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Roundtable Discussion: Who should be the Redskins pick if not Chase Young?

By Jacob Camenker

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 02: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers runs with the ball after an interception against the Wofford Terriers during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 02: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers runs with the ball after an interception against the Wofford Terriers during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Jacob Camenker: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

At this point in time, the only chance that the Redskins have of not landing Chase Young is to trade the No. 2 pick. It seems highly unlikely that the team would pass over Young for any other prospect on the board barring a massive change in the pre-draft process.

If the Redskins are trading down, it will likely be to a team that needs a quarterback. The Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts could all be in the mix for that move with the Dolphins representing the most likely to trade up given their excess of draft capital and reported love of Tua Tagovailoa.

Either way, it seems likely that if the Redskins do trade down, they’ll still be picking in the middle of the top-10. So they will have some options there including an offensive tackle like Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, a corner like Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah, or a receiver like Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy.

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But of the prospects available, Isaiah Simmons is one of the most unique and may fill the biggest need. The Redskins need a do-it-all linebacker and Simmons would qualify. He’s one of college football’s fastest sideline-to-sideline linebackers and there’s a chance he could blow up the combine. He is excellent in coverage and is a sure tackler. The only question surrounding him is how he fits at the next level.

Simmons is a hybrid player capable of playing linebacker and safety as he did in college. With the Redskins, he could become a dominant linebacker in the team’s 4-3 defense and Jack Del Rio should find the proper way to use him. And after all, versatility is the name of the game at the NFL level, nowadays, so having a great athlete like Simmons back there would be great news for the Redskins.

Simmons would fill one of the Redskins biggest needs and given that he had 104 tackles, eight sacks, and three interceptions in his final collegiate season, it’s clear that he should turn into an impact player at the next level. If Young ends up not being the pick, the team is going to be hard-pressed to find a better option than Simmons, especially considering that he’s the cream of the crop in a thin linebacker class while offensive tackle and wide receiver are much deeper in this draft.

Follow Jacob on Twitter @JacobCamenker.

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