The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

SkinsJock wrote: the real 'value' comes from getting V good players in the lower rounds

The Washington Redskins selected Penn State safety Troy Apke with the No. 10 pick of the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, No. 106 overall.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder ran the fastest 40-yard dash among safeties at the combine in 4.34 seconds. He had 55 tackles, 3.0 for loss, one interception and six passes defended in 2017.

The former receiver, known for his athleticism, describes himself this way: “I’m aggressive. I think I can get into the box and not afraid to hit someone. I’m fast, I can cover the field. I’m tough, that’s how I like to play. I won’t back down from anyone.”

Apke ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the combine.

“My speed will help with everything,” he said. “I’m going to make a name for myself on special teams first and then after that, just make my way into playing safety there.”

The Redskins have one pick Friday night, with only a second-round selection -- the 44th choice overall. They'd love to get a running back so Nick Chubb or Ronald Jones are possibilities. But it's not a guarantee that they'll get one and there's value at other positions in this area, including the interior offensive line, defensive back, linebackers and even receivers. There are defensive linemen they like here, too, including Virginia Tech's Tim Settle. Considering they drafted a lineman in the first round, it would make sense if they go in a different direction in the second.

Da'Ron Payne - DL - Redskins
Redskins selected Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Payne (6’3/311) was a two-year starter and three-year contributor at nose tackle for the Crimson Tide, managing five career tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble. His role was to eat blocks and control gaps rather than fill the box score in Nick Saban’s 3-4. A 63rd-percentile athlete with superb size-adjusted straight-line speed (4.90), Payne did flash playmaking ability when given chances, creating 50 QB pressures over his final two seasons. Payne is ready to defend the run in the pros and offers sneaky bull-rush upside.

Derrius Guice - RB - Redskins
Redskins selected LSU RB Derrius Guice with the No. 59 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

A clear first-round talent, Guice slipped behind several inferior running backs because of nebulous off-field concerns. Ian Rapoport reports teams thought Guice show immaturity and was "high-maintenance" during the pre-draft process, and Mike Mayock suggested there is some kind of investigation going on behind the scenes. If those concerns turn out to be unfounded, however, Washington got an absolute steal. A physical, high-velocity runner with 4.49 jets, Guice’s playing style reminds of Zeke Elliott as an old-school, shoulder-lowering pile mover capable of wearing down a defense. He isn’t in Elliott’s passing-game league, although Guice did flash competence in limited blitz-pickup and receiving opportunities. Ultimately, Guice has the necessary tools to be a high-volume NFL workhorse.

Geron Christian - T - Redskins
Redskins selected Louisville OT Geron Christian with the No. 74 pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Christian (6’5/298) turned pro after starting all 39 games of his Louisville career on Lamar Jackson’s blind side, earning honorable mention All-ACC from the conference’s coaches in 2017. Christian has long arms (35") and some athletic potential, but he has a lot of weight-room work to do. NFL.com O-Line guru Lance Zierlein compared Christian to Bills RT Jordan Mills. He should get some time to develop behind Trent Williams, Morgan Moses, and Ty Nsekhe.

Troy Apke - DB - Redskins
Redskins selected Penn State S Troy Apke with the No. 109 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Apke (6’1/200) was a two-year starter and three-year contributor in Penn State’s secondary, tallying three career tackles for loss and two interceptions. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten as a 2017 senior, finishing fourth on the Nittany Lions in tackles (55). Apke’s likeliest NFL ticket is on special teams, but he flashed upside for more with a scintillating Combine, testing out as an alien-like 99th-percentile SPARQ athlete with 4.34 speed, a 41-inch vertical, and a wicked-quick 6.56 three-cone time. Apke has a chance to be a better player in the pros than he was in college.

Tim Settle - DL - Redskins
Redskins selected Virginia Tech DT Tim Settle with the No. 163 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Settle (6’3/329) went pro as a redshirt sophomore after emerging as the Hokies’ starting nose tackle in 2017, breaking out for 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks to earn second-team All-ACC. Settle showed surprising pocket-pushing ability for his hefty size, recording 46 QB pressures in just a two-year career. Settle is a mere second-percentile SPARQ athlete, however, and his initial NFL role will be to plug the run. Not yet 21 – he turns in July – Settle maintains a high ceiling as a wide-bodied space eater with room for pass-rush growth.

Shaun Dion Hamilton - LB - Redskins
Redskins selected Alabama ILB Shaun Dion Hamilton with the No. 197 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Hamilton (6’0/228) was a 2 ½-year starting inside linebacker in Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense, tallying 16 career tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two interceptions before breaking his right kneecap last November. Hamilton tore his ACL in the same knee the year before. A candidate to redshirt his rookie NFL season, Hamilton projects as a special teamer with a chance to develop into a high-end reserve or low-end starting off-ball linebacker down the line.

Greg Stroman - DB - Redskins
Redskins selected Virginia Tech CB Greg Stroman with the No. 241 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Stroman (5’11/182) made 29 starts in the Hokies’ secondary, logging 36 career pass breakups with nine interceptions and earning first-team All-ACC as a senior. In 2017, PFF College credited Stroman with an anemic 25.5% completion rate and 26.8 passer rating allowed, second-lowest among draft-eligible CBs. Stroman doubled as a special teams demon with four career punt return TDs. Thin framed and just a second-percentile SPARQ athlete, Stroman’s transition could be tough despite his impressive resume.

Trey Quinn - WR - Redskins
Redskins selected SMU WR Trey Quinn with the No. 256 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

This makes Quinn the 2018 Mr. Irrelevant. Quinn (5’11/203) was SMU’s unheralded bookend for Courtland Sutton, transferring from LSU to spend one year with the Mustangs and tally a 114/1,236/13 receiving line, earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference. PFF College credited Quinn with 4.36 yards per route run, highest among all draft-eligible receivers. On slot routes alone, Quinn caught 75% of his targets with seven TDs and had the lowest drop rate (1.7%) in this receiver class. Quinn isn’t exceptionally straight-line fast (4.55) but he is quick in a short area (6.91 three-cone time) and catches everything.

Irn-Bru wrote:Really interesting draft by the Redskins. I was hoping we'd pick Derwin James in the first round, as that seemed like one of those 'best player available' situations. Not that I have anything against Payne.

Landing Guice in the second round, after trading down, was an absolute steal.

I know almost nothing about the other prospects, but everywhere I read about them people are saying the Redskins got a ton of value for their money, which is what you want to hear. Seems like we had a good draft.