Grading the Washington Redskins picks from the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft has come to a close. Here’s a look at who the Washington Redskins selected during the even and here are the grades for each of the team’s picks.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2020 NFL Draft has officially come to a close. After three long days, the Redskins have added a bunch of new, young players to the roster. They also offloaded disgruntled veteran tackle Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2020 and a third-round pick in 2019.

And they’re still not done making moves. The ‘Skins will be targeting players in undrafted free agency and have already signed a few. Namely, tight end Thaddeus Moss and quarterback Steven Montez are among the players that they have brought on board.

But after that, things will slow down considerably. So, for now, it’s time to take a big-picture look back at everything that happened during the draft and how the ‘Skins did with each of their selections.

This was Ron Rivera and Kyle Smith’s first draft in charge of the Redskins. And based on the results, it seems that they did a good job. But before we get into any spoilers, let’s dive into the Redskins grades from each pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 2: EDGE Chase Young, Ohio State

I mean, this one is pretty easy, isn’t it? I don’t think that you’re going to find many who think that Chase Young was a bad pick by the Redskins.

Sure, some may have wanted to trade down, acquire more picks, and target a guy like Isaiah Simmons. But Rivera’s teams have never traded down in the first round, so Young was always likely to be the pick at No. 2.

I graded the selection of Young after the first day of the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what I said about him in that piece.

"Young was a prolific pass rusher during his time at Ohio State. He recorded a whopping 16.5 sacks last year as the leader of a College Football Playoff-bound Buckeyes squad, and every team that the Buckeyes faced had trouble slowing down Young. The only way that Clemson was able to slow him down was by throwing double and triple teams in his direction. And even still, he put some pressure on Trevor Lawrence in the CFP. Young is a pro-ready pass-rushing prospect with quick get-off, strong hands, good technique, and a great combination of size, speed, strength, and athleticism. He is widely considered to be the best player in the draft and the only reason that he didn’t go No. 1 overall was because the Cincinnati Bengals needed a quarterback and had Joe Burrow available. The Redskins were lucky from that standpoint, and it shouldn’t take them long to get Young integrated into their defense."

Young didn’t fill the team’s biggest need, but now, their defensive line is a massive strength. And going forward, they could rival the San Francisco 49ers’ four-man front as the best one in the league. That gives their defense a truly elite position group and makes this pick an easy A for the Redskins.

Grade for selecting Chase Young: A

Round 3, Pick 2: RB/WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis

This was certainly an interesting pick. It’s one that makes sense, but in the third round, it was anticipated that the Redskins would target some offensive line help, a tight end, or maybe one of the top receivers.

Instead, they went with Antonio Gibson. It wasn’t a poor pick by any means. But it will certainly be intriguing to see how they use the versatile player from Memphis.

Like a few players that have come out of Memphis in recent seasons, there has been a debate about whether or not Gibson is a running back or a receiver. He’s 6-0, 228 pounds, so he could play either position at the next level. And it sounds like Ron Rivera and Co. think that he could play the Christian McCaffrey-type role in Scott Turner‘s offense.

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Gibson isn’t likely to be as good as McCaffrey, the former top-10 pick who is currently the NFL’s best running back. But if he can add that versatility and playmaking speed to the Redskins offense, that would be a win.

During his collegiate career, Gibson only had 77 offensive touches. Of those 77 touches, 14 of them turned into scores. That’s pretty impressive. And while he was a bit of a one-year wonder, it just speaks to his 4.39 speed and the fact that any time he touches the ball, he will be able to take it the distance.

Having Gibson along with Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims will give the Redskins offense some serious weapons. And the versatility of Gibson and Sims will certainly confused opposing defensive coordinators, especially if one of them comes across the formation pre-play or on a jet sweep. Turner will have fun getting creative and using these players to make life easier for Dwayne Haskins.

That said, this was still a bit early for Gibson, so I’m going to dock the team a bit for that. Overall, this is an average selection that could end up being a boom or bust pick. But giving Rivera’s past track record of developing hybrid running backs and receivers into quality playmakers, I like the team’s chances.

Grade for selecting Antonio Gibson: C+

Round 4, Pick 2: OT Saahdiq Charles, LSU

Just minutes after trading Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers, the team selected a player that could be his successor, Saahdiq Charles.

The Redskins are taking a chance here on a player who is very, very talented but comes with some off the field concerns. He played very well when on the field last year at LSU, but he missed six games as a result of disciplinary issues, something that was a frequent problem for him with the Tigers.

That said, the ‘Skins seem to believe in Charles. And after being drafted by the Redskins, Charles seemed very appreciative of that, as detailed by ESPN’s John Keim.

So, that’s already a positive. He’s willing to work to prove the team right. And when looking at what Charles was able to accomplish on tape, it’s easy to see why the Redskins like him so much.

Charles is a natural mover at tackle. He’s athletic, he plays with good technique, and has the requisite size (6-4, 322, 33-inch arms) needed to be a quality player on the outside at the next level. He’s going to need to get stronger at the next level. He did have some issues getting pushed back by bigger more physical defensive ends. But even in some of those situations, he did enough to slow his roll backward thanks to his good technique and always tried to fight to stalemate as hard as he could.

The off-field concerns are obviously something to watch. But given that Charles would’ve probably been a Day 2 pick in this draft and maybe even a top-50 player had he not had any issues, this seems like a solid gamble for the team. Charles could be a starter early in his career and even if he’s just a swing tackle as he builds up strength in 2020, that’ll be fine too.

Grade for selecting Saahdiq Charles: B+

Round 4, Pick 36: WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty

Antonio Gandy-Golden was a sleeper in this receiver class. Because of the excellent depth at the position, he made it to this point in the draft. But in a normal draft, there’s a chance that he could’ve been a Day 2 pick.

Gandy-Golden was insanely productive at Liberty. He totaled 79 catches for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. It was the third consecutive year he had logged at least 69 catches, 1,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns. So, needless to say, he’s used to catching passes.

Granted, Gandy-Golden played against a lower level of competition at Liberty. But he did have six catches for 119 yards against Syracuse. Playing against BYU, he caught 10 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Versus Virginia, six catches for 60 yards and a score. So, he can produce against some of the Power 5 talent (or the better independents in the case of BYU).

Washington Commanders

Gandy-Golden has size. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. He’s extremely athletic and by all accounts, he’s smart. He should be able to learn the playbook and the nuances of Scott Turner’s offense quickly. That will help the Redskins get him on the field quickly, and given his skill set, that should be a huge win.

The Redskins could use a big jump-ball red-zone threat like Gandy-Golden. He fits well with the more explosive playmakers in the team’s offense of McLaurin, Sims, and Gibson. Gandy-Golden is fast enough, but his main game is his size and ball-tracking ability.

For the next level, Gandy-Golden needs to improve his separation skills. If he can’t do that, he’ll have trouble fitting in at the next level. But that was the same issue that Kelvin Harmon had. And in his action as a rookie, he looked pretty good.

Gandy-Golden will challenge Harmon for the starting spot across from McLaurin with Sims in the slot. He could win it. But at the very least, he’ll be an excellent rotational player and a guy that can make plenty of plays in the red-zone for the Redskins. This was a great value that filled a need.

Grade for selecting Gandy-Golden: A-

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.

Grade for selecting Keith Ismael: C-

Round 5, Pick 17: S/LB Khaleke Hudson, Michigan

The Redskins met with Khaleke Hudson in the pre-draft process and seemed to be interested in him. And lo and behold, they did end up selecting the Michigan product with the 17th pick in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Hudson figures to be a linebacker at the NFL level though he mostly played safety in college. He was a hybrid player in Jim Harbaugh‘s defense and is a solid athlete. He could be a nice fit at linebacker as a downhill playmaker.

Last season for the Wolverines, Hudson totaled 101 tackles and 1.5 sacks. But two seasons prior, he had a ridiculous season in which he posted 77 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and two interceptions for the team. He was all over the field and simply was able to make plays when he was near the ball.

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Hudson isn’t a particularly great athlete. And his lack of size (5-11, 224 pounds) could make it difficult for him to ever really fit in at the linebacker position, especially considering that his coverage skills are just okay partially because his speed is merely decent.

But where Hudson may make his money is on special teams. Hudson is a good punt blocker — he blocked five in college — and may find a way to contribute on special teams. And despite his lack of elite-level skills, he plays hard and was a team leader at Michigan. That will be enough for him to have an impact in the locker room, which is something that Ron Rivera will appreciate.

Hudson may have a tough time finding a true home at the next level, but if he can produce on special teams, he’ll be worth this pick. And if he meshes well with other players and becomes a positive influence in the locker room, that could be great for the squad.

Grade for selecting Khaleke Hudson: B-

Round 7, Pick 2: S Kamren Curl, Arkansas

The Redskins made a couple of smart selections in the seventh round. With one, they swung for the fences. With another, they played it safe and tried to get a player who should be a back-end roster candidate.

Curl fell into the latter category. He’s a low-ceiling player, but he has a solid floor that could keep him on a 53-man roster in the right role.

As NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote, Curl doesn’t have great speed, but he should fit a role thanks to his experience and instincts.

"Three-year starter with adequate size, instincts and competitiveness, but lacking speed and a plus position characteristic. Curl has experience in man coverage, but might be better suited as a split-safety where he can cover with his eyes more frequently than with his athleticism and speed. He’ll come up to hit and tackle but doesn’t have the frame or power to be an impactful run deterrent near the line of scrimmage. He has a chance to become a backup safety at some point if he has enough speed."

So in essence, Curl is a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type player. That should afford him a chance to be an effective backup and special teams player. And if Rivera and Jack Del Rio know his limitations, they can always scheme around them a bit if he needs to see the field on defense.

Curl should challenge Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke, and Jeremy Reaves for a role on the team. If he doesn’t make it, he could be a solid fit on the practice squad. It’ll be interesting to see him on the field in a Redskins uniform and if he can get a bit faster at the next level.

Grade for selecting Camren Kurl: B-

Round 7, Pick 15: DE James Smith-Williams, North Carolina State

Upside is the name of the game in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. And that’s something that James Smith-Williams has.

Smith-Williams constantly battled injuries throughout his college career. He only played in more than six games once in his collegiate career that spanned six years because of the injuries.

But six continues to be a magic number for Smith-Williams. Because when he played 11 games for the Wolfpack in 2018, he logged six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 36 total stops playing on the edge. He looked like a solid rotational player with starter upside, so he could’ve been a mid-round pick.

With that said, getting Smith-Williams in the seventh round is a good value. Sure, he doesn’t fill a need. But if he can get healthy, he could be a steal and could be a nice backup to Chase Young in the future.

Smith-Williams is going to have a lot of competition for a roster spot in the form of Nate Orchard, Jordan Brailford, and Ryan Bee. That quartet will fight for one or two roster spots. But don’t count Smith-Williams out. If he’s healthy, he’ll have a chance to make it or earn a roster spot. And if not, he’s surely a practice squad option.

Grade for selecting James Williams-Smith: A-

Overall Grade

This draft was a very even, steady one for the Redskins. There were few massive swings between picks. Overall, they mostly targeted players who were among the best on the board. And they never had any sort of egregious reach in this class.

The ‘Skins did a good job of picking up value and getting some guys who have high ceilings. Charles and Gibson are good examples. They come with risks, but both could be starters, Charles if he can bulk up and stay out of trouble off the field, and Gibson if the coaching staff can figure out a way to mix him in and get the ball in his hands.

But though the Redskins targeted value and swung for the fence on a couple of picks, they also added safe players. There isn’t a player that feels like a massive risk to flame out in the league. Most if not all of these selections should have a chance to stick on an NFL roster moving forward. Some may only have special teams potential, but even still, the value of having some strong core special teams players is important.

The only big qualm with this draft is that the team didn’t address cornerback during the draft. That means that Ronald Darby, Fabian Moreau, Kendall Fuller, and Jimmy Moreland will be the top four at the position. That may pan out, but if any of them go down, the Redskins’ secondary could find itself in deep trouble.

Still, this feels like a rock-solid draft for Ron Rivera and Kyle Smith. We’ll only know once they players set foot on the field, but it feels like the Redskins should get a handful of contributors out of this class.

Overall Redskins Draft Grade: B