The Washington Redskins selected 10 players in the 2019 NFL Draft. What type of production can be expected from each of these players in the upcoming season?
In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins did a solid job of finding a core group of players to add to an already developing roster of talented players. The team has done a good drafting players in recent years with the promotions of Kyle Smith to Director of College Scouting, and Doug Williams to Senior Vice President of Player Personnel.
The team’s noteworthy selections of quarterback Dwayne Haskins and outside linebacker Montez Sweat in the first round were drafted to replace last year’s starters quarterback Alex Smith and outside linebacker Preston Smith. Alex Smith was lost to a gruesome leg injury against the Houston Texans while Preston Smith was signed by the Green Bay Packers in free agency. Haskins and Sweat should be able to ease right into the line-up when called upon, with Sweat being a strong candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In addition to Haskins, the team also added offensive linemen Wes Martin and Ross Pierschbacher to strengthen their offensive front. With the team ravaged by injuries in 2018 along the offensive line, players who had no business being in the league were picked up by the team to play. They were absolutely in desperate need of more depth along the line.
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Martin in particular has a chance to see significant playing time in the 2019 season due to the need of the team to find a starting left guard. Drafted out of the University of Indiana, Martin was known for his elite strength and ability to finish blocks. While not up to the level of current right guard Brandon Scherff, Martin should be a force to reckon with when given the opportunity for playing time as the season goes along.
Rounding out the selections on offense were receivers Kelvin Harmon and Terry McLaurin, and running back Bryce Love. Harmon and McLaurin should both be solid receiving targets for the Redskins, but there is an intense battle in the preseason for playing time among the group. Love is coming off a torn ACL suffered in college, but the young ball carrier was known to be electric in college with the ball in his hands.
On defense, Sweat is the name Redskins fans will surely get to know rather quickly. Known for his elite size and speed, Sweat should fill in admirably for Preston Smith. He should be given the opportunity to start opposite veteran edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan. The duo has the realistic potential to produce over 20 sacks combined if able to remain healthy.
Cole Holcomb and Jimmy Moreland were selected in the later rounds of the draft, but neither should disappoint when it comes to production in the 2019 season. The Redskins, with Kyle Smith and Williams at the helm, have taken an approach to draft productive college players, and both Moreland and Holcomb were no exceptions. Keep an eye on these two in the upcoming season to take on larger roles than they might start out with in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lastly, drafted out of Oklahoma State, Jordan Brailford is an intriguing prospect to watch out for if he can recover from injury. While he might remain behind Kerrigan, Sweat, Ryan Anderson, and Cassanova McKinzy at the edge rusher position, it would not be out of the question for Brailford to be somewhat impactful if on the active roster.
Now, let’s take a look at what type of production can be expected from these 10 draft picks in the 2019 NFL Season!
QB Dwayne Haskins
The biggest question remaining for Haskins is not if he will play in the 2019 season, but when. According to reports, Case Keenum will start Week 1 of the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, It can be argued that the Haskins should start as he has more talent and upside than the veteran QB.
Haskins may be given an opportunity to play earlier than expected if Keenum struggles. I project Haskins to start 12 games at this point, but don’t be surprised if he sees the field earlier. Haskins has the potential to be in line for Offensive Rookie of the Year votes if given the start in Week 1.
Prediction: 12 games played, 2,765 yards passing yards, 17 TDs, 12 INTs
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WR Terry McLaurin
With limited playing time in the preseason thus far, McLaurin may take a few games in order to get comfortable heading into Week 1 of the regular season. It is expected that the speedy receiver is going to start opposite of Paul Richardson, with Trey Quinn in the slot. McLaurin will have to get use to the physicality on the outside against high-caliber corners, but once he gets going, he should make an impact. While I have the former Ohio State product with modest numbers in this prediction, his numbers could increase if his former college teammate, Haskins, is named the starter at quarterback early on.
Prediction: 14 games played, 45 catches, 630 Yards, 4 TDs
WR Kelvin Harmon
Harmon has all the tools to eventually be a productive receiver in the NFL due to his size and physicality. Per NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Harmon (in college) was an “expert ball-tracker,” and for him, “contested catches were not a problem.” Because of this, he should have modest success against most defensive backs in the league long-term.
Harmon will face competition for targets throughout the 2019 season with so much young talent on the roster at the receiver position. His best bet to get the snaps needed for a productive rookie season will be if the team decides to move on from veteran Josh Doctson. Harmon and Doctson share similar strengths, so if Doctson is released, expect Harmon’s numbers to increase.
Prediction: 12 games played, 22 catches, 286 yards, 3 TDs
OL Wes Martin
Martin has the potential to get significant playing time in his rookie season with his main competition in the preseason being former New York Giants bust Ereck Flowers. Flowers is transitioning to guard after failing miserably at tackle with the Giants, but the big offensive lineman has come on strong through just a couple of preseason games. The battle of Martin and Flowers will come down to the wire, but Martin should see playing time nonetheless. I will predict that he will be named the Week 1 starter over Flowers.
Prediction: 16 games played, 16 starts
OL Ross Pierschbacher
The former University of Alabama player should make the roster in the 2019 season as a swing center/guard, taking the place of Tony Bergstrom who was signed by the Redskins in October of 2017. There is potential for Pierschbacher to get significant playing time if current center Chase Roullier were to be injured, but Roullier has been able to remain healthy during his time with the team, unlike his fellow linemen. He may also be asked to play special teams as well.
Prediction: 10 games played
RB Bryce Love
The talented running back is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Stanford’s season finale against the University of California. While he is most likely the future third-down running back for the Redskins with current running back Chris Thompson entering free agency after the 2019 season, I project the Redskins to do the right thing and redshirt Love in his rookie campaign.
With Thompson, Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, and Samaje Perine, Love would face an uphill battle for playing time if brought on to the active roster from the NFI list. Whenever he is given a chance to play for the Redskins, expect big things when he fully recovers from his injury. He finished his career at Stanford with 32 total touchdowns from scrimmage.
Prediction: IR Stash
OLB Montez Sweat
Sweat has all the tools to be the next big pass rush specialist opposite of veteran stalwart Ryan Kerrigan. In fact, it is arguable that he has the potential to be even better than Kerrigan with all of his elite physical tools. The rookie edge rusher will need to learn the professional game before being considered an elite defender, but his speed and strength alone should take him close to double-digit sacks in his first season. He must prove that he can withstand the grind of the season in order to accomplish his goal of being Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Prediction: 15 games played, 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
ILB Cole Holcomb
The uber-productive inside linebacker from the University of North Carolina is projected in this piece to be a tackling machine when given the opportunity to play. In college alone, Holcomb finished his four-year career with 327 total tackles. He is currently projected with the Redskins to be a backup behind Shaun Dion Hamilton and Jon Bostic, but if either of those players gets injured, then watch out for Holcomb. His speed and agility make for a lethal combo versus all backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. As with the other players, Holcomb must stay healthy being that he does have somewhat of a smaller frame for a linebacker.
Prediction: 14 games played, 58 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble
CB Jimmy Moreland
Nicknamed the “The People’s Corner,” Moreland faces tough competition at the corner position, but has the confidence to be more than just another player. While the young defender from James Madison University will certainly get picked on in the regular season by opposing quarterbacks, I have him producing seven turnovers in his rookie year. In his senior season alone in college, he led the country in pick-sixes (3) and total interception return yards (217). Some players just seem to have the turnover gene, and Moreland is one of them.
Prediction: 16 games played, 35 tackles, 4 INTs, 3 forced fumbles, 6 passes defensed
OLB Jordan Brailford
Brailford has only been able to practice minimally after re-aggravating a groin injury suffered in the early part of training camp. Because of this, he may not have the practice time needed to be selected to the final active roster. Like offensive rookie Bryce Love, Brailford may also be in need of a redshirt rookie season with enough talent already on the roster at edge rusher. The former Oklahoma State product finished his last season in college with 55 total tackles and 10.0 sacks.
Prediction: IR Stash