Washington Football Team Mock Draft: Will pick, should pick, dark horse
The 2021 NFL Draft is here and the Washington Football Team has options with each pick.
We may not necessarily know exactly how the draft is going to play out, but what we do know is that the Washington Football Team has eight picks and will have a chance to fill some of their biggest holes.
Obviously, a good chunk of the energy is on Washington’s No. 19 pick, but Days 2 and 3 of the draft will be equally as important to their success.
As Washington looks to nail the draft, here’s a look at three options for each of their eight picks: Who they will pick, who they should pick, and a dark horse option for the spot. We’ll kickstart this simulation — as performed by Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator — with the 19th overall selection.
2021 Washington Football Team Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 19
Will Pick: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
Vera-Tucker was the best offensive lineman left on the board in this simulation, and Washington would probably be very happy to land him at 19. The 6-foot-4 USC lineman has a good chunk of experience and would have a chance to emerge as a starter at left tackle for Washington.
If he can’t hold up on the outside, Vera-Tucker could kick inside to guard and fight for a starting guard job the next two seasons. He could help replace Brandon Scherff if he chooses another team in 2022 free agency.
Vera-Tucker would have a good chance to succeed whichever position he plays. Given Ron Rivera’s love for selecting the best available player, it’s hard to imagine Vera-Tucker not being the selection if Christian Darrisaw and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are off the board.
Should Pick: LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky
Look, I have no problem with Washington taking any tackle, be it Vera-Tucker, Darrisaw, or even Alex Leatherwood. That said, with the way the board fell here, they have a chance to add Jamin Davis and could benefit from doing that while adding a solid Day 2 tackle.
Davis is a 6-foot-4 linebacker that was productive for a bad Kentucky team last season. He’s a great athlete and would fill a massive need on defense. Again, I have no qualm with a tackle, but the sounder draft strategy may be to take Davis if they’re not sure Vera-Tucker will be a left tackle.
Dark Horse: S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Moehrig was mentioned as a potential option for the 19th pick in a recent report. That may be a bit earlier than expected for him, but he was a big-time playmaker at TCU. There are better options than Moehrig, but at the very least, he can’t be counted out.