Simulating the Washington Football Team’s entire 2021 offseason
NFL Draft Day 2
Round 2, Pick 19 (51): OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
Washington found a gem in Cornelius Lucas. The 2020 free-agent signee proved to be a rock-solid left tackle for the team and he should reprise his performance there once again. However, Lucas will be a free agent after the 2021 season and turns 30 in July, so the team may want to invest in a potential long-term option at the spot.
Eichenberg could be a fit for them. He was a three-year starter for Notre Dame and continued the team’s tradition of having a great tackle on the roster. Eichenberg played left tackle for the Fighting Irish, has a 6-foot-6, 302-pound frame, and has good overall technique thanks to strong coaching from Notre Dame’s staff. He could be ready to start quickly as a rookie but even if he needs time to develop, he would upgrade the team’s tackle depth and eventually emerge as a starter.
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With Eichenberg, Lucas, and Morgan Moses, Washington’s top-three tackles would be a strength. While the team could use some other upgrades ahead of the offensive line, Eichenberg was too good to pass on here, and he should play a key role for the franchise moving forward.
Round 3, Pick 10 (74): LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
Washington has had success turning former UNC Tar Heel Cole Holcomb into a solid starter at linebacker. Surratt should have a chance to be a great starter at linebacker for Washington.
Surratt (6-foot-2, 228 pounds) was a tackling machine in his final two years with the Tar Heels. Originally a quarterback, Surratt made the switch to linebacker and averaged 103.5 tackles, 11.25 tackles for loss, 6.25 sacks, and one interception per season. He’s a good athlete, is intelligent and instinctive, and should be a potential three-down playmaker at the next level.
As Surratt continues to develop at linebacker, he should only get better. For that reason, Washington should have an interest in him, as he would add a new dimension to their defense as a starter at middle linebacker or on the outside, whichever position Del Rio and Rivera think suits him best.
Round 3, Pick 18 (82): S Richard LeCounte, Georgia
Washington needs some help at the free safety position. That much is clear. Troy Apke, Deshazor Everett, and Jeremy Reaves couldn’t cut it as starters, so the team needs to add another player to potentially start alongside Kam Curl (and/or Landon Collins).
LeCounte (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) has logged seven interceptions combined in his last two seasons at Georgia. He could be the ballhawk type thanks to his great instincts and while his athleticism isn’t overly impressive, neither was Curl’s coming into the draft. LeCounte could be undervalued so grabbing him in the third round to compete for a starting job with Hooker would be a good move and would shore up one of the final remaining weaknesses for Washington.