The 2019 NFL Draft is this month, which means that The Game Haus will be doing draft profiles for every team. Each NFL team will be looked at heading into this year’s draft including what their needs are and who they could be targeting. The Washington Redskins will be the 15th team evaluated.
Washington had hopes of competing for a playoff spot before the season, but finished at 7-9. Jay Gruden now has a 35-44-1 record in five seasons at the helm of the Redskins.
Josh Norman (photo by sports.yahoo.com)
The offense was one of the worst in the NFL, averaging 17.6 points per game. Their passing offense was specifically bad, as they ranked 28th in the league in that category, while featuring an average rushing attack. Alex Smith started the year off at quarterback, but broke his leg, which forced Colt McCoy into the lineup, who also broke his leg. That answers a lot of why the passing offense wasn’t as good as expected, but only two pass-catchers eclipsed 500 receiving yards in Jordan Reed and Josh Doctson. Rookie running back Derrius Guice tore his ACL, so Adrian Peterson was signed and was able to rush for over 1,000 yards. The offensive line has some good players, but wasn’t great last season. Guice will return from injury, while Smith likely won’t be back next season. Jamison Crowder has also left the team in free agency, while not many new members have joined the fold.
The Redskins’ defense was average, allowing 22.4 points per game. Their defensive line is a strong point, which is led by Da’Ron Payne and Jonathan Allen. Outside linebackers Ryan Anderson and Ryan Kerrigan played well for Washington last season. The inside linebackers of Josh Harvey-Clemons and Mason Foster did not play well. The secondary had Josh Norman, D.J. Swearinger and traded for HaHa Clinton-Dix, but needs to improve this offseason. So far, the Redskins have seen Clinton-Dix and Swearinger leave in free agency, while Landon Collins has been signed to play safety.
Washington has nine picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.
First Round (one pick): No. 15
Second Round (one pick): No. 46
Third Round (two picks): No. 76, No. 96
Fifth Round (two picks): No. 153, No. 173
Sixth Round (one pick): No. 206
Seventh Round (two picks): No. 227, No. 253
Quarterback- Smith isn’t coming back for the start of the year and Case Keenum isn’t the answer. They need a long term answer.
Wide Receiver- There aren’t many good receivers on the roster and they need to at least pose a threat in the passing game.
Offensive Guard/Center- They have Brandon Scherff, but the interior of the offensive line isn’t good overall.
Safety- Washington lost two safeties, but did sign Collins. They need to get someone to play beside him.
Cornerback- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was signed, but that still isn’t enough at the corner position.
First Round:
Daniel Jones (Photo by lockedonjaguars.com)
Pick No. 15: Daniel Jones, Quarterback, Duke
The Redskins need a quarterback to lead this team for the future. They may need to trade up for a quarterback, but Jones may fall to them. Jones had a solid career at Duke and learned from David Cutcliffe who worked with the Manning brothers. He has some limited arm strength that he will need to work through, but has the size and decent accuracy.
Second Round:
Pick No. 46: N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
If they select a quarterback, they are going to need to get him some weapons to make him successful. Paul Richardson and Doctson aren’t enough to make an offense go. Harry is a good athlete who will win a lot of jump balls thrown up to him. He has potential to be a number one receiver down the road.
Third Round:
Pick No. 76: Michael Jordan, Offensive Guard/Center, Ohio State
Washington needs better interior line play and needs to address it in the draft, even if it isn’t in the first two rounds. Jordan has experience at both guard and center at Ohio State, but likely fits in best at guard, which fits the Redskins well.
Pick No. 96: Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
Collins is a great safety, but they need someone to go with him. Thompson played like a first-round prospect at the start of the season, but faded down the stretch.
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