Grading the Washington Redskins picks from the 2020 NFL Draft
Round 5, Pick 11: G/C Keith Ismael, San Diego State
Since Rivera has come to the Redskins, the team has focused on adding depth to compete at all positions. But one where they have added a lot of players is the offensive line.
So, when the team selected an interior line prospect in Keith Ismael, it wasn’t surprising when considering Rivera’s strategy. It was, however, slightly surprising considering that backup center wasn’t considered a big need for the ‘Skins.
But after a further dive in, it’s notable that Chase Roullier is a free agent after this season. And Ross Pierschbacher was a fifth-round pick by the previous regime, so there’s no guarantee that he will still around in that role.
That’s where Ismael could step in. And as our own Ian Cumming explained after the Redskins picked Ismael, he has experience.
"Ismael, who turns 22 years old in July, was a key contributor on the Aztecs’ offensive line for three seasons. In his junior season, he logged starts at left guard, right guard, and center, and in 2019, he started all 13 games at the center position, providing stability and consistency at the anchor. At 6-foot-3, 309, Ismael is a bit undersized as an interior lineman, and he needs to add more strength to his game. But he has good mobility for an interior lineman, and he’s also a fairly quick processor on the interior, and his ability to both move well in space and take accurate angles should help him overcome power deficiencies at the next level."
So, like Charles, Ismael is athletic but needs more strength. That should put him in position to benefit from the league’s strength and conditioning program and following that, he can potentially challenge for the starting center job in 2021 if the Redskins move on from Roullier. But in the interim, he may not be ready for playing time.
Ismael is a decent depth pick. But given that he may not be ready to contribute and step in right away if a lineman gets injured, it’s a little tough to get behind him in the fifth round. It’s not a bad pick, but it’s not a particularly good one either.