Five offensive players Washington Football Team should watch during the Senior Bowl
The Washington Football Team got a surprisingly strong performance out of the left side of their offensive line last year. Free-agent signees Cornelius Lucas and Wes Schweitzer proved to be a capable duo at left tackle and guard, and they will likely have a chance to reprise their roles this year.
That said, the team still needs more depth on the line as well as potential successors for Lucas and Morgan Moses as they both enter the final years of their deals. Plus, upgrading over Lucas wouldn’t be the worst idea as the veteran f rom Kansas State could be an elite swing tackle.
As such, a guy like Alex Leatherwood will draw consideration for Washington. Leatherwood has a powerful 6-foot-5, 312-pound frame and an absurd 85 3/8 inch wingspan. He has the size needed to play the tackle position but his frame is powerful enough that he could play guard as well.
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Leatherwood has had a mixed week at the Senior Bowl, but his measurements were certainly enough to solidify him as a potential first-round pick. As Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network detailed, there are a couple of areas that Leatherwood may need to work on at the next level.
"Leatherwood had a few hiccups on Tuesday despite relatively solid performance, but on Wednesday, he struggled a bit more. He’s noticeably less than elite when shuffling out alongside the pocket, and although he has a definite degree of power, he might need to keep adding natural strength along with his length. Still, one shouldn’t overreact to a single practice, but Leatherwood’s rough moments put his skills into context."
That may not be a ringing endorsement, but the fact of the matter is that those problems are fixable. If he adds strength, he should be a true road-grade blocker in the run game. And if he can move fast enough on the outside to be a solid starting tackle, he could kick inside to guard and be one of the league’s best at that spot.
Leatherwood’s versatility would add depth to Washington’s thin front and they could figure out his best fit as he develops. This is a deep offensive line class, but you won’t find many with a better combination of potential, experience, and versatility than Leatherwood.