In this Washington Football Team mock draft, quarterback is addressed in the first, and a couple picks help alleviate the issues in the secondary.
It hasn’t been the season that the Washington Football Team envisioned. Hoping to repeat as NFC East champs after a sub-.500 division title, Washington went out and stayed aggressive in free agency, signing Ryan Fitzpatrick to elevate the quarterback position, William Jackson III to be their number one corner, and Curtis Samuel to add another threat in the passing game. They even signed Charles Leno late in the offseason to help out the offensive line.
So far, it hasn’t been great. They’ve started 2-4 on the heels of a close loss to the Chargers, a controversial win against the Giants, and a couple rough losses to the Saints and Bills. After Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, Washington now faces both the Packers and Bucs in the next three weeks, with Carolina, Las Vegas, and two meetings with the Cowboys down the stretch.
A turnaround is possible to push for a wild card spot, but it has to happen quick. Still, this feels like a team that will be gearing up for the offseason and 2022 NFL Draft to reload and contend in 2022. What could the draft look like for Washington next year? Let’s take a look with this early mock.
*Note: this mock was completed using the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator.
Washington Football Team 2022 Mock Draft
Round 1, 11th Overall: Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
It’s an interesting quarterback class to say the least, and fit will be important when the Washington Football Team makes this decision. It could come via trade up, but for now, they land Mississippi’s Matt Corral here.
Corral’s stock was all over the place heading into the season. While he made some excellent throws and had the mobility to extend plays the past two seasons, there were some serious decision making issues, especially in 2020, that made him a high-variance player.
Corral has quelled those issues so far in 2021, as he’s being much smarter with the football in addition to flashing some excellent placement on the football from the pocket and when moved off of his mark. He’s got the quick release for the RPO/quick game, and generates good velocity on the football to challenge tight windows.
With three weapons at receiver who can challenge every level of the field, adding Corral could get the offense to a different level in 2022.
Round 2, 42nd Overall: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
It’ll be interesting to see how the Washington Football Team handles the offensive line in the offseason. Leno has been good this season at left tackle, but he will be a free agent after the season. Is Saadhiq Charles ready to take over in 2022? It’s tough to say.
Drafting a guy like Nicholas Petit-Frere can answer those looming questions. He moved over to left tackle from right tackle in 2021, where he played with great quickness and recovery athleticism in pass protection while also showing off good movement skills and processing in the run game. His game is only getting better which is good for teams with tackle needs in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Round 3, 73rd Overall: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
The corner position looked solidified coming into the 2021 season, with the signing of Jackson and drafting Minnesota CB Benjamin St-Juste in the third round. However, the group of Jackson, St-Juste, and Kendall Fuller has been less than inspiring to this point, and adding to the room isn’t the worst idea.
Trent McDuffie has gotten plenty of the headlines for the Huskies ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, but Kyler Gordon has been very impressive as well. Gordon is a freak athlete who has great ball skills and is a force against the run and as a tackler in space.
Round 4, 110th Overall: Lecitus Smith, OL, Virginia Tech
Perhaps the biggest question for the Washington Football Team this offseason revolves around Brandon Scherff. He’s likely going to get a substantial contract in free agency, and that could leave Washington in need of help along the interior.
Lecitus Smith has gotten serious attention recently by the draft community, as has strong hands, plays well in a phone booth, and can combo block and climb to the second level with ease. He would be a very good developmental replacement with starter upside.
Round 6, 190th Overall: Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
The linebacker position is one that could be addressed earlier in the 2022 NFL Draft, but in a class that doesn’t have a standout player, they may wait to find value in the later rounds. Jamin Davis is going to become heavily relied upon as a coverage/WILL linebacker, so finding a MIKE linebacker will be huge for Washington.
Darrian Beavers isn’t the biggest star on the Cincinnati defense, but he’s been very productive this season in the middle of the defense and when lined up as a SAM backer to get after the quarterback. His instincts are very good and he processes things well in front of him.
Round 7, 230th Overall: Nick Cross, S, Maryland
The secondary for Washington gets a boost at the end of this mock draft, and with questions of Landon Collins potentially moving to linebacker, helping out the safety position in a deep 2022 class should be on the mind. Nick Cross isn’t as hyped as others are at the top of the class, but he does great work in a “robber” look roaming the middle of the field, and has great range and ball skills to play in deeper looks.