Redskins Draft Montez Sweat in Round 1

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April 25, 2019

by Steve Thomas

The Washington Redskins drafted Mississippi St. defensive end Montez Sweat with pick 26 of round one of the 2019 NFL draft, trading their 2nd round pick this year (#46) and their 2020 2nd rounder to the Colts.  Sweat, 6’6” and 260 pounds, represents the Redskins’ continued focus on defense from the last two drafts and is expected to be a day one starter as the replacement for the departed Preston Smith.

Sweat, who originally hails from Georgia, originally committed to Michigan St. and played one game in 2014, then redshirted in 2015 before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln Community College for the 2016 season.  He then transferred to Mississippi St. for the 2017 seasons.  In his one season at Michigan St. and two years at Mississippi, Sweat played a total of 27 games, with 105 tackles, including 50 solo and 55 assisted tackles, and 23.5 sacks.  He played 13 games in 2018, making 53 total tackles, including 27 solo and 26 assisted tackles, and 12 sacks.  Sweat was selected as a Second Team AP All-American and First Team All-SEC in 2018.

Montez had a strong showing in the objective measurables portion of the NFL Combine, running the 40 yard dash in a wide receiver-like 4.41 seconds (1st among edge rushers and tied for 16th overall; 2nd behind running back Justice Hill among all non-receivers and defensive backs) and the 20 yard short shuttle in 4.29 seconds (5th among edge rushers).  He also jumped 36 inches in the vertical leap (6th among edge rushers) and 10’5” inches in the standing broad jump (4th among edge rushers).

Sweat is principally known as a speed rusher, not as a power rusher in the mold of several players previously drafted by the Redskins such as Smith, Trent Murphy, and Ryan Kerrigan.  He thus represents a departure of type for Washington and brings a skillset missing for the Redskins since Brian Orakpo left for Tennessee.  Some analysts expect Sweat to need some time to adjust to the NFL game, but he should become a mainstay of the defensive front seven for years to come.

Rumors of heart problems caused Sweat to fall in round one, and clearly Washington’s front office felt that he was a good gamble at pick 26.

Stay tuned to The Hog Sty for more on Sweat and the Redskins other draft choices.