Redskins: Best trade back targets in Round 1 and Round 2

Round 1 – Redskins Trade Back Targets

Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah: If the Redskins trade back out of No. 2 with a team such as the Dolphins, Chase Young would likely go to the Lions at No. 3. The Giants have no present need at cornerback, which means that Jeffrey Okudah could slip to No. 5 in that case. He has to be the favorite there, as he’s an elite cornerback prospect with athleticism, length, intelligence, and excellent CB1 upside.

Clemson DEF Isaiah Simmons: Another player the Redskins could feasibly net in a trade back in the top twelve is Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons. Simmons could potentially slip in the top ten, due to other team needs and player ranking subjectivity, but if the Redskins find themselves in a position to take him, they’ll have to consider it. He’s an outrageous athlete at 6-foot-4, 238, with 4.39 speed and a 39-inch vertical, and he can function as a WILL linebacker-safety hybrid for Ron Rivera’s defense, potentially becoming a game-changing chess piece.

Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs: Offensive tackle is also a position that deserves consideration early, and if the Redskins find themselves at No. 5 after a trade back, Tristan Wirfs is a good option to solidify the left side. For my money, he’s the most athletic tackle in the class, and he has the traits to translate full-time to the left tackle position. His athletic profile is reminiscent of Trent Williams’ as a prospect, and while Wirfs isn’t as absolute in his dominance as Williams was, he has an enticing blend of power and fluidity, which will be coveted at the next level.

Louisville OT Mekhi Becton: There’s also a chance the Redskins trade back to the Raiders’ pick at No. 12, and if that happens, they could get even better value at offensive tackle. It’s subjective as to who would be available there, but Mekhi Becton would be a tempting choice. He’s a mountain of a man at 6-foot-7, 364, and he’s incredibly smooth for his size. His size presents some leveraging issues, particularly in run defense, but his sheer wingspan allows him to clamp down on defenders and play “bouncer” on every play. He’s your Day 1 left tackle on the Redskins. Andrew Thomas would also qualify, but NFL teams might like him enough to take him before this pick.

Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb: Another potential option at No. 12, were the Raiders to trade up for a quarterback, would be Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Lamb is a dynamic 6-foot-2 receiver who plays a lot faster and a lot quicker than his athletic numbers indicate. He’s incredibly shifty and explosive as a ball carrier after the catch, and he also uses great route nuance and catch-point awareness to secure passes as they come. He’s not a receiver prospect on par with the “generational” ones, but he’d be a productive starter from Day 1, and an excellent compliment to Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims Jr.

Alabama WRs Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy: There’s a chance that all three of the top receiver prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft could be available at No. 12 overall, and if the Redskins were to engineer a trade down to that spot, all three would demand consideration. You’ve already heard about Lamb, but Ruggs and Jeudy are also compelling candidates for this pick. Ruggs has blazing 4.27 speed and explosive athleticism, and shows good flashes of route urgency and contested catch ability, while Jeudy is a human joystick who thrives off of his elite agility, route running feel, and balance. Separation wins in the NFL, and these two receivers have the traits to capitalize.

LSU WR Justin Jefferson: If the Redskins were to add the Dolphins’ No. 18 pick in a trade back, a player I really like is Justin Jefferson. He doesn’t often get mentioned in the same breath as the top three receivers, but I believe he deserves to. He has good size at 6-foot-1, 192, and he’s a great athlete with sharp route running skills and toughness and hand consistency at the catch point, as well as the body contortion ability to assist with off-target passes. He needs to work on beating press coverage, but he has the shiftiness and the detail-oriented game to thrive.

Auburn CB Noah Igbinoghene: A trade back into the 20-30 range, perhaps with a team like the Dolphins or the Patriots, puts the Redskins in prime position to land one of my favorite players in the 2020 NFL Draft. Auburn’s Noah Igbinoghene is a cornerback prospect with almost unparalleled upside. He’s a smooth, explosive athlete who plays with his hair on fire in pursuit, and sticks to receivers in coverage. He has good length for his size, and his past as a receiver suggests that, as he further refines his technique, his production will only go up at the next level. For the Redskins, he’d offer a versatile cover man with game-changing potential.

Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray: Part of this depends on what the Redskins do earlier, presuming that they have another first-round selection in this scenario. If the Redskins do have another first, and if they select an offensive player first, then Kenneth Murray later on in the round is a solid haul. Murray isn’t nearly as polished as his draft counterpart Patrick Queen, but he’s an elite athlete (4.52 speed, 38-inch vertical) with an awe-inspiring combination of size, speed, and aggression. One reason I’m confident in his upside with the Redskins is because he’d have a great support system to incubate his development, and in time, he could be a game-changing MIKE linebacker, something Rivera values.