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2020 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine mock with Redskins trading down

By Jacob Camenker

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 07: Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after stopping the Baylor Bears offense in the first quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 07: Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after stopping the Baylor Bears offense in the first quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Jeff Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a fourth down strop during the fourth quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Jeff Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a fourth down strop during the fourth quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

58. . Cornerback. Washington Commanders. Jeffrey Okudah. 5. player

And the Redskins are now on the clock and will be with the fifth overall pick, the 18th overall pick, and Miami’s early second-round pick. They’ll also probably try to get a first or second-round pick in 2021, as that’s probably what the price will look like if the Redskins trade down. That said, the Dolphins may not bite on this package, so the compensation is very fluid.

But anyway, in this mock, the Redskins have the fifth overall pick and with it, they’re going to address the defense. With Trent Williams seeming more open to a return, they don’t have as big a need at offensive tackle, so this pick likely comes down to Jeffrey Okudah and Isaiah Simmons.

While Simmons has many fans in the scouting community and could be a versatile chess piece in Washington, I’m inclined to go with Okudah here for a couple of reasons.

Redskins first-round options - CB Jeffrey Okudah. light. More

I think that Okudah is a slightly better prospect than Simmons as a whole and I think that the Redskins really need some help at corner in the wake of Quinton Dunbar’s trade request. Even if they sign a free agent at the corner position, they’ll still either need an outside upgrade, a slot upgrade, or potentially both, depending on what the new coaching staff thinks of Fabian Moreau.

Okudah was excellent in coverage last year for Ohio State and did a great job erasing half the field. He matched up well with opposing No. 1 receivers, has an athletic, well-sized frame, and has the ability to stay with receivers with ease. He grabbed three interceptions last year and looks like a true No. 1 corner.

In what is shaping up to be a rather weak corner class, the Redskins should look to add the most talented player in the group early on. Okudah is arguably the second-best defensive player in the 2020 class behind only his teammate, Young, so grabbing him now makes sense.

If the ‘Skins get two free-agent corners, then the pick would be Simmons here. And really, it’s close to a coin-toss between the two. But as I said, I slightly prefer Okudah in this scenario so we’ll stick with him for now. We’ll see if that would be the same after the combine (or if this scenario is even realistic if the ‘Skins really hone in on Young with the No. 2 pick).

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