With the NFL Draft officially less than three months away, I feel like it’s time to dish out my first mock draft of the year. As you know, I’ve been working on a boatload of 2022 QB pieces, with my most recent article discussing Liberty’s Malik Willis.
I felt like it’s only right to not only include Willis in my first mock draft, but if Washington takes the veteran QB route this offseason, I believe drafting a late first or early second-round QB prospect is also the likeliest route that follows.
That being said, this mock draft is about more than Malik Willis. Sure, that’ll be the banger of this piece, but Washington has plenty of draft capital to add some day-one impact players while also holding the ability to take high-level developmental pieces as well.
Washington needs talent, specifically young talent that can contribute right away and veterans that can compliment those pieces via free agency. Nonetheless, Washington’s first-round selection will not only be the best-case scenario for a team that desperately needs a long-term answer at this position, but they also add a prospect that has All-Pro upside.
Washington needs their MIKE linebacker of the future. They need a guy who is not only NFL-ready, but has that strong sense of leadership ability and versatility in his game, someone that can be the piece in the middle that elevates those around him.
After a stellar performance in the National Championship game, along with three straight seasons of excellent production, Georgia’s Nakobe Dean is Washington’s inside backer of the future.
There are questions about whether Nakobe can play inside at the next level due to his size limitations. Standing 6’0 and weighing 225 pounds, Dean does not fit your prototypical “size requirements” that you’re looking for in your modern MIKE linebacker.
But, he makes up for it with his football IQ, tackling ability, athleticism, coverage ability, among other things. He’s very good at beating blocks with his athletic ability and understanding of angles, he shoots the gaps like a rocket, he’s an explosive player that can get off of blocks quickly and attack with and through contact.
Dean is a fantastic player in coverage, allowing just 14 catches for 61 yards in 2021. In addition, he had two PBUs, two interceptions and allowed an NFL passer rating of 27.4 while in coverage.
His play against the run and as a blitzer flies off the screen. He can beat linemen with his explosive athletic ability, he has strong instincts and the ability to navigate through blocks, identify the ball and make a stop.
Overall, Washington selecting Nakobe Dean gives them an inside backer than can contribute right away at a very high level. Dean was an exceptional leader on and off the field at Georgia, with the production and skillset that is well-deserving of an 11th overall selection. Washington finally grabs their MIKE of the future in Georgia’s leader in the middle, Nakobe Dean.
We’ve got a trade, folks! Spoiler alert, it’s for the player that is named after this 1.0 mock draft.
It’s Spencer Rattler! Just kidding.
With Washington’s second-round pick, I have them making a trade with the New York Jets to move up from Pick No. 43 to pick No. 36 overall, as they trade their second-round pick and their third-round (No. 75 overall) pick to move up and steal the QB prospect with the most upside in this class.
Washington drafts Liberty’s Malik Willis with their 36th overall pick after trading with the Jets.
The QB with the most upside in this class yet the lowest floor, I predict that Washington signs a starting-caliber veteran this off-season in Teddy Bridgewater or they make a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo and they let Willis wait for a season before trotting him out there full-time.
I believe Washington takes Willis based on the tools and the raw materials that we’ve seen from him throughout his collegiate career, while coupling his work ethic with their developmental staff, Washington takes the risk head-on.
This is a long-term plan, and Ron Rivera has mentioned that he needs five years in order to turn around Washington for good. While the fans may be upset that they don’t see their new young quarterback out there for Week 1, they will see him in sub-packages offensively in year one and ultimately get their wish in year two after Willis sits for one season.
Washington needs a playmaker on the back end that has adequate range and versatility at all three-levels on defense.
With Bobby McCain’s future with the team uncertain, Landon Collins looking to make a move permanently to linebacker, Washington needs a safety that has good ball skills, can come up and make a tackle in the box, yet also has the range to play his deep half responsibilities.
Insert Oregon’s Verone McKinley III. The three-year starter at safety for the Ducks, McKinley has some of the best instincts in his class. Throughout every phase of the position, McKinley has shined bright no matter the task.
In coverage, he displayed adequate range, IQ and ball skills to play either man or zone. Whether it be your single-high safety, slot corner, deep-half safety, whatever the asks are, McKinley proved that not only is he skilled enough, but playing coverage comes naturally to him.
In addition, he packs a major punch as he comes downhill in the run game. He’s quick to identify the ball carrier and pack a blow with him as he shoots through the gaps like a rocket. As a second-level run stopper, McKinley proved he can make an impact there as well.
In totality, he flashed high-levels of upside as a do-it-all safety. Not only is Ron Rivera a lover of “position flex” in his players, but he also likes athletes who tend to score well according to RAS. Not only do I believe McKinley is a good scheme fit for Washington, but he provides some juice at the safety position, something Washington definitely needs.
Size, size, size. Washington’s wide receiver room lacks size on the perimeter and especially guys that can beat man coverage with ease. This next pick isn’t someone that puts you over the top as a Super Bowl contender, but this wideout is a player that could contribute right away, specifically in red-zone responsibilities.
Dai’Jean Dixon out of Nicholls State hasn’t received much attention on the national stage, but he provides a spark to Washington’s offense that is desperately needed. The 6’4, 200-pounder can contribute in a red-zone role rather quickly, with consistent production at the collegiate level that can translate to the big league.
Dixon was a three-year starter at Nicholls State that put together three straight seasons of high-level production. Scoring five or more touchdowns in each of his three years as a starter, Dixon dropped just eight passes on over 200 targets while racking up the 11th-most contested catches in the nation during his 2021 season.
In addition, Dixon was given a grade against man coverage of 88.4 via Pro Football Focus, as he has a splendid release package and flashes competent-to-good levels of route-running ability. He isn’t a speed demon by any stretch, but he understands how to utilize his size and strength to his advantage, while also possessing strong long-distance speed.
Overall, Washington selecting Dai’Jean Dixon in the sixth round of the NFL Draft makes too much sense to pass up in a hypothetical situation. Not only is this a low-risk buy, but Dixon has the potential to be a strong red-zone threat rather quickly for Washington’s offense.
Washington just signed left tackle Charles Leno to a new contract extension over the past month. It’s a well-deserved deal and a fair deal on Washington’s part, as Leno looks to be a solid LT for years to come.
That being said, in the seventh round you can utilize this pick to sure up your depth along the offensive line, while potentially adding a pick that could potentially blossom into a starting-caliber tackle if need be.
Washington’s final pick is on a left tackle, one that has had one year of starting experience but played at a high level in the SWAC Conference.
Standing 6’5 and weighing 315 pounds, Southern University’s J’Atyre Carter had a strong Redshirt junior season for the Jaguars. As a run-blocker, he is mobile and athletic enough, long enough, to cross defenders faces and get into the second level when asked. He’s a much better zone-blocker than he is a power gap blocker, considering Washington tends to go the route of heavy zone-blocking schemes, he fits the OL’s philosophy immediately.
In pass-pro, he only allowed just one hurry and one QB hit throughout his 340 pass block snaps. Without allowing a sack, he proved he’s capable of being a quality tackle at the collegiate level and maybe at the NFL level, as he posted a true pass-set blocking grade of 94.2, according to Pro Football Focus.
As a prospect, is fundamentally sound as a tackle, yet doesn’t flash high-level traits or tools that lead you to believe he’s a stalwart left tackle for years to come. That being said, Washington has made their money over the last two seasons by having one of the deepest and most skilled offensive line groups in the NFL.
Adding a guy like Carter who can potentially come in and provide quality depth while potentially blossoming into a starter with some heavy fine-tuning, should be the route Washington takes late in the seventh round.