Redskins 7-Round Mock Draft: Pre-free agency edition 2020

Round 4, Pick 38: LB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State

The other position that the Redskins need some serious help at is the linebacker spot. They are moving to a 4-3 defense and while they have some quality pieces, they don’t have many proven players at the position.

One mid-round option who could interest the Redskins is Willie Gay Jr. The Mississippi State product was one of the winners of the combine after he blazed a 4.46-second time in the 40-yard dash. He looked good in the on-field drills and has a chance to establish himself as a mid-round prospect as a result.

Gay was a three-year role player for the Bulldogs with his best season coming in 2018. He logged 48 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions during that season and made many quality plays for the team with his athletic ability.

Washington Commanders

The Redskins may have taken notice of Gay when they were scouting his teammate, Montez Sweat, who they traded up for in the 2019 NFL Draft. Could they like Gay’s upside enough to target him in the mid-rounds of the 2020 draft? Sure. Why not?

There are some questions with Gay, though, as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein outlined in his combine scouting report.

"He was limited to playing in five games as a reserve (28 tackles, 3.5 for loss, one interception, one pass breakup) during his junior year, though, as he was held out of eight contests due to NCAA violations pertaining to an academic tutor. Reportedly, Gay and starting quarterback Garrett Shrader got into an altercation late in the year."

That’s certainly concerning, but in the late fourth-round, the Redskins may be willing to take a chance on Gay. After all, he was a top-50 recruit, as Zierlein also mentioned, so perhaps a change of scenery will do him well.

Gay would address the team’s need for another linebacker but if the team doesn’t want him here, they’d likely consider a tight end or a safety.