ASHBURN
http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/trent-brown-jersey , Va. (AP) Acquiring Alex Smith filled a long-term need at quarterback the
Washington Redskins didn’t think Kirk Cousins was the right fit for.
After signing Smith to a four-year extension worth $94 million, the Redskins then began looking at the other holes on their roster.
Super Bowl MVP QB-turned senior vice president of football operations Doug Williams said Smith looked at Washington’s weapons and offensive line before
deciding to essentially complete the trade from Kansas City by agreeing to the
extension.
Article continues below ... Most things are fine on offense if oft-injured tight end Jordan Reed and the line anchored by left tackle Trent Williams stay healthy and new receiver Paul
Richardson provides a speed threat along with high-jumper Josh Doctson and
possession guy Jamison Crowder.
Then there’s the ground game, where only four NFL teams rushed for fewer yards than the Redskins with a combination of Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine and
third-down back Chris Thompson.
It’s not a great sign that Cousins led the Redskins in rushing touchdowns. So before introducing Smith, Williams glanced at him and said: ”I promise you,
we’ll get the running back situation straight.”
The draft gives Williams the opportunity to find that running back, even if it’s not in the first round with the 13th pick. The closest running back to
making an immediate impact like Leonard Fournette for Jacksonville, Penn State
star Saquon Barkley, will be long gone by then.
Georgia’s Sony Michel
Authentic Marquez Valdes-Scantling Jersey , N.C. State’s Jaylen Samuels, Iowa’s Akrum Wadley or even Fordham’s Chase Edmonds could be later-round targets
for Washington, which traded its third-rounder in the Smith deal but has seven
more selections after No. 13: Nos. 44 (second), 109 (fourth), 142 and 163
(fifth), 205 (sixth) and 231 and 241 (seventh).
”Everybody wants to upgrade, and we want to upgrade everywhere if we could,” Williams said Tuesday while praising Perine and Thompson when healthy. ”Running
back is a place that we always say we need a little more help.”
Going defense in the first round for the second consecutive year is a strong possibility with needs along the defensive line and in the secondary.
Landing Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Allen at pick 17 a year ago was a coup for the Redskins, but his injury exposed their lack of depth.
”When we lost Jonathan
Authentic Kolton Miller Jersey , things really seemed to kind of change, and that’s unfortunate,” linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. ”Jon was as advertised in
how he played the run and how he played the pass and how he got after the
passer, so his loss was huge.”
Defensive tackles Vita Vea from Washington and Da’Ron Payne from Alabama are projected to be mid-first-round picks.
Some other things to consider for the Redskins at the draft:
SECONDARY CONCERNS
Beyond top cornerback Josh Norman and safety D.J. Swearinger, Washington has question marks all over its secondary and is counting on young and/or
injury-prone players to take a lot of snaps. Second-year cornerback Fabian
Moreau and safety Montae Nicholson, converted receiver Quinton Dunbar and
recently signed Orlando Scandrick are in the mix, but the Redskins could use
some help there.
If a defensive back such as Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ohio State’s Denzel Ward or Florida State’s Derwin James are available at 13, the Redskins could
make an immediate upgrade in an important spot.
ONE BIG HOLE
Left guard is the only position on the roster that doesn’t have a likely starter already unless Washington’s front office experiences a change of heart
and brings back Shawn Lauvao. Getting Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson would be a
dream at 13
http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/will-hernandez-jersey , though it’s more likely the Redskins find a fit later in the draft after doing
the same with center Chase Roullier last year.
Williams allowed for the possibility that Arie Kouandjio could start at left guard.
”We’re not going in saying, `We got to get a guard,”’ he said. ”That’s not where we are at this point because we got enough guys around here that if we
have to play the game, if everybody was healthy today with what we have, we
would have no problem lining up playing the game.”
TIGHT END INSURANCE
While Reed is an elite talent and a matchup nightmare, injuries limited him to six games last season and 12 in 2016, second tight end Vernon Davis is 34,
2017 pick Jeremy Sprinkle is unproven and Niles Paul is gone. All that makes
tight end an intriguing position for the Redskins if they can find someone there
who can catch passes and serve as a blocker.
LINEBACKER DEPTH
Washington’s starting linebacking group is set with Zach Brown
and Mason Foster inside and Kerrigan and Preston Smith outside. Beyond that, depth is
lacking
Cheap Will Hernandez Jersey , making soon-to-be 20-year-old Tremaine Edmunds out of Virginia Tech is a possibility in the first round. A hybrid
linebacker/safety would also help the Redskins replace 2016 third-rounder Su’a
Cravens, who left the team while contemplating retirement last season and was
traded to Denver.
HITS, MISSES AND BARGAINS
Right guard Brandon Scherff has been a no-doubter making the Pro Bowl twice since going fifth overall in 2015.
Thompson was the Redskins’ offensive MVP last season after being a fifth-round pick in 2013, and 2016 fifth-rounder Matt Ioannidis could be a
fixture on the defensive line for years.
Misses are far more frequent for Washington in recent years, including most of the 2014 class. WR Josh Doctson, a first-rounder in 2016, is still a question
mark.
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