The Season of the Pick
March 28, 2019
By Jay Evans
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…There’ll be scary ghost stories, And tales of the glories…” It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s draft season! Possibilities are endless and hope is optimal. Mock drafts are in full bore. I have been visiting Fanspeak’s On the Clock Draft Simulator for months and the content from The Draft Network is first class.
The Redskins will look to improve their roster with nine picks entering the draft and four available selections in the top ninety-six picks of the 2019 NFL draft.
The Redskins have needs at almost every level of their team. By most accounts, the Redskins could target a quarterback, offensive guard, and wide receiver to improve the offense. On defense the Redskins needs include a speed rush linebacker, sideline-to-sideline middle linebacker, shutdown corner, and coverage safety.
When I lay my head down on draft night eve, I will be hoping to wake up to a few pass catchers under my draft day tree. Whether the Redskins rely on a veteran or opt to draft or trade for a young quarterback, they have to upgrade the receiving options for whoever the thrower may be.
The Redskins don’t need to reach for any one position. They should target multiple pass catchers both due to the immediate need and since this draft group is as talented as it is deep.
The team’s pass catchers are arguably the worst position group on the entire team, possibly the league. In the past month, the Redskins have attempted, unsuccessfully, to trade for a wideout, and both Jamison Crowder and Maurice Harris left via free agency. The remaining options on Washington’s roster are limiting and concerning.
Josh Doctson, the only wide receiver the Redskins have drafted in the first round since Rod Gardner in 2002, was rumored to have been “shopped” at the trade deadline. Last offseason, the Redskins signed Paul Richardson, Jr. to be the deep threat they’d been missing since Desean Jackson left two seasons ago. In an injury plagued season Richardson caught 20 balls for 262 yards, missing 11 games. The last pick in the 2018 draft, Trey Quinn, “Mr. Irrelevant” who missed 13 games, is penciled into the starting slot position. The remainder of the receiving depth is patched together with uninspiring veterans and unproven projects.
“We ain’t running an after school special here. We are running a football team, whose offense was ranked 28th in the league last year.” ~ Denis Leary, Coach Penn in Draft Day
The Redskins lack of talent at the skill positions, coupled with injuries, led to the NFL’s 28th ranked offense. The first round of the draft is top heavy with defensive prospects. As a result, the Redskins could find themselves the beneficiaries if top offensive talent slides to pick fifteen. The 2019 draft pool has a number of intriguing receiving prospects and the Redskins should invest their draft capital in accordingly.
There’s a strong chance that the Redskins could take the first offensive skill player during the 2019 draft. Coincidentally, there is no consensus top player, but two wide receivers worthy of the fifteenth pick, D.K. Metcalf and Marquise Brown, could both be available. One, if not both, of the two highest rated tight ends, T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant of Iowa, could be available when the Redskins are on the clock as well. Any of these four players would immediately upgrade the overall talent.
If the highly rated quarterbacks are drafted before the Redskins pick and the top receiving talent is also off the board the Redskins would likely have an elite pass rusher available at fifteen. This scenario would force the Redskins’ draft strategy to pivot and take the best player available, and address the offense on day two of the draft.
The Redskins have three picks on the second day of the draft: 46, 76, and 96, where a number of pass receiving prospects could be targeted. With the top four picks the Redskins could also choose to draft two pass catchers and address the other needs with starting quality talent.
After the first four prospects are off the board there are a number of prospects the Redskins could be interested in. A.J. Brown, Kelvin Harmon, Deebo Samuel, Parris Campbell, Irv Smith, Jr., N’Keal Harry, and Hakeem Butler should all hear their names called somewhere between the end of the first round through the end of round two.
Names that could slip into round two but most likely will be available for the Redskins in the third include Riley Ridley, Mecole Hardman, Dawson Knox, Jace Sternberger, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Damarkus Lodge, and Terry McLaurin.
The roster has been constructed to afford Washington flexibility in the draft so they don’t have to reach for one specific position. The Redskins could use upgrades at rush linebacker, interior offensive line and safety. They need to find a long term answer at quarterback, but I want to see at least two receivers to change the dynamics of the offense.
In the scenario where a higher rated player falls on draft day, they can take the best available player without sacrificing their other needs. D.K. Metcalf in the first or one of the intriguing big bodied wide receivers in the second paired with a shifty route separator in the third, like Terry Mclaurin, who can help in the return game, drastically changes the Redskins offense.
The 2019 draft is shaping up to provide ample opportunities for the Redskins to improve their most desperate position, the receiving corps, while being able to fill the remaining needs. It’s draft season and I am itching to unwrap the presents “Draft Santa” delivers.