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Washington Football Team ‘small school’ only mock draft

By Jonathan Eig

Jan 11, 2020; Frisco, Texas, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Trey Lance (5) celebrates winning the game against the James Madison Dukes at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2020; Frisco, Texas, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Trey Lance (5) celebrates winning the game against the James Madison Dukes at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 5: Defensive back Bryan Mills #22 of the North Carolina Central Eagles makes a tackle on wide receiver Marcus Williams #80 of the Florida A&M Rattlers after a catch during the game at Bragg Memorial Stadium Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Rattlers defeated the Eagles 28-21. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 5: Defensive back Bryan Mills #22 of the North Carolina Central Eagles makes a tackle on wide receiver Marcus Williams #80 of the Florida A&M Rattlers after a catch during the game at Bragg Memorial Stadium Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Rattlers defeated the Eagles 28-21. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Washington Football Team Pick Round 7: Bryan Mills, CB, North Carolina Central

Mills has the length and the ball skills to be a very effective press-man cornerback in the NFL. He needs experience. He needs strength. You can say that about almost any cornerback prospect after those projected to go in the first round. But Mills has the athletic tools needed and was very productive at NC Central.

Without having a 2020 season to show off his skills, Mills had to rely on his Senior Bowl week to impress NFL scouts. Performing under a lot of pressure, he turned in a solid week, showing excellent ability to stick with quick receivers.

Mills reminds me of Washington’s Greg Stroman, and like Stroman, he needs to get bigger and stronger if he is to hold up against professional competition.

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Washington Football Team Pick Round 7: Zaire Mitchell, TE, Notre Dame College

This is the first of a run of D2 players who could have solid pro careers. I initially had Central Missouri’s TE/P Zach Davidson penciled into this draft, but as his draft stock keeps rising, I don’t think he will be available at a value position. And with the recent signing of former International Pathway Program TE prospect Sammis Reyes, interest in Davidson may have cooled.

Which brings us to Mitchell, who played for the Notre Dame College Falcons, and not the Fighting Irish. Before that, he attended Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD. Mitchell is 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, and clearly has the size to play at the pro level. He also seems to move rather well. In college, he lined up in the backfield at times. When you watch him on tape, you get another man-amongst-boys feeling, which makes you wonder how he will fare against elite athletes. But you also see an athlete who seems comfortable in a variety of roles.

Mitchell’s academic performance resulted in his selection to the MEC Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2019. Loading up on tight end prospects like Mitchell, Reyes, Dylan Cantrell and Tyrone Swoopes increases the likelihood of identifying at least one good complement to Logan Thomas.

And one advantage Mitchell may have: Swoopes was a college QB, Cantrell a college WR, and Reyes didn’t even play football – he was a basketball player. But Mitchell has always been a tight end.

Washington Football Team Pick Round 7: Drew Seers, LB, Lindenwood

Linebacker is a position of great need, but it is a thin year at the position among the small schools. I don’t believe in reaching, no matter how great the need. Seers in Round 7 is not a reach. He is a bit undersized, but the man is a tackling machine, with the versatility to cover backs and blitz, in addition to being solid against the run.

At 6-foot-1, 225, Seers projects to be an off-ball linebacker who can use his quickness (he had 12.5 tackles for loss in 2019) to make plays all over the field. The concern, as it is with Bryan Mills, is whether he can add enough strength to stand up to pulling guards in the NFL.

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