As the NFL Draft approaches, here's a look at players slated to be taken in the second round of the draft, some of which might be good fits for the Redskins.
By this point, you've heard just about every potential first-round pick the Redskins could take in this year's NFL Draft. You've heard about Vita Vea filling a need at nose tackle, Derwin James becoming the next starting safety to bolster the defensive backfield, or even wide receiver Calvin Ridley helping to solidify a young and talented wide receiver corps.
Of course, the draft has seven rounds, and many players – based on a team's need or the pressure it faces as the first round unfolds – will fall back into the later rounds.
So, here's a roundup of some mock drafts and projected players that go into the second round of the draft. All eyes are on Thursday night, but here's some other potential options the Redskins could pair with their top selection on Friday evening.
Running Back Sony Michel (Georgia)
It's hard to tell how far Michel could fall before a team scoops him up. With the impact that Saints running back Alvin Kamara had last year as a mid-round draft pick, teams may feel the urge to take Michel, a player with similar skillsets, earlier than usual. The Redskins have said multiple times that they will add another running back to the group, likely in the draft, and Michel would be a dynamic addition.
He ran for 1,227 yards on 156 carries, equating to 7.9 yards per attempt while scoring 16 touchdowns on the ground to pair with nine catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Running back Derrius Guice seems to be a top choice, too, but he is likely to find a home in the first round. One of his underrated traits is pass blocking, something he said he takes pride in at the NFL Combine this year, and could help make Michel an attractive starting option.
Center James Daniels (Iowa)
CBS Sports’ R.J. White has put together a couple of variations of a two-round mock draft. In his latest version, it seems as though he's discounting the play of center Chase Roullier in the second half of the season with the suggestion of taking Daniels. Unless, of course he sees the team moving Roullier to left guard, a position he played in college.
Daniels, an Iowa product, was a two-time honorable mention all-state selection as high schooler and is younger brother to LeShun Daniels, a running back who spent time with the Redskins last year before being released in the offseason. In 2017, Daniels was an honorable mention all-conference player starting in all 12 games for the Hawkeyes. Lance Zierlein compares him to former Redskin Chris Chester and some scouts see him as starter right away. White, who also has the Redskins drafting left guard Isaiah Wynn, sees this move solidifying an already strong offensive line.
Nose Tackle B.J. Hill (NC State)
So much of the second round depends on who the Redskins acquire in the first. The team has needs, and although "best player available" is the guiding ethos of nearly NFL team, finding players to fill them is more of an option in the next round.
If the Redskins decide to pass on drafting a player such as Vita Vea or Da'Ron Payne, they will still have options, including B.J Hill, according to Walter Football. While certain draft pundits project him into the later rounds, the NC State product could be a helpful addition on the interior. He committed 35 reps on the bench press at the NFL Combine and is fairly athletic as a one-technique rusher. Strength at the point of contact seems to be the biggest hurdle he will learn to overcome at the pro level.
Cornerback Isaiah Oliver (Colorado)
If the Redskins are still looking for corner help, White also suggests Colorado’s Isaiah Oliver. As a junior last year, he had 27 tackles, two interceptions and 13 passes defensed, garnering first-team All-Pac-12 honors even with missing a couple games for an injury.
According to Zierlein, Oliver "possesses an outstanding combination of size, speed and length and those traits are highly coveted by NFL general managers." He writes that Oliver has coverage holes but has a high ceiling as a lockdown cornerback. His length is his biggest attribute, boasting the longest arms (33.5 inches) of the cornerback class. His size, at 6-foot, will also help as he presses taller wide receivers such as Alshon Jeffery, who the Redskins play twice next season.
Safety Justin Reid (Stanford)
The younger brother to Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, Justin is pegged by draftsite.com to be taken by the Redskins in the second round. This would assume, of course, that the Redskins don't draft or miss out on Florida State safety Derwin James, who has been mocked to them by several draftniks over the last couple of months.
Reid earned second-team Associated Press All-American honors in 2017, committing 99 tackles, 6.5 for loss, five interceptions and six pass breakups in his 11 starts. As Eric Edholm states in Pro Football Weekly, Reid has "covered backs, tight ends and receivers and been used as run-support defender. Asked to handle tough assignments, including quick slot receivers, and handled them admirably. Smart and coachable. Tough, driven and serious-minded."
Guard Will Hernandez (UTEP)
Not much has been mentioned about the offensive line, but the Redskins have a left guard position that could be upgraded after losing Shawn Lauvao to free agency. Arie Kouandjio is currently slated to take on that role for now, but SB Nation believes the Redskins could provide some competition by taking Will Hernandez in the second round.
The UTEP product could be an attractive option in there and his team's misery last year (the Miners went 0-12) hasn't boosted him into the spotlight. One thing he offers right away is a hulking figure. Hernandez stands at 6-foot-2 and 348 pounds. He left UTEP as the most highly-decorated offensive lineman in school history, and though he lacks the height and length typical of most lineman, his athletic ability makes up for it. He's projected to step in as an immediate starter.
