Washington Redskins 2020 NFL Draft: Positional needs and player targets

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Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images /

Quarterback

The Redskins have done a good job of making sure Dwayne Haskins is not tainted in his rookie year. By starting quarterbacks Colt McCoy and Case Keenum ahead of him, they have saved Haskins from the possible confidence ruining losses against superior opponents that have ruined quarterbacks in the past (looking at you, Cleveland).

Hopefully, Haskins will be able to develop into a franchise centerpiece who can distribute the ball to a plethora of talented young receivers and possible future acquisitions. This is currently one of the most solidified position groups on the roster, but it all hinges on the development and performance of Haskins.

Running Back

The revival of Adrian Peterson has been an entertaining story from a bottom-feeder of the NFL and has shown he is still capable of being a situational early-down back. His power and vision are still viable and Peterson still shows the same punishing power he did in his early years, even if his top-end speed has dwindled substantially.

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Injuries to young players have harmed the position group year after year, with Chris Thompson struggling to see the field as a quality scat-back and Derrius Guice unable to be on the roster without a season-ending injury. Washington could certainly look to attack the running back position in the 2020 NFL Draft. A back among the likes of J.K. Dobbins or Najee Harris would make sense for this team.

Wide Receiver

Terry McLaurin has been one of the few highlights of this offense, and the team as a whole. McLaurin already has a repertoire built with Haskins from their time together at Ohio State and offers the build and skillset of a reliable NFL X or Y receiver. McLaurin does not have the physically imposing figure to be a matchup nightmare for defenses, but he is more than capable of punishing them with his combination of athleticism and refined skill.

Steve Sims has also been an impressive part of this offensive unit, offering contributions on both offense and special teams with his elite speed and elusiveness. He showcased this against the Patriots with a long touchdown to open the scoring and continued to be an impressive contributor throughout the afternoon. Washington should be looking to bring in a big-bodied receiver to compliment McLaurin, such as Antonio Gandy-Golden from Liberty University.

Tight End

At 29 years of age, the departure of Jordan Reed is becoming more and more real. Vernon Davis has contributed in spurts but is currently a rental. This position group is one of the weakest, but Washington is not alone.

High-tier tight ends are hard to come by in the NFL, so finding under scouted talents in the draft with strong athletic measurable that can be groomed is the best course of action. The Redskins could use an addition at tight end, but there are currently many other higher priorities that need to be addressed before the current tight ends.

Offensive Tackle

With the loss of All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, Washington has been left out to dry with Donald Penn and Ereck Flowers. Morgan Moses has been a respectable staple at right tackle for many years and is still only 28-years-old. Haskins will need a quality protector on his blind-side desperately, making Andrew Thomas out of Georgia a top target for the Redskins in this next year’s draft.

Interior Offensive Line

Currently, Washington is utilizing Brandon Scherff, Chase Roullier and Wes Martin on the interior of their offensive line and should be looking to strengthen beside Scherff with some of their mid-round picks this next year. Bringing in a quality left guard would significantly strengthen their running game and alleviate the building pressure on Haskins in the years to come on the offensive side of the ball.

Projected Scheme

Haskins is the future of this offense, and it should be treated as such. Haskins’ arm talent and football IQ is more than enough to handle an NFL offense after his rookie year, and seeing him in a gunslinging pass-first gameplan with a complementing situational run game would be promising for Washington’s future. The Redskins invested substantial draft capital into Haskins and should find the payoff for their investment sooner rather than later.

Between the elusiveness and creativity of Sims, consistent playmaking of McLaurin and future situational contributions from their running back group, this offensive unit could be a top-10 unit if they are able to get their feet under them and keep the ball rolling.

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