Re-grading the Washington football team’s 2017 NFL Draft performance

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Nate Solder #76 of the New York Giants lines up against Jonathan Allen #93 of the Washington football team during the second half at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Nate Solder #76 of the New York Giants lines up against Jonathan Allen #93 of the Washington football team during the second half at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 22: Nate Solder #76 of the New York Giants lines up against Jonathan Allen #93 of the Washington football team during the second half at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 22: Nate Solder #76 of the New York Giants lines up against Jonathan Allen #93 of the Washington football team during the second half at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Round 1

The Washington football team was slated to pick 17th overall in the first round, and with such a low slot, the chances of selecting an elite player were unlikely. As the first round progressed, one of the blue-chip players, Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen, was starting to fall due to a negative medical report. When Allen dropped all the way to the Washington football team, the team did not hesitate and turned in the card.

The choice was the correct one after the medical reports were proven to be insignificant. The Washington football team was able to snag a top five prospect and didn’t give up any valuable draft capital in the process.

Allen’s first season was cut short due to an injury after five games and his impact during that brief span was minimal. In a case of better luck, Allen produced fourteen sacks over the next two seasons and has since been a force on the defensive line.

The former Crimson Tide standout is a leader in the locker room and he recently had his team option for 2021 picked up by the new regime. Allen’s selection was certainly a stroke of good luck and the front office wants to keep him in the fold.  It’s difficult to acquire solid value in the middle portions of the first round, but the Washington football team did just that in 2017.

Grade: A