No doubt Scot our trusted GM can spot talent infinitely better than 99.999999% of the rest us can.
That said, something feels off with the 2016 draft. In a word, it’s ‘light.’
We were spoiled by Scot’s incredible first Redskins’ draft. Of the first 3 stellar 2015 picks, the lightest was RB Matt Jones at over 240 pounds. This 2016 draft, the heaviest player is Cravens at 225 to 235 depending on the source. Even at that, he is considered a ‘light’ linebacker (or heavy safety).
Even going WR with the first pick, Doctson is lighter in build than Treadwell. Doctson’s hips are quite narrow making him look like a tall Michael Jackson and gives fans repeat nightmares of Leonard Hankerson’s lanky build and movement. That’s not to say he wasn’t the right choice and will not be a pro bowler, but a light, fragile looking build is a bit of a flag as the most talented player isn’t worth much if he is injured all the time.
The draft was also ‘light’ in picks as trades went towards amassing picks in next year’s draft. Dropping the 4th round pick this year also gave the draft a lighter feel.
The players themselves all seem like situational players also giving the draft a light feel. Doctson will spell Garcon, Jackson and Crowder at times but will not start. Cravens is very situational. Fuller is coming of an injury and will be eased in sparingly to start leaning towards a nickel role. Even Marshall will just be a 3rd down back and maybe a kick returner.
Secondary fixed?
Lastly, there is the issue of Kyshon Jarrett, an incredible 6th round steal last year. Once he went out against the Cowboys, I knew the secondary was over against the Packers. Whether he will ever play football again is a question and even if so, he is most likely to be on IR this year (really hoping otherwise, I’m a big fan of the kid). It seems like we drafted Cravens and Fuller to fill in his jackknife slot corner/safety/linebacker shoes this year. Getting a 2nd and 3rd round pick to fill in for one of last year’s 6th round picks naturally also makes this draft feel lighter than last year as well.
Perhaps Gruden felt the same a bit about the draft as he was hyping up our beefier picks, Iaonnidis and Daniels. Ioannidis looks like Godzilla terrorizing a small, movie set Japanese town when he attacks an offensive line.
Most likely, we will all get to absorb lesson 2 of how to draft in a non-obvious way by Scot the Great GM over the course of this year. We also can’t forget the stellar free agent signings such as Norman, Reyes and Vernon Davis as part of the GM artistry this year.
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