Redskins rumored to be interested in Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah

For many, it’s Chase Young or bust for the Redskins at No. 2 overall. But for the Redskins themselves, it might not be that simple.

Chase Young is essentially as good as he’s hyped up to be, as we detailed in our in-depth analysis of the Buckeyes’ stalwart edge rusher. But even with Young’s individual prowess, the Washington Redskins would be wise to keep their options open, and rumor has it that they’re doing just that.

The No. 2 pick naturally gives the Redskins lots of alternative decisions to consider in Round 1. Taking Chase Young seems to be the favorite probability at this stage, but there are a number of other decisions that could be made. The Redskins could trade back. The Redskins could pick an offensive tackle. Or, as NBC Sports’ J.P. Finlay noted, there is a legitimate possibility that a cornerback wins them over – specifically Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah.

On Kevin Sheehan’s show, Finlay shed light on Washington’s preferences in the NFL Draft. He implied that Chase Young was the favorite, as most reports have suggested, but he also spoke of another possibility that hasn’t been dwelled on much just yet. Here’s the quote:

“The player I think Washington would love to get, beyond Chase Young, is Jeff Okudah, from Ohio State. I think the Redskins new brain trust really believes they would be well-served to have a star cover corner.”

The disclaimer here is important; Finlay says “beyond Chase Young”, implying that Young is the favorite. That would make sense, as Young has tremendous upside as a pass rusher, and he fits the edge defender profile that Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio have coveted at different stages of their careers.

That said, Okudah has serious merit as a potential draft candidate at No. 2 overall. He’s a stellar man coverage cornerback with physicality, ball skills, and immense physical upside, and with a duo of Okudah and Quinton Dunbar, the Redskins’ coverage unit would be able to take some of the weight off of the defensive line’s shoulders. It’s a different way of bolstering the defense, but it theoretically fulfills the same purpose.

Of course, in draft season, no information can be taken without a grain of salt. It’s possible that this could just be speculation, or smoke. At this early stage, it can only be given a measured amount of weight. But it goes to show that the Redskins decision at No. 2 isn’t just between Chase Young and a bag of picks. There are other prospects with blue-chip potential to consider, and the Redskins, with their amount of needs, can’t overlook anyone.