In his first mock draft for the 2017 NFL Draft, FoxSports.com's Peter Schrager is thinking defensive back for the Redskins in Round 1 with Alabama's Marlon Humphrey.
The names linked to the Redskins in mock drafts continue to pile up.
In his pre-NFL Combine mock draft, FoxSports.com's Peter Schrager has the Redskins selecting Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey with the No. 17-overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
"Wideout will be a position of need, and there are some guys in this draft who would make sense at 17th overall, but with Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder (and Jordan Reed), the Redskins do have a 1-2-3 on the roster. Defensive back? Always a need in Washington," Schrager writes. "Humphrey could line up right away and get the job done."
Humphrey earned first-team All-American honors from the Pro Football Writers of America during his sophomore season in 2016, as the 6-foot-1, 196 pounder finished the year with 36 tackles along with five passes defensed, two interceptions and one fumble forced.
The Hoover, Ala., native had the Crimson Tide's first of six interceptions for touchdown, as he took back a pick against USC in the regular season opener.
Humphrey's second interception came against then-No. 6 Texas A&M in a 33-14 victory.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Humphrey started all 15 games for Alabama and earned a freshman All-SEC selection, as he collected 45 tackles along with eight passes defensed, three interceptions and two fumbles forced.
According to his NFL.com draft profile, Humphrey "has the body type and athletic traits that are out of central casting."
"Fluid hips and hard-charging makeup speed. Well-versed in a variety of coverages. Plays with disciplined eyes and good balance between high-low responsibilities in zone. Good short-area acceleration to close out receivers and attack throwing lanes. Reactive athleticism helps erase coverage mistakes. Extremely competitive with an edge that spikes after he's beaten. Timid receivers should take the day off. Aggressive from press with a powerful punch. Looks to intimidate when the opportunity arises. Drives receivers out of bounds and out of the play if their vertical release takes them too close to the boundary. Will not let a blocking receiver punk him. Tears through blocker and attacks downhill. Searches for opportunities to strip the ball; forced three fumbles in 2016," his profile states.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein added that while Humphrey made need a little bit of time to improve on his technique, he has the "mental makeup and "recovery talent" to keep up with NFL offenses.
"Has the instincts and run-support skills to become an early starter for a zone-cover defense, but it will be hard for teams looking for a lockdown, man corner to pass on all of those physical gifts early in the draft," Zierlein writes.
