The Washington Redskins fell just short of a playoff birth in 2016 finishing the year with an 8-7-1 record. Much of the offseason hoopla has been surrounding Kirk Cousins and the long-term negotiations in Washington. Cousins may play his final season in 2017 because the Redskins likely won’t franchise him a 3rd time after this season. It’s almost impossible to predict what the Redskins will do during the draft simply because they fired their general manager not long ago. Having said that, what can we expect from the Washington Redskins in the 2017 NFL Draft?
With the 17th overall selection expect the Skins to possibly look for offensive line upgrades. Ever since Bill Callahan has joined the team as the offensive line coach, they have made an effort to upgrade the offensive line. That philosophy goes back a few years now when they made the egregious decision to take Brandon Scherff over Leonard Williams. Forrest Lamp comes in the same sort of mold as a left tackle who will play guard in the NFL. A Lamp and Scherff guard tandem sound pretty scary up front. Remember teams in the division could try to steal the Cowboys strategy and beef up their offensive lines as much as possible.
In the 2nd round (49th overall) Washington could be in the market to add another cornerback. They did just that when they selected Kendall Fuller in the 3rd round of the 2016 draft. Rasul Douglas could be a great fit in the 2nd round. The West Virginia product is a long corner (6’2″, 204) who wins with press coverage. Douglas also led the NCAA with 8 interceptions in 2016. In a division where long wide receivers Brandon Marshall, Dez Bryant, and Alshon Jeffery will compete against you six times a year, Douglas could be a logical choice.
The 3rd round needs to be a spot where Washington looks to add an interior defensive lineman. Chris Baker left for Tampa leaving a huge hole in the middle of the defensive line. Dalvin Tomlinson could be exactly what the Redskins need. The former Alabama defender specializes in run defense. Sounds like the smart thing to target considering Ezekiel Elliot gashed them for big runs a year ago. Tomlinson stood out at the Senior Bowl displaying excellent balance and power during the practice portion.
Washington Redskins 2017 Draft Picks:
- Round 1, Pick 17, 17th overall
- Round 2, Pick 17, 49th overall
- Round 3, Pick 17, 81th overall
- Round 4, Pick 7, 114th overall, via Jets
- Round 4, Pick 17, 124th overall
- Round 5, Pick 10, 154th overall, via Saints
- Round 6, Pick 17, 201th overall
- Round 6, Pick 25, 209th overall, via Texans
- Round 7, Pick 2, 220th overall, via 49ers
- Round 7, Pick 17, 235th overall
