Days 1 and 2 have come and gone, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for the Redskins to add talent in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Day 3 offers a unique kind of opportunity for the Washington Redskins. After trading back from Round 3 last night, the Redskins have two fourth-round picks, as opposed to zero, and they have seven total Day 3 picks. For a team lacking in depth, this is an ideal scenario.
Couple the Redskins influx of picks with the pool of talent still remaining; players like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Hakeem Butler, Kelvin Harmon, Amani Oruwariye, Julian Love, Deionte Thompson, and others, and opportunity is ripe for the taking in the later rounds.
The Redskins have gotten off to a very strong start in the NFL Draft, adding Dwayne Haskins and Montez Sweat on Day 1, and then getting Haskins a familiar dynamic target in Terry McLaurin on Day 2. They have momentum heading into Day 3. Here’s how they can build on it.
Round 4
Pick No. 112 – Florida S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
There are rumors that Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, a potential first-round pick, slipped to Day 3 because he interviewed poorly in the pre-draft process. The Redskins can afford to take a chance on Gardner-Johnson, however, and pair him with veteran defensive backs coach Ray Horton. The value is just too good to pass up in Round 4. Gardner-Johnson offers athletic upside, competitive fire, and versatility in the secondary, and he’ll be a welcome addition beside Landon Collins.
Pick No. 131 – Oklahoma OG Dru Samia
Still with a need on the interior offensive line, there are a few good options for the Redskins to choose from on Day 3. One of those options is Oklahoma guard Dru Samia, a tall but underweight offensive guard who offers excellent athleticism and technical prowess. With his skills, Samia would be given a very good chance to start in year one, and after last year, the Redskins can’t take their interior line for granted again.
Round 5
Pick No. 153 – LSU TE Foster Moreau
With Vernon Davis aging and Jordan Reed growing less financially viable by the second, the Redskins could do well to add a tight end on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, simply to add to the rotation and provide depth. Foster Moreau can serve that purpose, as an exceedingly athletic tight end with solid blocking ability and receiving upside. He might not exceed Jeremy Sprinkle’s rookie contributions, but in time, when other players leave, he could emerge as a suitable weapon.
Pick No. 173 – James Madison CB Jimmy Moreland
If the right player winds up being available at the right pick, then the Redskins could address a position that doesn’t look like a need on paper: Cornerback. Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, and Fabian Moreau appear to have the confidence of the team as starters, but Washington could still sign depth and potential future starting talent. That’s what they get here with Jimmy Moreland, an uber-productive Division II prospect with tremendous competitive fire, ball skills, and spryness as a mover.
Round 6
Pick No. 206 – Oregon WR Dillon Mitchell
Even after picking Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin in Round 3, the Redskins could stand to double-dip at the position, especially in a very strong receiving class. At this pick, in this mock, they take Oregon wide receiver Dillon Mitchell. One of my favorite sleepers at wideout, Mitchell offers 6-foot-2 size to go with impressive athletic fluidity and improving nuance with his routes. Combine those factors with his run-after-catch ability and versatility, and Mitchell would be a home run pick here, completing a once-bare receiving core.
Round 7
Pick No. 227 – Stanford RB Bryce Love
Injuries and durability concerns have eroded Bryce Love’s draft stock since the start of the offseason, but as it stands, the 5-foot-9 running back has great potential as an explosive, dynamic third-down threat, if he can stay healthy. That’s a lot to ask from him in Washington, but with Chris Thompson growing older, this is a low-risk, high-reward acquisition that makes a lot of sense, especially after the selections that came before it.
Pick No. 253 – Miami OT Tyree St. Louis
At this juncture, the Redskins have exhausted most of their pressing needs, leaving either developmental picks or depth additions. Miami’s Tyree St. Louis is a bit of both on the offensive line. He’s not close to being a starter caliber player, as he needs immense technical refinement and strength training. But St. Louis offers good athleticism to pair with a 6-foot-5, 305-pound frame, and so in the right situation, he could potentially develop into a good swing tackle, with very distant starting upside.
The Redskins have seven picks on Day 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft, and the final portion of the NFL Draft starts at noon, eastern time. You won’t want to miss any part of the action, so stick with us here at Riggo’s Rag as we provide you with updates, with each Redskins pick.