A blueprint for the Redskins 2020 NFL Draft: Part II

Rounds 4 and 5

The Redskins have two selections in Round 4 and another pick early in Round 5. The extra selection in Round 4 is a compensatory pick courtesy of the deal that former Redskins WR Jamison Crowder signed last year with the Jets.

The middle rounds can yield a solid player or two, especially if any of these prospects were projected to be selected in earlier rounds. It helps the Redskins that they are able to pick very early in Rounds 4 and 5. Time will tell if any solid prospects will fall to the Burgundy and Gold, but let’s take a look at some of these players. In the middle rounds, the team is likely to add best player available (BPA) candidates.

Lloyd Cushenberry (LSU), Ben Bartch (St. John), Logan Stenberg (Kentucky), and Solomon Kindley (Georgia) are offensive linemen to watch in these rounds – especially Bartch and Kindley.

Wide receivers to watch (especially in the fourth round) include K.J. Hill (Ohio State), Michael Pittman (USC), Chase Claypool (Notre Dame), and Tyler Johnson (Minnesota). The receiver class in this year’s draft is incredibly deep and the Redskins will likely be adding one in the middle rounds.  Keep an eye on Hill and Johnson, as they’re most likely to be available.

A second tight end could be drafted in these rounds (assuming the Redskins have drafted one already). Some sleepers in this group include Albert Okwuegbunam (Missouri), Harrison Bryant (Florida Atlantic), Colby Parkinson (Stanford), Jacob Breeland (Oregon), and Cheyenne O’Grady (Arkansas). Keep an eye on Parkinson – he is highly underrated by many analysts.

Linebackers are not the most pressing need for this offseason, and the Redskins have added several in free agency, but players taken in these rounds need to be versatile. Think special teams.  Many linebackers tend to fill both roles and there could be any number of such players available at this juncture.

Linebackers to keep an eye on (especially in the fifth round) include Justin Strnad (Wake Forest), Tipa Galeai (Utah State), and Jacob Phillips (LSU).

The defensive secondary could receive some attention in the middle rounds and there are two solid candidates to watch during the draft. Cornerback Lamar Jackson (Nebraska) and free safety Reggie Floyd (Virginia Tech) could get a call from the front office on the third day of the draft.