Washington Redskins 2020 NFL Draft all-rookie team

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers on a pass play during the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers on a pass play during the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 13
Next
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 09: Jeff Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action on defense during a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Maryland 73-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 09: Jeff Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action on defense during a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Maryland 73-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

CB – Jeffrey Okudah, Noah Igbinoghene, C.J. Henderson, Jeff Gladney

The Redskins simply have to come away from this class with a starting cornerback. There’s no excuse not to. The cornerback position is one of the deepest groups in the 2020 NFL Draft, and it’s also substantially top-heavy, with several elite athletes to choose from at the top.

Jeffrey Okudah is the consensus No. 1 cornerback with his combination of size, speed, explosiveness, and intelligence. Behind him, I have Noah Igbinoghene and C.J. Henderson in the next tier; both are top-notch athletic talents with tremendous upside. I give the edge to Igbinoghene because of his searing play speed and tackling utility, but Henderson is more consistent in coverage at this point, possessing the fluidity and ease of motion to stick to receivers’ hips.

The choice at the fourth cornerback spot is a subjective matter; in fact, spots 2-7 are basically subjective. But being on the pre-2020 all-rookie team is an important distinction, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Thus, I chose TCU’s Jeff Gladney as my CB4. Gladney, like Igbinoghene, plays very fast, and he’s very feisty, physical, and instinctive as a cover man. I like the ceiling of the aforementioned cornerbacks better, but Gladney’s is high as well.