Grading each portion of the 2019 Washington Redskins offseason
NFL Draft
The Redskins were largely proclaimed to be winners in the immediate aftermath of the 2019 NFL Draft. And it’s easy to see why. The team landed two of the top prospects at positions they needed and added several quality playmakers in the later rounds of the draft.
Most notably, the team’s first-round haul was impressive. Dwayne Haskins and Montez Sweat both figure to be playmakers for the team, and Haskins answers the team’s quarterback question for the foreseeable future. He may not be ready to start right away, but he will be the starter by the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Sweat should fit well as a starter across from Ryan Kerrigan on the edge. Sweat was a probable top-10 pick before a health concern caused him to drop to the late first round. The Redskins didn’t hesitate to move up and get him and that aggressiveness should pay off.
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In the middle and late rounds of the draft, the ‘Skins were also able to land some quality players. Receivers Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon should shore up the weakness Washington had in the receiver corps. In fact, Harmon may end up becoming one of the steals of the draft after the team was able to get the potential Day 2 prospect in the sixth round.
Elsewhere, offensive linemen Wes Martin and Ross Pierschbacher both will help to provide competition at the left guard position while seventh-round picks, CB Jimmy Moreland and EDGE Jordan Brailford, will challenge for depth roles on the squad.
The only pick that was somewhat questionable was Bryce Love. And that has nothing to do with talent. Love is a very good running back, but he is coming off a torn ACL and the Redskins didn’t have an obvious need at the position. It’s well within the realm of possibility that Love could become a key member of the backfield moving forward. It was just strange to see the ‘Skins spend a fourth-round pick on what was one of their strongest position groups.
In any draft class, teams will look to find at least a few solid starters and a bunch of potential depth players. The Redskins were able to do just that. They helped to set a strong foundation for the future, and they deserve credit for what they were able to do in the draft.