Redskins Saturday Spotlight: Seven-round mock draft with trades

Rounds 4 and 5

Round 4, Pick 4 – Notre Dame EDGE Khalid Kareem

The Redskins might be in the twilight years of the Ryan Kerrigan era, and while Ryan Anderson has been performing well on the edge recently, the team could stand to add a player with better physical traits to groom. Notre Dame’s Khalid Kareem doesn’t have the immaculate combination of burst and length, but he has good speed for his 6-foot-4, 260-pound frame, and with three forced fumbles on five sacks in 2019, he’s shown he knows how to use his length to disrupt offenses.

Kareem will be able to sit behind Kerrigan and Anderson for some time, and in doing so, he’ll be able to learn from two players who have experience in the NFL. With any luck, that incubation period will allow Kareem to build on his exciting physical foundation, and attain consistency at a level he couldn’t reach in the NCAA.

 Round 4, Pick 33 (compensatory pick) – Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus

Quintez Cephus re-entered the hearts of the draft analysts in the Big Ten Championship earlier this month, when he amassed seven receptions and 122 receiving yards against Ohio State’s vaunted secondary.

Cephus struggled to put together a complete body of work in college, due to injuries and other external factors, but when he was able to play, he always showcased his talent and his natural feel as a pass catcher. He displayed that talent and athleticism on a miraculous near-touchdown grab against the Buckeyes, contorting his body in midair to adjust for a short throw. Cephus isn’t huge (6-foot-1, 209), and he doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but he’s not a bad athlete by any means, and his smooth play style and his toughness will be assets at the next level.

 Round 5, Pick 4 – Dayton TE Adam Trautman

An underrated aspect of the Redskins need at tight end is the fact that the Redskins need not one, but two new tight ends in 2020. And you could make a case for them needing three. They’ve already added Hunter Bryant in this mock, but security is still needed. Dayton’s Adam Trautman can provide that and more.

With a tantalizing athletic profile and a frame measuring around 6-foot-6, 250, Trautman is a raw, high-upside receiving threat who’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Hunter Bryant provides a higher floor and would be the go-to weapon out of the gate, but in time, the two could form a deadly tandem at the tight end position, something Dwayne Haskins could benefit from.