The NFL Draft is now just hours away from taking place, and the Redskins will usher in a new era of football by adding seven players.
The past few months have been filled with local and national media members taking a guess at who the Redskins will take this year. So, Redskins.com's Kyle Stackpole and Zach Selby have constructed their own mock drafts to predict which prospects will be donning the burgundy and gold in 2020.
Round 1 (Pick No. 2)
Selby: DE Chase Young, Ohio State
The Redskins will go for arguably the best player in the draft to turn their defensive line into a truly spectacular group. Everything about Chase Young, from his 16.5 sacks to his 6-foot-5, 264-pound frame, is what scouts want from an elite prospect at defensive end. Defensive coordinator Jacks Del Rio wants his pass rushers to focus on getting to the quarterback, and that is exactly what Young will excel do for the Redskins in 2020.
Stackpole: DE Chase Young, Ohio State
Chase Young is the pick. He always should have been the pick, and who knows, maybe he has been. His potential is just too great to pass up. He's looked at as a possible perennial All-Pro and one of the best defensive prospects in recent memory. By adding him, the Redskins' defensive front becomes one of the NFL's best, at least on paper. There are bigger position needs, sure, but Young is a game-wrecker who makes everyone on the field better.
Round 3 (Pick No. 66)
Selby: T Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
Wanogho has only been playing football for about a year after coming to the United States from Nigeria, but there is no doubt that he has all the measurables to be a successful NFL offensive lineman. He moves well, has quick hands to battle with outside rushers and has good movement on the second level. He might not contribute immediately, but with offensive line coach John Matsko coaching him, he could become a reliable starter at left tackle.
Stackpole: T Matt Peart, Connecticut
The Redskins need blindside protection for Dwayne Haskins Jr., and Peart (6-foot-7, 318 pounds) has the potential to become a Day 1 starter along the Redskins' offensive line. Peart has the experience -- he started every game of his college career, first at right tackle for two seasons and then at left tackle -- and the athleticism, as he ran the eighth-fastest 40-yard dash time among linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine. This isn't a flashy pick but a necessary one.
Round 4 (Pick No. 108)
Selby: WR K.J. Hill, Ohio State
Hill has several connections with current Redskins players. He, Haskins, Terry McLaurin were a formidable trio at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to a Rose Bowl victory in 2018. Hill recorded the most receptions in school history and has above average hands. He can also run any route that is asked of him, which would make him a reliable slot receiver in Washington. The Redskins wants to find out what they have in Haskins; pairing him with another Ohio State receiver is a good way to do that.
Stackpole: WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
The injury history is concerning, especially since Edwards missed most of the pre-draft process with of a foot injury. But there are a lot of reasons Edwards to the Redskins makes sense. For one, he's a big, physical wideout at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds. He was also highly productive in college (Gamecocks' all-time leading receiver), is an intelligent player (Wonderlic score of 28) and can line up outside and in the slot. Edwards has all the makings of a No. 2 wide receiver.
Round 4 (Pick No. 142)
Selby: CB Bryce Hall, Virginia
There's no denying Hall struggled to stay on the field. He suffered an Achilles injury that limited him to only six starts in 2019. However, his production in previous seasons was exceptional. His best outing came in 2018 when he had 62 tackles, 21 pass breakups and two interceptions. Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com views him as a "big and aggressive corner…with some limitations," but he could become a starter with time to learn.
Stackpole: TE Devin Asiasi, UCLA
Asiasi finally received ample opportunities to produce in 2019, and he responded with a 44-catch, 641-yard, four-touchdown campaign. He needs to develop, but he's a sure-handed, sizable pass-catcher and a willing blocker -- all of which point towards him becoming a No. 1 tight end in the NFL. It just might take some time.
Round 5 (Pick No. 162)
Selby: TE Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
There are some questions about Pinkney's production from 2018 to 2019. He went from grabbing 50 passes for 774 yards to just 20 receptions for 233 yards. Still, Pinkney has some raw talent and intangibles. There are some who view him as an H-back, but he would also a be nice change of pace in two- and three-tight end sets. With some tutelage from tight ends coach Pete Hoener, Pinkney and his ability as a pass-catcher would be a welcome addition.
Stackpole: S J.R. Reed, Georgia
Reed is not the most explosive player and lacks the measurables of a prototypical NFL safety, but he comes from NFL bloodlines -- his father, Jake, played receiver for 12 seasons -- and starred in college football's premier conference. As a redshirt senior, he earned first-team All-American honors and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's best defensive back. Reed's ceiling is limited by his athleticism, but he's a football savant who finds a way to make plays.
Round 7 (Pick No. 216)
Selby: WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee
Jennings doesn't have the natural talent that the top receivers possess this year, but he does have talent that could develop into something more in years to come. He averaged eight yards after the catch and 16 yards per reception last year, which means he knows how to get open and extend plays once he has the ball in his hands. NFL.com lists him as a "priority free agent," but the Redskins could take a chance on him.
Stackpole: LB David Woodward, Utah State
Like Reed, Woodward is not the most athletic; but he's always around the football. In 2018, he led the Mountain West conference with 134 tackles en route to garnering third-team All-America honors. He then added 93 stops this past season before suffering an injury seven games in. Not only would Woodward add depth, but he'll be able to learn from veteran linebackers Thomas Davis Sr. and Jon Bostic and 2019 fifth-round pick Cole Holcomb, who eclipsed 100 tackles as a rookie.
Round 7 (Pick No. 229)
Selby: CB Lamar Jackson, Nebraska
It's been a great year for Jackson. His son, Legacy Nathan Jackson, was born in March of 2019, he was second-team All-Big Ten and was voted as the Cornhuskers' defensive MVP. With a 4.58 40-yard dash, he isn't the fastest prospect, but he has good size for his position and knows how to contest passes. He'll likely be a special teams contributor in his rookie year, but his ability as a press corner could prove useful with some adjustments.
Stackpole: T Trey Adams, Washington
Adams was one of the best young tackles in 2017 before tearing his ACL and then having surgery to remove a bulging disk in his back. Both injuries have hindered his athleticism, but he still has solid technique and footwork. If the Redskins think Adams can regain the strength he lost over the past few years, it might be worth taking a risk on someone who was once a top prospect.
2020 Redskins-Only Seven-Round Mock Draft
Round (Pick) | Zach Selby | Kyle Stackpole |
---|---|---|
1 (2) | DE Chase Young, Ohio State | DE Chase Young, Ohio State |
3 (66) | T Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn | T Matt Peart, Connecticut |
4 (108) | WR K.J. Hill, Ohio State | WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina |
4 (142) | CB Bryce Hall, Virginia | TE Devin Asiasi, UCLA |
5 (162) | TE Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt | S J.R. Reed, Georgia |
7 (216) | WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee | LB David Woodward, Utah State |
7 (229) | CB Lamar Jackson, Nebraska | T Trey Adams, Washington |