Washington Football Team: 7-round all-Senior Bowl mock draft
![Florida WR Kadarius Toney. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fd27e371ebf1ec94cdffb12a92a8f9288eb89b895bb403691ed8335b75174866e.jpg "Florida WR Kadarius Toney. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun]")
Round 3, Pick 74: LB Baron Browning, Ohio State
The Washington Football Team is in need of a three-down linebacker for their defense. They ran a committee approach at the position last year and while that was decent enough, having an every-down player, or at least a guy with the potential to be an every-down player, would do a lot to back up the team’s already-elite defensive line.
Baron Browning could suffice in that role. His numbers at Ohio State last year won’t jump off the page, but on tape, Browning shows off excellent athletic ability. During the Senior Bowl, that was on display as well.
As our own Ian Cummings detailed in a recent article, Browning was one of the best linebackers at the Senior Bowl and his combination of size and athleticism will make him a sought-after prospect.
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"Of the linebackers on the National Team, Browning was the most enticing. He measured in at 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, with a wingspan of 81 inches. He also showcased his elite explosiveness and playmaking potential on the field, making plays in coverage, against the run, and as a pass rusher along the edge. In Ron Rivera’s scheme, where linebacker blitzes are relatively frequent on later downs, Browning would be a perfect match. He comes out of a cannon coming downfield, and he also has the desired coverage upside with his athleticism and length. He won’t come cheap; Browning is likely a Round 2 prospect at this point. But with the right coaching staff, he’d be worth the cost."
So, as Ian noted, Browning could go in the second round, so getting him in the early-third in this simulation seems like a steal. Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio, two former linebackers, will be able to tap into Browning’s athletic ability and teach him the ropes. If that goes well, he could end up being the best linebacker on the Washington Football Team.
By pairing Browning with Grant, Washington would knock out two of their biggest defensive weaknesses and continue to build well on that side of the ball. The rest of the draft henceforth will focus more on offense, but if Grant and Browning pan out… look out. That defense is going to be good.