Draft Targets

[DarthMonk]

Last year Scot may have had some OL rated higher than other GMs. This may have impacted his FA targeting. This year we released several DL. Maybe he sees some under-rated DL in the draft.

Jarran Reed, 6-3/311

Defensive Tackle

Alabama

Jarran Reed Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:
Tremendous run defender
Very strong
Tough to move at the point of attack
Great gap integrity
Can chase down backs
Strength to shed blocks
Powerful bull rush
A burst to close
Strong base
Can eat up blockers
Quickness
Athleticism
Upside to develop
Ready to contribute immediately

Weaknesses:
Not a good pass-rusher
Lacks pass-rushing moves
Could be limited to a two-down defender in the NFL

Summary: There were other defenders who made more splash plays, but Reed did a lot of the dirty work at the point of attack to help Alabama win the National Championship in 2015. Offenses had little success trying to run on the Crimson Tide defense, and Reed was a big reason for Alabama'a effectiveness.

Last fall wasn't the first year that Reed impressed as he was an All-SEC honorable mention in 2014. He was a quality run defender for Alabama that season, racking up 55 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, one sack, and five passes broken up. During his senior year, Reed totaled 53 tackles with 4.5 for a loss, one sack and two passes batted. At the Senior Bowl, he flashed more pass-rush potential as he did well in the pass-rushing one-on-ones.

There is no doubt that Reed is ready to defend the run as a pro. He is very strong at the point of attack and offensive linemen can't push him out of his gap. Reed eats up blockers and holds his ground against downhill runs. With his strength, he is skilled at shedding blocks and chasing down ball-carriers outside of his gap. Reed has the size and build to be a nose tackle who eats up double teams.

In the pass rush, Reed will need development. He has a strong bull rush, but he needs more moves to break free from blockers. Reed has quickness and athleticism, so the skill set is there to develop. Thus, he has a shot at being a three-down defender. As a rookie though, Reed probably will come out of the game in passing situations.

For the NFL, Reed could fill a lot of positions on the defensive line. He could be a nose tackle in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. Reed also has enough length to go with his strength to set the edge as five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense. If he develops his pass rush, he has the quickness and athleticism to be a three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3. However, that could be unlikely. In the 2016 NFL Draft, Reed is likely to go as a top-25 pick.

[riggofan]

I've definitely seen a lot of mock drafts with Reed going to the Redskins. Its a good guess. McCloughan definitely talks a lot about the importance of the lines. Its a deep draft for DL. Plus an SEC guy.

I think Andrew Billings, NT from Baylor might be a good pick there too.

[Burgundy&Wha?]

I've definitely seen a lot of mock drafts with Reed going to the Redskins. Its a good guess. McCloughan definitely talks a lot about the importance of the lines. Its a deep draft for DL. Plus an SEC guy.

I think Andrew Billings, NT from Baylor might be a good pick there too.

That video clip of Billings on his Redskins.com write up was impressive. For a NT to drop into coverage on a zone blitz and recognize screen then chase down a running back from behind was something to see. Now, as long as his work on the line measures up....

[DarthMonk]

Kendall Fuller, 6-0/196

Cornerback

Virginia Tech

Kendall Fuller 2015 Preview
By Charlie Campbell

Career Recap: The Fullers have been a family that is blessed with a lot of athletic ability and the skill sets to play professional football. Kendall Fuller is the youngest of four brothers. Vincent Fuller played seven seasons with the Titans and Lions. Corey Fuller also played with Detroit, while Kyle Fuller was a first-round pick of the Bears in 2014. They all were standouts at Virginia Tech, thus there were high expectations for Kendall Fuller when he signed on with the Hokies.

Kendall Fuller didn't disappoint as he made an immediate impact as a freshman. He played alongside his brother Kyle and was voted the ACC's rookie of the year by the conference's coaches. Kendall Fuller had six interceptions and 58 tackles in his fabulous debut in 2013. He was a good cover corner who was quite instinctive.

Kendall Fuller played at a very high level in 2014. The sophomore had 17 passes broken up and two interceptions, 50 tackles and 4.5 tackles for a loss. He shut down East Carolina's Justin Hardy in their matchup. Pittsburgh's Tyler Boyd was a challenge for Fuller, but Fuller held his own. He also showed his toughness as he played with a wrist fracture all season and that required offseason surgery.

Skill-Set Summary: Fuller is like his older brothers; a natural on the football field. It is clear that growing up around the game has been an asset for Kendall Fuller as he has superb instincts. That can be seen in his pass coverage, run defense, blitzing and tackling. Fuller is a big-play producer who always has a nose for the ball.

In pass coverage, Fuller has quick feet and agility. He is able to run with receivers and prevent separation. Fuller runs the route with speed receivers while showing the ability to battle with big wideouts. He high-points the football well and never seems to panic when the ball is coming his direction. The junior has won a lot of 50-50 passes with his superb ball skills to smack away completions.

Fuller also is solid in run defense. He isn't afraid to take on ball-carriers and stick his shoulder into a back. It wouldn't be surprising if his listed measurements are an exaggeration, so building to a playing weight close to 200 pounds would be good for the next level.

For the NFL, Fuller looks like he has the potential to be a No. 1 man-cover corner to go against elite receivers.

Some sources have said that if Fuller had stayed healthy and played like he did in 2014, he would be the top cornerback prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. Because of that, don't be surprised if the junior steadily rises in the lead up to the draft.

The Baltimore, Md., native started the first three games of the 2015 season, recording seven tackles with a pass defensed and a forced fumble before undergoing season-ending knee surgery in September.

Highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aran7OL3M0E

[riggofan]

Gotta say, I know we can use help in the secondary, but I wouldn't be excited to pick a CB early. Especially in a draft with a lot of quality linemen available. I think GMSM will find some decent DBs in the third and fourth rounds.

[Countertrey]

BPA... whom ever is at the top of GMSM's board will be a Redskin. Offensive depth sucks in this year's class, so the odds say a DL or DB.

[OldSchool]

I want them to pick the best OLM available.

[riggofan]

BPA... whom ever is at the top of GMSM's board will be a Redskin. Offensive depth sucks in this year's class, so the odds say a DL or DB.

No doubt you're right on that. Just saying I wouldn't be especially excited about a DB. Its been so long since we really had any nasty guys on the DL. That's the spot I'm hoping we get with our first pick.

I also wouldn't be terribly surprised to see GMSM trade down from #21.

[DarthMonk]

BPA... whom ever is at the top of GMSM's board will be a Redskin. Offensive depth sucks in this year's class, so the odds say a DL or DB.

No doubt you're right on that. Just saying I wouldn't be especially excited about a DB. Its been so long since we really had any nasty guys on the DL. That's the spot I'm hoping we get with our first pick.

I also wouldn't be terribly surprised to see GMSM trade down from #21.

I'm trying to find guys that Scot might see as top 10 talents who fall for one reason or another or whom he simply has rated higher than other GMs.

I'm confident enough in this that I actually expect him to trade down and get a guy he thinks is top-10 anyway. I'd love to see someone salivating for our pick and fearful that a player won't fall a few more slots top them.

The Redskins have eight picks in the draft, which will be held in Chicago on April 26-30. They have their own picks in rounds 1-5 and in round seven. They will have the 21st pick in the first round and then alternate picks 21 and 22 in each round with the Texans, who also were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and who also had a 9-7 record. Washington got the better pick in the first round due to having played a weaker schedule than Houston.

They do not have their own sixth-round pick, having traded it to the Buccaneers as part of the Dashon Goldson trade. In that deal they got Tampa Bay’s seventh-round pick. And last year they got the Saints’ sixth-round pick in this draft as part of a trade of picks in the 2014 draft.

To sum it up, the Redskins have one pick in each round 1-6 and two in round 7 for a total of eight.

They are unlikely to add to that total through picking up any compensatory draft picks. Those will be awarded in March via a formula that considers free agents lost and signed last year and their contract values. The Redskins signed Chris Culliver, Stephen Paea, Terrance Knighton, and Jeron Johnson as free agents. The only qualifying Redskins players who signed elsewhere were Roy Helu, Leonard Hankerson, Brian Orakpo and Jarvis Jenkins. All but Orakpo signed relatively modest deals and according to the formula they signed more free agent value than they lose. That adds up to no compensatory picks.

Scot always seems to have 10 picks. This year should be no different.

Will Scot McCloughan trade out of the first round? You can’t rule it out; he showed last year that he is willing to wheel and deal. Last year he turned seven picks into ten plus that sixth in this year’s draft. But despite many predicting that they would trade out of their top pick, they stood pat at fifth overall.

It appeared that the Redskins were willing to listen to trade offers when they were on the clock but the phone didn’t ring. The lesson there is that it takes two to make a deal and there has to be a player on the board that another team thinks is worth trading up for. So McCloughan may be very willing to deal out of the first round for the right deal but if he can’t scare up a trade partner he will be forced to stand pat and use the pick.

[DarthMonk]

Cole: Redskins rank Thomas as the No. 1 WR

The Washington Redskins rank Ohio State's Michael Thomas as the No. 1 WR in the 2016 NFL Draft, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.

Interesting. "He is the guy the Redskins would most covet," Cole says, adding Thomas has "emerged" as one of the top receivers in this class along with Laquon Treadwell and Will Fuller (we wonder why Corey Coleman and Josh Doctson were not mentioned). It is worth noting that Cole says the Redskins feel that Thomas "likes football the most" out of the receiver group, hammering home his "competitiveness." Pierre Garcon and Desean Jackson both have huge cap hits this season along with cuttable contracts, if the Redskins think about going in that direction. We compare Thomas to Michael Crabtree, a comparison first delivered by Rumford Johnny.

Source: Bleacher Report Mar 18 - 10:53 AM

Seems to typically be projected in the first half of round 2

Michael Thomas*, WR, Ohio State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 212. Arm: 32.13. Hand: 10.5.
40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2015): 1-2.
2/6/16: Thomas has an impressive combination of size and speed. He could be the most well-rounded prospect at his position. Thomas can make plays in all levels of the defense. His numbers were suppressed by Ohio State's offense and quarterback situation, but he has mismatch speed and size. Thomas looks like a good fit as an X receiver to challenge defenses vertically along the sideline.

In speaking with sources, one team said they agreed with my late first-round, early second-round pick grade for Thomas. Others said they had him in the second. So that appears to be Thomas draft range.

In 2015, Thomas had 56 receptions for 781 yards and nine touchdowns this year. Thomas impressed in the season opener with his battling of Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller. After moving the chains on a third down, Thomas burned Fuller for a 26-yard touchdown on a stop-and-go that Fuller bit on.

[SkinsJock]

BPA ... whomever is at the top of GMSM's board will be a Redskin. Offensive depth sucks in this year's class, so the odds say a DL or DB.

... I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see GMSM trade down ...

IMO the top priority for Scot & this FO will be to trade down which is not always the easiest thing to get done but they want more draft picks more than they want 1 player .... I am looking forward to seeing what players they end up finding for us

[DarthMonk]

Some guys Scot likes whom we may see in later rounds?? We've met with these prospects.

EW - East-West Shrine meeting.
COM - Combine meeting.
PRO - Pro Day or campus meeting/workout.

Washington Redskins

Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (COM)
Juston Burris, CB, NC State (EW)
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (COM)
Ken Crawley, CB, Colorado (EW)
Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois (EW)
Darion Griswold, TE, Arkansas State (EW)
Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State (COM)
Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State (COM)
Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn (PRO)
Keith Lumpkin, OT, Rutgers (EW)
Robert Nkemdiche, DT/DE/3-4DE, Ole Miss (COM)
Jarran Reed, DT/3-4DE/NT, Alabama (COM)
Keenan Reynolds, RB, Navy (EW)
A'Shawn Robinson, DT/3-4DE/NT, Alabama (COM)
Tajae Sharpe, WR, Massachusetts (EW)
Elijah Shumate, S, Notre Dame (EW)
Terrance Smith, OLB/ILB, Florida State (EW)
Noah Spence, OLB/DE/3-4OLB, Eastern Kentucky (COM)
Joe Thuney, G, NC State (EW)

[riggofan]

IMO the top priority for Scot & this FO will be to trade down which is not always the easiest thing to get done but they want more draft picks more than they want 1 player .... I am looking forward to seeing what players they end up finding for us

I would say you're 100% right about that, SJ:

McCloughan says that with eight picks right now, he’s looking to trade down and end up with a dozen draft picks before the draft ends on Saturday, April 30.

“The thing is, the more you kind of swing at it, the more chances you’ve got to hit,” McCloughan said. “And I think last year we had a solid draft – we got some guys that came in and helped us win a division – we’re going to keep adding to it. And the more picks I can get, the more younger guys – the more healthier guys – I’m going that route.”

McCloughan says the way to build a winning franchise is to add a lot of young talent, year after year.

“I preach and preach and preach and I’ll never change: you build through the draft,” he said. “You identify your own – who can play, but not just from a talent standpoint, but from a personality standpoint, character standpoint, a passion standpoint, a competitive standpoint where you know, ‘This guy fits what we’re looking for. We can build on these guys.’ And they teach younger guys how to do it.”

I like how he describes his reasoning. That he has a better chance of hitting on x number of starters if he's taking 12 instead of 8. Makes perfect sense.

I'm a little torn about it, because I still think what the team lacks - especially on defense - is a legit, elite, unquestioned pro bowl play maker. But the truth is at pick #21, I'd probably trade down too. Might be different if it was a top ten pick.

[SkinsJock]

SM knows what we need but he also understands that the big plan is a lot better for this franchise than doing well in the near future - Many NFL franchises look to make moves that make the chance of making the playoffs that season much better ... To SM, making the franchise better is a long term thing - he'll take what he can get this season as long as he makes the franchise stronger for longer - not just the short term gain

this is what I really like about the way he's fixing this franchise - he is the anti Snyder and anti short term gain that so many franchises use

I love that we're likely to have a $50M cap surplus in 2017 - I sure don't think Scott is using it like Snyder would have

this is all about building through the draft and only building through the draft - younger, bigger and faster - gotta love it

[riggofan]

I'm trying to find guys that Scot might see as top 10 talents who fall for one reason or another or whom he simply has rated higher than other GMs.

I'm really curious about that too, DM. One obvious guy to me is Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame OLB. Likely top 10 pick before his knee injury this season. Obviously we won't be the only team considering him and looking at the medical situation, but with a later round pick, maybe we're more likely to roll the dice on him.

Does anybody have any opinion on WR Demarcus Robinson from Florida? 6'1" 203 lbs. NFL.com calls him "Immensely talented with elite combination of straight-­line speed and quick­-twitch athleticism" and compares him to Mike Wallace. He's had some big time character issues, team suspensions at Florida that will likely drop him in the draft. Again, just curious if GMSM will be willing to roll the dice on a guy who can play but has had some maturity issues.

One thing I like about Scot is that I feel more confident he'll find a guy or two that other teams won't have rated as highly. Was anybody really feeling that with Bruce Allen running the draft?

[SkinsJock]

... One thing I like about Scot is that I feel more confident he'll find a guy or two that other teams won't have rated as highly. Was anybody really feeling that with Bruce Allen running the draft?

since 1999, nobody has managed this franchise well; as a matter of fact, we were one of the bottom 3 in that category in that time frame


we were so bad that Scot McCloughan is a certified NFL genius to effect the turnaround that this franchise has gone through in just over a year

[DarthMonk]

Reggie Ragland, 6-1/259

Linebacker

Alabama

Reggie Ragland Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:
Instinctive
Three-down starter
Extremely physical
Excellent run defender
Consistently produces good down-and-distance situations
A burst to close
Reliable tackler
Good open-field tackler
Hits with authority
Has the strength to take on and fight off blocks
Run-and-react skills
Can blitz off the edge
Surprisingly athletic for a thick linebacker
Can cover tight ends in pass coverage
Does well in zone coverage
Can cover backs out of the flat
Gritty player; plays with an attitude
Leader
Experienced and successful against good college programs
Ready to play immediately

Weaknesses:
Lacks elite speed

Summary: Many expected teammates Trey DePriest and Denzel Devall to be the players who stepped up and replaced C.J. Mosley in 2014, but it was Ragland who took the role as the leader of the Crimson Tide's defense. He was a strong voice of leadership and backed it up by being a fabulous defender on the field. With his rock-steady play in the middle, Alabama's defense joined Derrick Henry in leading the team to a National Championship in 2015.

As Mosley's replacement in 2014, Ragland recorded 95 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, three passes broken up, one interception, one forced fumble and 1.5 sacks on the year. Immediately, he was one of the best linebackers in the SEC as a big, physical in-the-box defender.

Ragland considered entering the 2015 NFL Draft, but he wisely decided to return to school. He went from being a potential second-round pick to the first round as he was even better as a senior. For the season, he totaled 102 tackles with 6.5 for a loss, seven pass breakups, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The real test that NFL scouts wanted to see was if Ragland had the quickness, agility and athleticism to function in pass coverage. Ragland proved that he is a three-down starter as he performed well against good receiving tight ends from Ole Miss (Evan Engram) and Arkansas (Hunter Henry). It was very impressive how Ragland maintained close coverage running with them in man coverage. Aside from covering those tight ends, he made good open-field tackles and picked up receivers well in zone coverage. Ragland also did a nice job covering backs out of the backfield.

At the Senior Bowl, Ragland was heavier than expected, and it might make sense for him to trim down 10 pounds to help him in pass coverage in the NFL. Still, he moved well and showed the quickness and athleticism to cover the all-stars in pass coverage. Of course, he was tremendous in the run scrimmages. It was an excellent week for Ragland that cemented his first-round draft grade.

For the NFL, Ragland looks like a three-down starter and difference-maker. He is a very physical linebacker who is capable of taking on shedding blocks from offensive linemen. He has good instincts to read plays and takes good angles to get to ball-carriers. Ragland is excellent at producing good down-and-distance situations for his defense. For the Crimson Tide, he would routinely fire into the hole or to the perimeter to cut down a back before he managed good yardage. Not only does Ragland get in position to make the play, but he packs a punch when he gets there. He is a hard-hitter who puts ball-carriers into the turf with ferocity. Ragland showed some ability to blitz off the corner as well.

As a pro, Ragland is ready to play immediately and has the potential to become a Pro Bowler quickly in his NFL career. He also is known as a team leader with good character. He will be an asset in the locker room as a player to rally the team and is a winner.

[HEROHAMO]

Since we made the playoffs our draft position is low. I would not be surprised to see us trade down to acquire more picks. Unless a player who's high on Scotts board drops to us I actually expect a trade down. Scott has already said he'd like twelve or so picks.

[SkinsJock]

I think that Scot and this FO are going to continue to add the best player available - while it's interesting to fans (and especially the stupid media) to look at where the team has issues and find players to fill those spots, this franchise is going to be a lot better off by just adding the best player available regardless of need and finding a way to get more good quality players

I like the idea of having as many as 12 draft picks - with this FO it does not matter if our first pick is in the top 50 - we need better players

[riggofan]

I like the idea of having as many as 12 draft picks

I do, too. Those later round guys are crucial to special teams and depth. As much as I'm eager to see the team draft an elite, first round player, we're hurting for depth especially on defense.

[StorminMormon86]

We need a center.

[Burgundy&Wha?]

Regardless of what happens, I'll trust what SM does. Yes, there are players I'd like us to draft, but I have to trust that the plan in place has taken into account factors we're not privy to.

Keep this in mind regarding the draft, who would you rather have: Justin Gilbert, Morris Claybourne, or Baushad Breeland? Two of those were Top 10 picks and the other was a 4th rounder. Some players get rated high and flame out or never produce. Some are less heralded and work themselves into solid (or better) players. Thank goodness we have a GM now who appears to be able to recognize the difference.

I was very disappointed last year when we selected Scherff over Leonard Williams. (That disappointment lasted about five minutes, to be honest.) While I understood picking Scherff, as our O line needed an upgrade for years, I still REALLY wanted us to draft Williams. What I hadn't appreciated, which McCloughan saw then, was that THIS DRAFT is deep in Defensive Linemen and fairly weak in O-Line. The long view matters.

[SkinsJock]

We need a center.

Brandon was a good addition - now we need 3 more and we need depth - we're getting there

[riggofan]

Brandon was a good addition - now we need 3 more and we need depth - we're getting there

Why three more? We have Trent - Long - Scherff and Moses. All four young starting caliber players that we drafted with third round or higher picks. We also have Kouandjio who Scot just drafted last year.

We basically NEED a center and to continue to draft depth/developmental players.

[SkinsJock]

I'm all for finding guys to replace the guys that were starting here ... I could care less where they were drafted - anything would be an upgrade