Evaluating the Redskins draft picks: James Smith-Williams has a tough road to a roster spot

James Smith-Williams was the Redskins final pick and the second edge rusher they picked in the 2020 NFL Draft. Can he make the 53-man roster?

Few people anticipated that the Washington Redskins would spend two picks on the edge rush during the 2020 NFL Draft. After selecting Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick, it was assumed that the team’s defensive line rotation was pretty much set in stone.

But with their final pick in the 2020 draft, the Redskins threw a curveball. They did add more depth to their defensive line and took on a high-upside player at the edge position: James Smith-Williams of NC State.

Smith-Williams was a decent value in the seventh round of the draft. He was once considered to be a potential mid-round pick, but a lackluster final season with the Wolfpack, coupled with some injury concerns, dropped him to the final frame. And so, the Redskins were happy to scoop him up and continue to build on the massive strength that is their defensive line.

That said, there’s no guarantee that Smith-Williams will make the Redskins team in 2020. Seventh-round picks are never guaranteed roster spots and while the ‘Skins have added some solid competitors in recent seasons, like Jimmy Moreland, they have had some recent busts that never played a down with them.

Will Smith-Williams be more like Moreland? Or will he struggle to make the team? We explore those questions in our in-depth look at Smith-Williams as he tries to prove himself at the NFL level.