Washington Football Team either/or mock draft for 2021

The Washington Football Team has many positions that need attention through free agency and the 2021 NFL draft.  Here is how some of those needs could be filled with this unique mock draft.

Unless any Washington Football Team fan has been in a deep hibernating sleep since early winter, it’s obvious to all NFL diehards that it is free agency and mock draft season.

Today, we have a different kind of Burgundy and Gold mock draft for you and it will feature two players that could be selected in a given round.  We’ll call it the “Either/Or” mock draft.  In Rounds 3 and 7, the Washington Football Team has two draft picks and we will feature four players overall.  Each choice will come with a brief description and how they could fit in with the team.

The purpose of such a mock is simple.  Providing fans with more than one choice affords them the opportunity to learn more about the various prospects that could be available.  When Washington is on the clock, it is nice to have some insightful knowledge of the player that is selected.  You will be able to impress your wife/husband, children, neighbors, and fellow tailgaters with a superior knowledge of the players.  Some of this could be a slight exaggeration, but the idea is to gain a greater understanding of that new prospect.

Free agency will have a direct impact on the draft.  Putting forth a mock draft before the opening of free agency is always a challenge and this is why an “Either/Or” mock makes sense.  Mock drafts after the initial wave of free agency won’t necessarily be easier, but we should have a better idea of who the Washington Football Team could target in the 2021 NFL Draft.

In our mock for today, we will not be featuring any trades.  This format does not lend itself to a trade-friendly exercise, but we will use a mix team of team needs and best players available.  Enough of the talk!  Let’s roll with this latest mock!

Round 1

Either:

Mac Jones, Quarterback, Alabama – 6-3, 215

The free agent quarterback market and trade options seem to be drying up a bit as we get closer to free agency.  That could change at any moment, but the better option for now would be to select Mac Jones in the 2021 draft.  He is a proven winner and is widely considered to be the second most NFL-ready quarterback in this draft.  The Washington Football Team has identified the position as a team need and Jones would be a solid choice.  The front office may need to trade up a few positions to nab him.

Or:

Christian Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech – 6-5, 315

Christian Darrisaw is widely regarded to be the second or third best left tackle in the draft, but Washington may consider him to be the best in his class this year – at least that is what some of the rumors are claiming.  Darrisaw plays with a nasty attitude and will do his best to thoroughly dominate any opponent that is lined up across from him.  This draft pick assumes that Washington was able to add a solid veteran at quarterback during free agency or via a trade.

Round 2

Either:

Pat Freiermuth, Tight End, Penn St. – 6-5, 260

Pat Freiermuth is arguably the second best tight end in the 2021 draft.  The emergence of Washington Football Team tight end Logan Thomas in 2020 probably lessens the need at this position, but it was only a one-year sample.  In the second round, Freiermuth would provide solid value and give Washington some great options in the passing offense and particularly with any double tight end sets.  He comes with excellent receiving skills and his abilities as a blocker are solid.

Or:

Chazz Surratt, Linebacker, North Carolina – 6-3, 230

Over the years, North Carolina has produced many NFL linebackers and Chazz Surratt is the latest in a great line of athletes.  From Lawrence Taylor to Cole Holcomb, the list is impressive.  Do you need a linebacker that is superb in coverage?  Do you want a linebacker who can stop running backs or disrupt screen passes before they can reach the line of scrimmage?  If so, then Surratt is just what you are looking for in today’s versatile linebacker.  He has been catching the attention of analysts and scouts over the last two years and this Tar Heel is ready to have an impact at the next level.

Round 3

Washington will pick twice in Round 3, so we will feature four players.

Either:

Tylan Wallace, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma St. – 6-0, 190

The Washington Football Team is likely to add a stud receiver in free agency.  That would make for a lethal combination with Terry McLaurin, but adding Tylan Wallace to this mix could transform the receiver corps to an elite level in just one offseason.  Wallace is the perfect complement in such a scenario.  He’s an excellent option for short routes, slants, wide receiver screens, and intermediate routes.  He is not a speedster, but he doesn’t need to be in this offense.  The Oklahoma St. star can move the chains on sustained drives and provide a good second or third option for the quarterback.

Or:

Richie Grant, Free Safety, Central Florida – 6-0, 195

Richie Grant is a free safety who has garnered a lot of attention in recent weeks.  If his stock continues to rise, he could slide into the second round.  In addition to being a talented safety, Grant also played slot corner and strong safety at times.  However, he will be a natural fit as an open field free safety at the next level.  Areas where Grant can improve are becoming a better tackler and taking more concise angles in the deep secondary.

Either:

Baron Browning, Linebacker, Ohio St. – 6-3, 240

Baron Browning is something of an athletic freak, but he is still learning the nuances of being an inside linebacker.  Selecting him at this juncture in the draft is likely to provide only decent value, but his upside at the next level is tremendous.  He can be very effective against the rushing offense, but Browning will need to learn how to adjust to the speed and talent of slot receivers, tight ends, and running backs that run routes over the middle.  He should be able to adjust quite well, but his football speed from sideline to sideline still needs some work.  Again, Browning’s ceiling is unlimited and the team that drafts him will need to be patient in his first season.

Or:

Andre Cisco, Free Safety, Syracuse – 6-0, 205

Andre Cisco is a player who has seen his draft stock go up and down throughout this offseason, but the talented free safety from Syracuse would be a very good pick in the third round.  Cisco is a bonafide interception machine and is able to diagnose most passing plays immediately after the snap.  He can over-pursue and occasionally give up big plays.  Speedy receivers in the NFL can exploit that weakness.  This part of Cisco’s game at the next level needs attention.

Round 4

Either:

Ben Cleveland, Offensive Guard, Georgia – 6-6, 355

If you need someone to move a ten-ton boulder out of your driveway, Ben Cleveland is your guy!  All joking aside, Cleveland is a solid blocker with the rushing offense and is able to open big holes for the running back.  His pass protection skills need some work, but bull-rushing specialists almost never win a one-on-one battle with him.  Cleveland will need to spend some time on the bench in his first season, but he does have long-term starting potential in the NFL.

Or:

Jamie Newman, Quarterback, Wake Forest – 6-4, 230

If the Washington Football Team fails to secure a quarterback in free agency or in the early rounds of the draft, they may need to invest in a player who will need to sit on the bench for a year.   He will then work his way to becoming a franchise quarterback for the Burgundy and Gold.  That quarterback could be Jamie Newman.  In our recent Riggo’s Rag Roundtable, writer Jonathan Eig made a good case for Newman.

"You can acquire Newman at a very low cost. He is just one of your mid-round draft choices. Maybe a fourth-round pick. Assuming no other significant moves, you already will have acquired four solid players via the draft, and, given Washington’s strong salary cap position, several other quality vets in free agency. Taking a flyer on a low floor/high ceiling prospect like Newman makes all the sense in the world at that point."

Round 5

Either:

Keith Taylor, Cornerback, Washington – 6-3, 195

Keith Taylor has been generating some buzz of late and there are many reasons why this is happening.  First, he is a highly underrated corner who could see his stock rise – maybe as high as the third round.  The one negative for Taylor is that he watches the quarterback too much at times and loses sight of the receiver.  That also makes him vulnerable to various fake options from the quarterback.  Taylor is a physical corner and will need a period of time to adjust to the NFL.  With experience, he could be a starter in a year or two.

Or:

Trey Sermon, Running Back, Ohio St. – 6-1, 215

Back in the day when running backs were highly valued, Trey Sermon would’ve been selected in the second round.  In today’s NFL, running backs are almost relegated to second class citizenship levels.  Advantage Washington Football Team.  As the 2020 season progressed for the Buckeyes, Sermon became a force for them in the running game.  He would be a perfect fit with Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic.

Round 7

Either:

Tony Poljan, Tight End, Virginia – 6-7, 265

As a former quarterback at Western Michigan, Tony Poljan made the jump to tight end when he transferred to Virginia.  After a solid 2020, could he be on track to follow in the same footsteps as Logan Thomas?

Or:

K.J. Britt, Linebacker, Auburn – 6-0, 245

The Washington Football Team met with K.J. Britt at the Senior Bowl.  He will need to make the roster as a special teams player and could become a rotational linebacker within a couple of years.  Britt is likely to be a practice squad candidate in his first season.

Either:

Paddy Fisher, Linebacker, Northwestern – 6-4, 240

What a difference one year can make for prospects.  Paddy Fisher was generally considered to be a third or fourth-round prospect after the 2019 season.  2020 was not as kind to him, but he is still a talented linebacker.  Spending some time on the practice squad this coming season and working his way into the lineup over the next two years is Fisher’s best option.

Or:

Brady Breeze, Strong Safety, Oregon – 6-1, 200

Brady Breeze made the tough decision to opt out of the 2020 season, but that was probably a mistake.  He needs the experience and could’ve boosted his draft portfolio for 2021.  Breeze is an in the box safety, but his calling card is not what you may think.  He is a hard-hitting football player and the Oregon standout could carve out a respectable career as a special teams ace.  He also has a really cool name!  Uh, we’ll show ourselves out the door after some final thoughts.

Final Thoughts

The draft is now eight weeks away and free agency is just two weeks from now.  The pace to acquire new players for the Washington Football Team roster now shifts into overdrive.  Virtual team meetings with prospects have begun and the front office met with many of the Senior Bowl participants a few weeks ago.

Free agency will have an effect on the draft and most of these mock drafts could change drastically in the next two or three weeks.  We will begin to get some ideas about what the Burgundy and Gold will do with the most pressing of needs.  Positional needs include quarterback, tackle, wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, and free safety.

We hope you continue to check in with all of the news and events surrounding the team.  It’s about to get very intense and we’ll be here to cover all of it for you.