This year, the Washington Redskins have the rare privilege of selecting someone in the first round of the NFL draft. Something that is not so rare for Washington when picking in the first round is holding a relatively early pick. This year the Redskins hold the fifth overall pick and are in a position to make a franchise altering move. The speculation of whom the Redskins will take at number five has been all over the place covering everything from taking a quarterback, linebacker, offensive guard, or even a wide receiver.
The man in control of Washington’s fate is newly appointed General Manager Scot McCloughan. He is well-known as one of the best talent evaluators in the league and has several championship teams attached to his resume. His strategy for building those teams, acquire more picks and get late round talent. While the Redskins have the ability to get an instant starter, presumably one of the top pass rushers to fill the hole left by Brain Orakpo’s departure, they also have the ammunition to acquire multiple first round picks and get much-needed difference makers on both sides of the ball.
McCloughan has been very open in saying that the number five pick is for sale at the right price. For a team that has not picked in the first round in two years, the right price is two first round picks. If I am McCloughan, I would be talking to one team and one team only, the Cleveland Browns. The Browns hold the 12th and 19th overall picks in this year’s draft. The Browns need a quarterback but they also desperately need an elite talent at pass rusher and wide receiver.
At 12th overall you have a shot at a pass rusher if someone like Randy Gregory or Shane Ray falls and possibly a starting wide receiver but absolutely no quarterback. At 19th overall, your best shot would be just taking the best player on the board and hoping it meets a major need. If the Browns picked at five, they are guaranteed a shot at getting one of the best players in the draft at one of their three major needs.
It’s Draft night and the Redskins are on the clock, the Browns call and the deal gets done. The Browns pick at five and get Marcus Mariota, Kevin White, or one of the several top five grade pass rushers. The Redskins now hold the 12th and 19th overall pick.
According to my mock draft, Nebraska star outside linebacker Randy Gregory falls out of the top 10 due to a failed drug test. Still waiting in the green room at the 12th pick, the Redskins make the call and get the guy they wanted all along. Gregory was thought to be the Redskins sure fire pick before his failed drug test at the NFL combine. It’s a risk for sure but they get an instant starter opposite Ryan Kerrigan for a hell of a lot cheaper than he should be. In addition picking up another first rounder in the process doesn’t hurt either.
After an hour or so the Redskins are back on the clock at 19. The Redskins have several options here. They could select Alabama safety Landon Collins or another potential starting corner or select a tackle to sure up the right side of the offensive line. But again, if I’m McCloughan, I’m going to look for someone who wants my pick.
According to my mock draft, Todd Gurley will most likely be gone (San Diego Chargers), but the other first round back Melvin Gordon will still be available. The Cardinals, Cowboys, Lions, and Ravens are all rumored to be heavily interested, own 4 of the next 10 picks. In order to guarantee landing Gordon one of those teams will need to trade up and the Redskins should look to make this deal. I do not believe Adrian Peterson will make his way to any of these teams so all of them will have a need at running back. The team I see most likely to pick up the phone is the Arizona Cardinals. So the Cardinals and Redskins swap first rounders, Cardinals get 19 and select Gordon and the Redskins now own the 24th overall pick. At pick 24, the Redskins select the best offensive tackle on the board, which I see as Ereck Flowers who would step in and immediately start at right tackle.
Through the trade with Arizona, the Redskins would most likely pick up a second rounder either in this year’s or next year’s draft, but I’m a depressed Redskins fan so I’ll go with this year. The Redskins will then have selected twice in the first round and will own two second round picks. With those two picks I see them selecting the two best defensive backs on the board, possibly safety Damarious Randall and cornerback Josh Shaw. It’s worth noting that if Dorial Green Beckham is still there a 38 (which I don’t think he will be) the Redskins take the chance on the young man being compared to Calvin Johnson.
So with simply one pick in the first and second round, it would be possible for the Redskins to draft the outside linebacker they wanted all along, a starting right tackle, and two defensive backs that have the potential to be starters within their first year.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
