The Washington Redskins have ten picks heading into the NFL Draft at the end of April. The team has positioned themselves to be in a spot to select the best player available when they go on the clock at pick number 17 in the first round.
The overall public perception is that the Redskins will draft a defensive lineman in the first to sure up their front seven. Although some believe the franchise may take a running back, as the team has stated they will attempt to shift the offensive direction towards more of a ground-control type of system.
Needs for the future
The Redskins have several pressing needs on the team including defensive line, inside linebacker, left guard, safety, running back, and you could even make a case for a quarterback as the franchise is currently uncertain about Kirk Cousins’ future.
This could very well be one of the most important drafts in recent memory for Washington in terms of addressing positions that could become needs next year when over 20 current players contracts end. The team will likely not be able to sign everyone, due to salary cap issues, which means they’ll be looking to the younger guys for replacements when that time comes.
Washington has been meeting with tons of college prospects
The Redskins have taken full advantage of the time they’ve been given to speak with possible prospects the last few weeks.
Between the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine game, the Combine, college pro-days, private visits and workouts, the team has met with 46 prospective players.
Washington seems completely directed at obtaining the pieces they need to successfully build their defense through the draft. While the team did bring in some pieces during free agency, most of those moves were made to improve the depth chart, or to immediately replace a player who signed elsewhere.
Those signings essentially gave the Redskins enough leverage to be able to select the best player available in the moment, instead of chasing players, or making stretch picks that could put the team in a vulnerable position.
Below is a list of players that the team has met with over the course of the last couple months:
- Jamal Adams, S, LSU
- Erik Austell, G, Charleston Southern
- Budda Baker, S, Washington
- Zach Banner, G/OT, USC
- Tarell Basham, DE, Ohio
- Caleb Brantley, DT/NT, Florida
- Billy Brown, TE, Shepherd
- Taco Charlton, DE/3-4OLB, Michigan
- Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
- Zach Cunningham, OLB/ILB, Vanderbilt
- Avery Gennesy, G, Texas A&M
- Ryan Glasgow, DT, Michigan
- Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
- Derrick Griffin, TE, Texas Southern
- William Holden, OT, Vanderbilt
- Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
- Danny Isidora, G, Miami
- Joey Ivie, DT, Florida
- Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
- Josh Jones, S, N.C. State
- Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE/3-4DE, Villanova
- Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky
- Brendan Langley, CB, Lamar
- Cameron Lee, G, Illinois State
- Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
- Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State
- Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
- Avery Moss, DE/OLB, Youngstown State
- Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
- Dayon Pratt, OLB, East Carolina
- Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple
- Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M
- John Ross, WR, Washington
- De'Veon Smith, RB, Michigan
- Tony Stevens, WR, Auburn
- Channing Stribling, CB, Michigan
- Solomon Thomas, DE/3-4OLB/OLB, Stanford
- Patrick Towles, QB, Boston College
- Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado
- Demarcus Walker, DE/3-4OLB, Florida State
- Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
- T.J. Watt, OLB/3-4OLB/ILB, Wisconsin
- Marquez White, CB, Florida State
- Chad Williams, WR, Grambling
- Jordan Willis, DE/3-4OLB/OLB, Kansas State
