Redskins Draft CB Jimmy Moreland and DE Jordan Brailford in Round 7
April 27, 2019
by Steve Thomas
The Washington Redskins drafted cornerback Jimmy Moreland from James Madison with pick 13 of round 7 and defensive end Jordan Brailford from Oklahoma St. with the second to last pick, #39, in the 2019 NFL draft. Moreland joins a defensive backfield with plenty of other young players and will have to compete for a roster spot. Brailford joins fellow rookie, first round pick Montez Sweat, as one of the Redskins’ new contingent of outside linebackers in replacement for the departed Preston Smith.
Moreland, who stands 5’10” and weighs 179 pounds, spent five years at James Madison, playing a total of 50 games, making a total of 208 tackles, 18 interceptions, and 6 interception returns for a touchdown. He was dismissed from the team in 2015 after being charged in March, 2015, with petty larceny valued at less than $200, but was reinstated to the program in 2016. Moreland was not invited to the NFL Combine, but reportedly ran the 40 yard dash in 4.44 seconds, the 3 cone drill in 6.90 seconds, and jumped 39 inches in the vertical leap and 10’0” in the standing broad jump, all of which would have been solid scores at the Combine.
Moreland is known to have good man to man coverage skills, speed, and a high football IQ. He has great acceleration and burst, and was an absolute ball hawk in college. Moreland is competitive and a quality player against the pass, but lacks the strength and size to be a significant asset in run defense. There is no doubt that his best assets are his speed and ball skills, but his lack of physicality – which is in part driven by his small size – and the character concerns stemming from his larceny incident, as well as his small size are his principal negatives. He’s probably not big enough to be able to effectively cover outside receivers in the NFL, but with his speed and quickness, he could be effective in the slot. Moreland will have to compete with a host of young defensive backs to earn a spot on the roster and playing time.
Brailford, who is 6’3” and 252 pounds, spent four years at Oklahoma St. He redshirted his 2016 season after suffering a shin injury. In total, he played in 35 games, making 135 tackles, including 90 solo and 45 assisted tackles, 16 sacks, and 1 interception. Brailford was awarded First Team All-Big 12 honors in 2018 and Second Team All-Big honors in 2017. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.65 seconds, did 22 bench press reps, jumped 37.5 inches in the vertical leap and 10’6” in the standing broad jump.
Brailford doesn’t have elite measurables and isn’t considered to be a speed rusher, but is more of a traditional bull rusher in the mold of edge rushers drafted by the Redskins in previous years. He’s not known to be a quality run stopper and will have to work on that aspect of his game in DC.
That’s it for the 2019 draft. Stay with us for much more analysis and talk about this year’s class.