After months of speculation, the 2021 NFL Draft is finally here.
Washington has 10 selections, starting with the 19th overall pick. It also has picks in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, two picks in the third and three in the seventh.
This is the second draft under head coach Ron Rivera, who will be working closely with the revamped front office of general manager Martin Mayhew and executive vice president of football/player personnel Marty Hurney to ensure Washington makes the most of the three-day event.
Below is a list of every Washington pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. You can also stay up to date on all Washington's draft news at https://www.washingtonfootball.com/draft/2021/.
Round 1 (Pick 19)
LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky
With the 19th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team bolstered its defense by selecting linebacker Jamin Davis.
A complete unknown in NFL circles a year ago, Davis could not be ignored as a redshirt junior this past season. The first-year starter led Kentucky with 102 tackles to go with four tackles for loss, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two pass breakups, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
But it was his physical traits that grabbed scouts' attention. At 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, he has the size to be stout near the line of scrimmage. Then he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, showcasing the speed he will use to stay with pass-catchers and run down ball-carriers.
Despite making just 11 career starts, Davis has shown the intelligence, vision and ball-hawking ability to have success for whichever team ends up drafting him. And while he needs to make some improvements as a tackler and work on getting off blocks, time and instruction will help both areas, especially since he's learning under a pair of former NFL linebackers in Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.
"He understands our culture, tremendous background, the kind of background I look for," Rivera said. "Very smart, intelligent young man, plays the game at the right tempo. He understands what they do and that will translate very well with how we do things. He's the kind of fit in terms of position flex. He can play all of our linebacker positions, he has the athletic ability. He's what you look for in a football player."
- Washingtonfootball.com: 5 Things To Know About First-Round LB Jamin Davis (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Jamin Davis Is The Perfect Character Fit For Ron Rivera's Sustainable, Winning Culture (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: 2021 NFL Draft Grades: Experts Praise Washington For Picking 'Tackling Machine' Jamin Davis In Round 1 (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Jamin Davis Is Giddy To Play Behind Washington's Defensive Line
- Washingtonfootball.com: Jamin Davis Introductory Press Conference (VIDEO)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Marc Ross: Washington Had Best Defensive Selection Of Round 1 In Jamin Davis (VIDEO)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Brian Baldinger: Why Jamin Davis Reminds Me Of Thomas Davis (VIDEO)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Ron Rivera Reveals What Makes LB Jamin Davis The Right Fit For The WFT (VIDEO)
- Washingtonfootball.com: 2021 Defensive Rookie Of The Year Predictions After Draft 'NFL Total Access' (VIDEO)
Round 2 (Pick 51)
OT Sam Cosmi, Texas
Washington addressed the offensive line by selecting Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi.
Cosmi (6-foot-6, 314 pounds) started 34 games at right and left tackle over the past three seasons. After redshirting in 2017, he was a freshman All-American at right tackle before moving to the other side for his final 21 collegiate starts. This past season, he was a captain and a second-team All-American.
"It's unbelievable, I really can't put it into any words besides amazing," Cosmi said after getting drafted. "My heart is still pumping right now. I'm super excited to be with the Washington Football Team right now and I am super stoked to get to work."
Washington was looking for a tackle, and it got one of the most athletic ones of the past three decades. He received a relative athletic score of 9.99 out of 10.00, which ranked second among 1,143 players at the position since 1987.
Based on his skillset, experience and production, he'll likely compete for the starting left tackle spot with Saahdiq Charles, Geron Christian Sr. and Cornelius Lucas.
"We're going to put him out at left tackle and see how he does," Rivera said. "That's what he did in college, and he played it very well in college. That's why we think he's a really good pick for us because of what he does. He's going to get an opportunity to compete for us, and we'll see how he does."
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects T Samuel Cosmi With The 51st Pick (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects Samuel Cosmi With 51st Pick In 2021 NFL Draft (VIDEO)
- Washingtonfootball.com: 5 Things To Know About OT Sam Cosmi (STORY)
Round 3 (Pick 74)
DB Benjamin St-Juste, Minnesota
Washington added more depth to it secondary by selecting Minnesota cornerback Benjamin St-Juste.
St-Juste (6-foot-3, 202 pounds) originally started at Michigan and played in 12 games as a reserve. After suffering a hamstring injury and redshirting in 2018, he transferred to Minnesota and played in 18 games with nine starts over two seasons. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2019 for recording 45 tackles and 10 pass breakups, which tied the team lead.
"I can do whatever, whatever the team needs me to do -- safety, nickel [back] corner -- and I think that's why they picked me," St-Juste said after getting drafted. "I think that's why I separate myself from the other corner because maybe they just play corner or have been seen as a corner. But with my size, my speed and my quickness, and even the rest, I was able to play at free safety and strong safety at the Senior Bowl. I showed if there's a lack of a certain position or new scheme that I can be plugged in and have an instant impact for the team, so I think that's what they saw in me."
St-Juste was one of the top-rated recruits in Canada coming out of high school. He was a four-star recruit by 247Sports and ranked the No. 38 cornerback and best player overall in Quebec. As a senior at Cegep du Vieux Montréal, St-Juste recorded 30 tackles and two interceptions to go with 18 pass breakups.
Although he has had limited action, St-Juste has proven himself as a solid defensive back with upside. He only gave up two deep balls, according to Pro Football Focus, during his time with the Wolverines and Gophers. With the right development from defensive backs coach Chris Harris, Washington could get the most out of his potential.
"One of the exciting things is his physical play, physical nature," Rivera said. "It's a guy who will come up to the line of scrimmage, be physical and tackle. I appreciate who Benjamin is. I think Benjamin brings a lot to the table and it's going to be interesting when you get a chance to be able to talk to Benjamin."
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects DB Benjamin St-Juste With The 74th Pick (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects Benjamin St-Juste With 74th Pick In 2021 NFL Draft (VIDEO)
Round 3 (Pick 82)
WR Dyami Brown, North Carolina
Washington added yet another offensive playmaker this offseason by drafting North Carolina wide receiver Dyami Brown.
The 6-foot-1, 189-pound playmaker dominated in each of the past two seasons, averaging 53 receptions, 1,153 yards and 10 touchdowns per year en route to earning All-ACC honors. He also proved to be one of the best deep threats in college football in 2020 with 12 catches of at least 20 yards and an average depth of target of 18.7 yards.
"A couple of concentration drops on some deep balls," Rivera said. "But man, when he competed for it, he went out and got it. I like the way he runs his routes and gets off the line of scrimmage and is able to stack the defender right away and use his speed to keep his body and keep the ball between himself and the defender. "
For a quarterback like Ryan Fitzpatrick who is not afraid to sling the ball downfield, Brown is the ideal addition to a much-improved offense with the speed to cause problems all over the field.
"Brown isn't as reliable (yet) as Stefon Diggs, but he has similar size, speed and fluid adjustment skills," The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote in his pre-draft profile of Brown. "He projects as a starting-level NFL receiver with the big-play ability to rack up TDs."
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects WR Dyami Brown With The 82nd Pick (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: The Trait Scott Turner Believes Sets WR Dyami Brown Apart
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects Dyami Brown With 82nd Pick in 2021 NFL Draft (VIDEO)
Round 4 (Pick 124)
TE John Bates, Boise State
Washington grabbed another tight end for Pete Hoener to develop by taking Boise State's John Bates with the 124th overall pick.
Bates (6-foot-6, 256 pounds) grabbed 47 receptions for 579 yards and two touchdowns in four seasons with the Broncos. His best season came in 2019 when he had 273 yards and a touchdown while averaging 12.4 yards per catch, which helped him earn an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention.
"I had a few conversations with some of the people in the organization and a conversation with Coach a couple weeks back and so we had really good conversations and everything went really well," Bates said. "Coming out of all those conversations Washington was a real possibility and we made it happen. Super grateful."
A former 110-meter hurdle and javelin state champion at Lebanon High School in Oregon, Bates was a two-time all-state selection and was viewed as a three-star prospect. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein described him as an "in-line tight end with good size." Zierlein also lists his ability to leap and make in-air adjustments as a strength, which likely comes from his background as a triple and long jumper.
Bates is a player with plenty of athletic ability that Hoener can develop in the coming seasons. His physicality as a blocker will be a nice complement to Logan Thomas, who emerged as one of Washington's best pass-catchers last season.
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects TE John Bates With Fourth-Round Pick (STORY)
Round 5 (Pick 163)
S Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati
Washington added its second defensive back of the weekend by drafting Cincinnati safety Darrick Forrest.
The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Forrest was a three-year starter with the Bearcats who was at his best in 2019 when he led the team with 106 tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions. He earned first-team All-AAC for his efforts, then made honorable mention all-conference this past season and served as a team captain.
Forrest is known for his speed (4.41-second 40-yard dash), athleticism (9.69 relative athletic score), experience (49 career games) and versatility (can play "two-deep, in the box or occasional big nickel," according to his NFL.com profile.) He was also a four-year special teamer.
"Overall, Forrest needs to become a better man-coverage player," The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote in Forrest's draft profile, "but he has the reaction quickness, compete skills and accountable attitude that will earn him a spot on an NFL roster."
Forrest joins a safeties room that includes Landon Collins, Kam Curl, Troy Apke, Deshazor Everett and Jeremy Reaves. Forrest said in his post-draft conference call that he can play either safety spot while taking pride in excelling on special teams.
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects S Darrick Forrest With Fifth-Round Pick (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects Darrick Forrest With Fifth-Round Pick In 2021 NFL Draft (VIDEO)
Round 6 (Pick 225)
LS Camaron Cheeseman, Michigan
Washington now has its replacement for Nick Sundberg with the selection of Michigan long snapper Camaron Cheeseman with the 225th overall pick.
Cheeseman (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) is a three-year starter from New Albany, Ohio, and was ranked as the No. 10 long snapper in country out of Gahanna Lincoln High School. He first saw action during his sophomore season and appeared in 39 games. Prior to opting out of the 2020 season, Cheeseman was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2018 and 2019.
The Wolverines' kickers had a solid run of success with Cheeseman snapping to them. In his first year as the team's long snapper, Quinn Nordin hit 79% of his field goals, while Will Hart averaged 39.6 yards per punt. Michigan never dipped below 72% on field goals with Cheeseman snapping the ball, and it averaged 44 yards per punt over his final two seasons. Per Pro Football Focus, Cheeseman also had an accuracy rate of 84.7% with the Wolverines.
Cheeseman will join a specialist unit that includes punter Tress Way and kicker Dustin Hopkins.
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects LS Camaron Cheeseman With Sixth-Round Pick (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects Camaron Cheeseman In Sixth Round Of 2021 NFL Draft (VIDEO)
Round 7 (Pick 140)
DE William Bradley-King, Baylor
Washington addressed the defensive line for the first time this weekend by selecting Baylor defensive end William Bradley-King.
The 6-foot-3, 252-pound Bradley-King spent his first three seasons at Arkansas State, receiving All-Sun Belt honors twice, before transferring to Baylor as a graduate student in 2020. The uptick in competition did not hinder his production, though, as he led the team with 3.5 sacks to go along with 31 total tackles (5.5 for loss), four passes defensed and a forced fumble.
"Bradley-King doesn't have much of a wow factor to him," The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote in his draft profile, "but he is a high-effort grinder who never shuts it down and loves to play physical."
Based on that quote, Bradley-King seems like an ideal addition to Washington's no-nonsense defensive line. Plus, he'll be able to learn from two of the best young pass rushers in the NFL in Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects DE William Bradley-King With Seventh-Round Pick (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects William Bradley-King In Seventh Round Of 2021 NFL Draft (VIDEO)
Round 7 (Pick 246)
DE Shaka Toney, Penn State
After taking Bradley-King with their first pick of the seventh round, Washington dipped back into the pool of pass-rushers and took Penn State defensive end Shaka Toney with the 246 pick.
Toney (6-foot-2, 242 pounds) was rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN before the Philadelphia native signed a scholarship with the Nittany Lions. He recorded 20.5 sacks over four seasons, which is good enough for eighth all-time in program history. He also tied a single-game school record with four sacks against Indiana.
"Smooth with easy change of direction, Toney's playmaking comes via athleticism over strength or high-end skill," Zierlein wrote. "His physical measurements are very average, but he can be explosive off the snap and around the rush arc. He also has the ability to slip blocks and chase down runners to the perimeter."
Toney has some skills that defensive line coach Sam Mills III can fine-tune to fit in Washington's scheme. Toney also said via conference call that he has already watched players like Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Now, he will be able to learn from them as their teammate.
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects DE Shaka Toney With Seventh-Round Pick (STORY)
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects Shaka Toney In Seventh Round Of 2021 NFL Draft (VIDEO)
Round 7 (Pick 258)
WR Dax Milne, BYU
The Washington Football Team finished up the 2021 NFL Draft by adding another pass-catcher, BYU wide receiver Dax Milne, with the 258th overall pick.
Originally a walk-on player, Milne (6-foot-1, 193 pounds) was one of No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson's primary targets for the Cougars last season, as he put together a career season with 1,188 yards and eight touchdowns on 70 receptions. he was a Burlsworth Trophy finalist, which is given to the top college player who started their career as a walk-on, and an All-American selection by Pro Football Focus.
Together, Wilson and Milne helped drive one of the best offenses in college football, as the Cougars averaged 332.1 passing yards and 524 total yards per game. In addition to leading the team in receptions, Milne had the fourth-highest PFF grade (89.6), seventh-best yards per route run (3.75) and 10th-best drop rate (2.8%) among draft eligible receivers.
- Washingtonfootball.com: Washington Selects WR Dax Milne With Seventh-Round Pick (STORY)
