Redskins Look for More Late Round Magic

Can the Washington Redskins rebuild through the late rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft?

The late rounds in the NFL draft are a place where stars can be born but, more than likely, it’s where you’ll find the supporting cast. It is a no man’s land where scouts earn their keep and dreams hang in the balance. The late rounds, hallowed ground that see some dreams come true and others, forever shattered.

There are years when NFL teams end up spending sixth and seventh round picks on guys that might have still been there as undrafted college free agents. Other times teams nail it by drafting a player that was supposed to go a few rounds earlier but for some reason are still sitting there in the last round or two.

Here, I’m focusing on rounds six and seven. I have a feeling that the Redskins are going to achieve what they set out to accomplish in the first five rounds. A few hours time will prove me either insightful, or just as likely, clueless.

As players shoot up and down the various draft boards over the waning hours before the draft, predicting what teams will do is often an exercise in futility. Once in a while, things play out similar to our forecasts, and we have a fleeting realization that medical school, or whatever we may have done with our lives was a waste of time and money. For clearly we could have had a more exciting career as a GM for an NFL team. So, here is where I demonstrate that neurosurgery or astrophysics, or whatever it was that your student loan paid for, is quite a bit easier than predicting the inner workings of the mind of a GM. This is probably especially true if that mind belongs to Bruce Allen.

After all the hoopla surrounding the giant Nose Tackle bouncing in and out of the top ten, I think Vita Vea is still around at 13, and the Skins take him. Hoping for Derrius Guice or Sony Michel to hold on until the Redskins’ 44th overall pick, is unrealistic. But, I think Nick Chubb does last that long and Washington jumps on him. The Redskins’ next pick, unless they do some wheeling and dealing with the Patriots, (Redskins 13th for the Patriots 23rd and 31st?), or anyone else, isn’t until round four with the 109th overall pick.

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They’ll be looking for a left guard and I think they get one in Virginia Tech’s Wyatt Teller. With their two 5th round picks, I have the Redskins shopping for, and finding, a Safety and a Tight End. Everything is going Washington’s way to this point so to continue in that vein. I’m betting they can get Quin Blanding, the Safety out of Virginia with pick number 142, and Ryan Izzo, a Florida State TE at pick 163. And that takes us to the late rounds.

As Redskins fans will recall, last year the team did exceptionally well with their sixth and seventh round picks. Having two picks in each round Washington was able to get a starting Center, Chase Rollier out of Wyoming in the sixth round as well as Robert Davis, a 6’4, 218 pound WR from Georgia State who runs a 4.4 40 yard dash. One round later the Redskins picked up Josh Harvey-Clemons, the ILB/OLB/SS jack of all trades from a highly touted Louisville team, and a four-year starter at Auburn in CB Josh Holsey. Aside from Roullier who is expected to start at center again, the other players drafted in last year’s sixth and seventh rounds are all expected to see significant playing time and to contribute some very high-quality depth at key positions. Can the Redskins do it again? /

I have the Skins mining some smaller schools for late round draft gold again this year. In the sixth round, I hope they’re looking at Siran Neal from Jacksonville State. Neal is a guy that has demonstrated flexibility as he played ILB, CB, and Safety. That kind of multitasking seems the be something that intrigues Washington as they traded up to get Harvey-Clemons last year presumably because of his position versatility. Neal would be a welcome addition as he has the potential to help out in multiple DB roles. Siran Neal has been mocked as high as a fourth-round pick but I’ve seen him more recently listed as a fifth or sixth round talent. Some NFL teams tend to steer clear of the smaller schools. Washington has proven that NFL players can be found in places like Jacksonville State. Siran Neal has experience playing man and zone coverages both as a safety and a corner. He tackles like a linebacker and excels on special teams. Neal’s film suggests that he may indeed be a tremendous find in the sixth round.

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Moving on to the 7th round, I’m staying with a small school. Javon Rolland-Jones is an edge rusher that is certainly worth taking a look at. The 6’2, 253 pound Arkansas State product had ridiculous numbers in college.
Unfortunately, his potential draft status is being influenced by the poor quality of the opponents he faced in college rather than optimism that he might be able to produce similar numbers in the NFL. In my view, that’s what the seventh round is made for; 42 sacks, 63 tackles for loss and 10 forced fumbles in a college career is impossible to ignore. Even if he is a one-trick pony, which some have suggested, sacking quarterbacks is a nice trick to have. If he is still around in the seventh round, I’d be hard-pressed not to give him a shot.

Lastly, I’d grab Trey Quin out of SMU. This is another guy who has been up and down draft boards. Quinn’s first two years at LSU were forgettable. However, after transferring to SMU, he lit up the stat sheets in 2017 with 114 catches, 13 TDs, and 1,236 receiving yards. Obviously, the 4th and 5th round grades are focused on his one season of production while the 6th and 7th round assessments are questioning whether this could have been a one year wonder. Either way, Quin has impressive tape out there and might be one of those guys that takes to being coached up and flourishes in the NFL. With the Redskins being rather thin depth-wise at the slot receiver position Trey Quin is worth a look in round seven.

I’m always intrigued by guys that have such disparate grades assigned to them by the various outlets. Sometimes a combination of good scouting, a solid if not spectacular combine or pro day, and a good interview or two, and all some of these kids need is a chance to prove they can help a team. But, it is a rare and skillful person who can consistently find these later round college players that seem to transition so well to professional football. These three late rounders may not have what it takes to star in the NFL, but they do have what it takes to get a chance.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft

Until Thursday night it’s kind of like throwing darts in the dark. Still, I think the Redskins would be pleased to be able to take a shot with any, or all, of these guys.

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