keenum and his floor as a solid backup will afford him a chance to stay on the roster long-term.
Overall, there are a lot of different ways that the ‘Skins could try to tackle the draft. It just depends on which path they decide. But do you have a favorite of these three-round mocks? Or do you have your own? Comment below with your thoughts on what the team could do with their first four picks!