Quick Friday Draft Thoughts

(Kyle Hamilton maybe?)

 Happy weekend or pre-weekend. Me, I have to work Saturday, so it's not really a weekend for me.

Anyway. 

Quick update. I'm still working on Part 1 of The Carson Wentz trade. Mild writer's block in trying to show my initial reaction to the trade while trying to let you, the viewer at home, know that my thoughts have mellowed significantly on it.

Until then, here's some quick musings about Washington and their pick at #11:

Biggest needs/wants: WR, MLB, QB (future/Wentz fail safe).

Depth/Development: TE, DL, OL, RB, S, CB

Most likely positions of Target at #11: WR, CB, S, QB

 - Wide Receiver makes the most sense since the team wants someone who can compliment Terry Mclaurin on a regular basis. Dyami Brown struggled mostly during his rookie year but showed flashes towards the end of the season. With Wentz could he shine in Washington? Maybe. The position will be addressed at some point in this draft the the massive amount of talent and varying styles of receivers in this draft. Wouldn't surprise me if this happens despite WR being one of the bigger busts rates in the NFL in the 1st round. Case in point, Washington's last 1st round WR: Josh Doctson.

- If Kyle Hamilton somehow slips to #11, I think Ron won't hesitate to take him. He's really the only safety I would draft in the 1st, especially with McCain returning to pair with Curl. The Curl/McCain connection seemed to fair well last year as a tandem once Collins was moved to Buffalo Nickle. Speaking of Buffalo Nickle, I think that is where Washington would immediately put Hamilton if he is drafted. Thus, the team would remain in a more 4-2-5 scheme like they used last year instead of a traditional 4-3. Also Daniel Jeremiah sees Washington taking him. 

- I don't see Washington taking a QB at #11.  Two reasons:

1.  The only QB I see Washington taking at #11 would be Malik Willis and I don't think he gets out of the top 9. Willis has garnered major attention after he wowed at both the Combine and his Pro-Day. (On a personal note this should really mean little. Being frankly honest, Pro Days should be a pass/fail scenario and Combine workouts really just should be comparing players against each other in person than a true evaluation of an individual's talent. However, every year some GM and the fans get suckered into the NFL and media's selling of this hype. Its as if the determination of if a player will succeed or fail at the professional level only if they impress while throwing in shorts with no pressure on them.)

2. If Washington is the least bit smart, they DO NOT take a QB at #11 because of Carson Wentz. The last thing a smart franchise does is trade for a potential long term franchise QB and then draft his replacement. It would kill the early trust Wentz is trying to develop with his 3rd team. Matter of fact, I would tell Wentz straight up if they have any plans of drafting a QB, period. I know what you may be thinking "well, if he can't handle competition, he's not the QB we want". Sure, but Washington knows what they're getting and what happened when the Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts. They should try not to throw themselves into such an early drama filled situation before we've seen a single snap at training camp.

- Cornerback is intriguing and there are quite a few guys that should be there at #11. The only problem is where would he play? Would Fuller go back to being a slot only CB? While it's always good to have excellent CB depth, do you now draft a guy at #11 while you have two highly paid corners on the roster. Yeah, I guess you could, but is it the best use of the team's limited resources?

- No way in hell should they draft a MLB at #11. If you think Jamin Davis was over drafted then this would be many times worse.

- Ideally, I think trading back poses the best solution. The team has only six picks and are missing their 3rd and 5th via trades. If Washington can trade back into the late teens/early 20's, I think they have a good chance of still getting a player in the caliber around #11 and gain some extra picks for 2022 and possibly 2023.

Well, that's all I have for now on this topic. Back to Carson Wentz article.

I'm Bacccccck!!!!!! (At Least For Now)

Here's Ghost!

     I have to admit I've been intrigued by Washington this offseason. Nope. Sorry, I won't say the C word in the house, on Twitter or on this blog. This team will be called Washington, The Dan Snyder Football Team (when they do something stupid), 'Skins or Redskins.

So, I've decided to take up writing again. Also I think I'm trying to un-addict my brain from the dopamine rushes of You Tube and the aforementioned Twitter. Anyway, you've come here to read about Washington and not on me bettering myself.  I plan on at least doing three posts in the near future.

1. The Carson Wentz Trade. We'll look at the trade (and all of the glorious math via the trade chart), compare it to what the Colts gave up to the Eagles in their trade and determine what he's worth in draft value/collateral. Then, we'll take a look at the cap ramifications and the consequences of adding Wentz's salary to Washington's cap. Finally, We'll look at Carson Wentz. What will Wentz bring to the field and has Washington addressed the red flags that are tied to Wentz's career?

You'll get my opinions from the initial trade announcement (and why I hated it) and how I'm feeling about it now (don't hate it nearly as much).

2. FA Gaines and Losses. We're going to look at the very few moves Washington has made this offseason: who's back, who's gone and why. Plus I'll target some of the lesser names that are coming back to the fold.

3. Ron Rivera's Draft Years. I'm going to take a look back at the 2020 and 2021 drafts. I'll actually be grading the players here and try to determine the mind-set of Ron and the current FO when it comes to picking players. I then may (emphasis MAY here) do my first Washington only Meaningless Mock Draft of the year.

We see how it goes. Maybe this will become a regular thing again or Dan Snyder and my hectic schedule will deem otherwise.

Until then, here's me (and my horrible voice) making an appearance on BGO's Blind Pig Podcast. We discuss the new name. I'm the one in the dark hoodie and dressed like a "ninja". 

Until then, thanks for stopping by.

2020 Redskins Draft Evaluations

A new Redskins era begins during a very strange time in our lives.

* Author's Note: This is unfinished and I do not plan on going back to it anytime soon. So enjoy!

Well, here we are again. Every time I figure I'm done with blogging about the Redskins, something comes up and I feel the need to chime in on what happened and how it's going to affect the team and the franchise down the line. Today I'm going to look at the 2020 draft selections.

If you've read my previous write ups on the Redskins draft classes, then you know I don't do post draft grades. Like most of you, I love reading the grades on Walterfootball, CBS Sports, or from other resources but in reality they provide little value on whether that player can help his team. It's mostly an instant response on whether the player fills a hole or was talented enough to be selected at that spot and compared to other players still available.

My thoughts instead will be broken down into four areas: What I like about the player. What concerns me about the player. What was the Redskins strategy in taking the player. How will the player fit on the team in both the present and (hopefully) the future. I'll also include some info from Ourlads scouting service. I purchase Ourlads each year and I find their draft guides quite useful. These guides are frequently used by various NFL teams and some in the media. I will include their pre-draft grade on the player and which round they had the player landing.

Note: I am not affiliated with Ourlads scouting service. I am a customer and do annually purchase their draft guide. I do not (or have not) received any compensation for their information.

But before I start looking at the players, lets look at the overall team strategy, the lone trade during the draft and the Redskins 2020 draft order.

The Strategy

Redskins fans (and NFL fans in general) always have the draft argument on whether you draft for need or take the Best Player Available (BPA). Generally, most teams take the best player available in an area of need based on their draft board. While I feel the Redskins stuck to their board, it also feels like the Redskins were looking for something in particular in this draft: versatility. At least 3 of the 8 players have dual purpose roles and you could argue that three other players will also be cross trained at multiple positions or play special teams as well. It is clear that Coach Rivera wants players who can have the ability to play multiple positions. Two simple reasons why this is the case. First, is to have players who can step in if injuries occur and as we know the Redskins have been seriously injury prone the last 2-3 seasons. Second, it can cause some mismatches and confusion to the opposing team.

The Trade

There was only one trade that occurred this year. The Redskins traded LT Trent Williams to the 49ers for a 2020 5th round pick and a 2021 3rd round pick. Some fans aren't happy with the value the Redskins got for Williams, but frankly I'm okay with the compensation. The reason is because Williams had become a major headache and pain in the ass during this process. Had he remained with the team in 2020 there would have been nothing but drama coming from Williams' camp and the best compensation the Redskins would have received once he became a free agent was a 2022 5th round pick. Is Williams worth more than what the Redskins got? Yes. Could the Redskins have gotten more? At this point, after all the problems caused by Williams and his agent and Bruce Allen not getting rid of Williams immediately, I doubt the team could have done much better. Trust me, they tried. I could go on about the Williams saga, but frankly I'm sick of it and we'll leave that topic for now.

Your 2020 Redskins Draft Class

Round 1, 2nd pick (#2 Overall): Chase Young, DE, Ohio St.
Round 3, 2nd pick (#66 Overall): Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Memphis
Round 4, 2nd pick (#108 Overall): Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
Round 4, 36th pick (#142 Overall): Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
Round 5, 10th pick (#156 Overall): Keith Ismael, C/G, San Diego St.
Round 5, 16th pick (#162 Overall): Khaleke Hudson, LB/S, Michigan
Round 7,  2nd pick (#216 Overall): Kamren Curl, S, Arkansas
Round 7, 15th pick (#229 Overall): James Smith-Williams, DE, NC St.

Evaluations

The best player of the 2020 Draft will be wearing Burgundy and Gold.

Chase Young, DE, Ohio St.
What I Like: What's not to like about Chase Young? He has elite speed and power to match. Is an instinctual player who seems to know where the ball is going before it gets there. Young already possesses a variety of moves to separate himself from any offensive lineman who tries to get in his way. He also is already a great bender so he can move around a lineman and collapse the pocket in the shortest amount of space needed. Young takes great angles to get to his target and he also is impressive in his pursuit of the ball carrier. While he is known for his skills as a dominate pass rusher, what impressed me the most was that he is excellent in run contain and continues on with the play until the ball carrier is down whether the player is near him or not. Young's nickname is The Predator and he lives up to that moniker because he doesn't just play defense, he hunts anyone that has the ball.

Concerns: I watched a breakdown of Young and the creator of the video Brett Kollman had one complaint (you really need to watch this You Tube video, it's a great film breakdown on Young). He thought Young could have actually gotten more sacks in 2019 than the 16.5 he got. Many teams were so concerned about his speed that the OTs anchored themselves to deal with his speed. Young could have easily destroyed the OTs with a bull rush counter. Instead, Young primarily stuck with the speed rushes. Was this a player decision or was this a part of Ohio State's scheme? At the NFL level, I expect Young to mix it up a little more. This is one of the most minor arguments I've seen on a player as Young seems to be week one ready. Could he get better? Sure. However, it seems that there isn't much that Young can't do as I write this evaluation.

Why The Redskins Drafted Him: It's a no brainer. Young is the best player in the 2020 draft. He is the most game day ready player  and will probably have the most significant impact as a rookie. The chances of this even more likely with his teammates already on the defensive line in Washington. Sam Mills and Jack Del Rio have to love this pick and there just was no team willing to offer enough to make it worth trading back. We do know that Atlanta did try and make a trade with the Redskins, but it wasn't close to what the Redskins would've needed to pass up this caliber of player. Fans have said for years that the Redskins have a few great players but no elite players. Young may finally change that as he may be the best pass rusher since Dexter Manley and possibly the best overall DE the Redskins have ever had.

How He Fits: Young is a day one starter. He will rotate with fellow first rounders Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan, but expect Young to be playing the majority of defensive snaps in every game. Barring something crazy, Young should be the starting DE for the Redskins for the next five years and hopefully it'll be more like the next decade. 

Ourlads Grade: 9.79, Top 3 pick. "A productive machine who is nearly elite across the board." 

The NFL calls him a RB, he calls himself a "Weapon". 'Nuff said.

Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Memphis

What I Like: Name a player in the draft that has a ratio of 14 TDs on 77 offensive touches? I can't think of many. That's what Antonio Gibson did during his college career. A RB/WR hybrid who has the speed to outrun DBs but the size and power to break tackles. Gibson offers the Redskins a lot of possibilities. He can line up as a RB, he can line up as a WR. He can take carries or run a curl route and break it for a near TD. Gibson did not touch the ball that much during his college years, so unlike many RBs who have been run down at the collegiate level, Gibson is practically mint in box with plenty of tread left on his tires. Also, will work as a kick returner who averages 28 yards per return and had a return for a TD in college.

Concerns: Gibson is in that tweener-hybrid set. If the Redskins play him as only a RB or a pass catching RB or if they use him as just a WR, he's not going to succeed in Washington. Gibson is going to force Scott Turner to be creative in his scheme designs and play calling. Gibson is a very raw prospect. He was primarily a WR in college but will need to become a master of the route tree at the NFL level. He will need to develop more as a RB and be prepared to have players try to rip the ball out. He may not be an immediate threat in year one because the Redskins will need to develop him to be that ideal playmaker they expect him to eventually become.

Why The Redskins Drafted Him: The Redskins are looking for the next Christian McCaffrey. Ron Rivera and Scott Turner loved using him to dominate for the Panthers and they see that potential in Gibson. The Redskins liked him so much that they selected him possibly earlier than many thought Gibson would go. Again, the Redskins want versatility and guys who can cause significant mismatches with defenders. Currently the Redskins have a great deal of talent at the RB position but many of the RBs have had injury issues or are a little less multi-dimensional than Gibson. Gibson also provides a mismatch to defenses and will form defenses to tip their hand in reaction to where Gibson lines up and what he does if/when he goes into motion. The Redskins would love to have defensive coordinators blow a fuse with Gibson, Sims and Guice all on the field at the same time.

** Author's Note: This was written, if memory serves, well before the Guice removal from the team.

How He Fits: I still expect Adrian Peterson to take the bulk of the carries with Guice, Love and the rest spelling AP or being used in certain packages. I also still expect JD Mckissic to be the primary 3rd down back because he is probably one of the better pass blockers to go along with his speed and pass catching ability. I expect Gibson to be playing special teams as a gunner and kick returner as well as having a few packages that gives him a chance to play both RB and WR. I really think he'll be a breakout player in 2021 with some flashes in 2020.

Ourlads Grade: 7.35, 3rd/4th round. "Give him some time, carve out a few package plays for him in the meantime and you have one of the top value picks in the draft. Big and strong build that screams running back or a matchup nightmare wide receiver. A big play waiting to happen no matter where he lines up on the field."

Could Charles be the Redskins next starting LT?

Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
What I Like: If he gets his hands on you, you're done. Charles was the anchor for the 2019 LSU offensive line which won the Moore award for the best offensive line in college football. Was a three year starter playing against some of the best competition in the SEC. As a run blocker, Charles has an amazing initial punch which tends to put a defender off balance, allowing Charles to then drive the defender off the ball or to move him to open a gaping hole for his RB or Joe Burrow. Is athletic enough to get to the second level and can pull in certain situations. Has a good cut block and can use it exceptionally well in rare occasions on the second level. As a pass blocker, Charles has a good initial base and a very quick slide step to counter speed rushers. Is fast and agile enough to handle most speed rushes, although he excels against power rushers. Charles is able to recover quickly if he gets beaten on the initial step. He also seems to be able to read stunts and blitzes well and is good at picking up hand off defenders from his fellow OL and which defender to target on overloads. Very good power in combination with his speed and agility. Also, I have a great deal of respect for his transparency with the Redskins over his suspensions and character concerns at LSU.

Concerns: As a run blocker, if he misses with his initial punch, he does seem to struggle with blocking the defender or getting his hands on the defender. I was somewhat surprised how at times he struggled to get his hands on a defender at the second level, which led to being unable to block said defender. Will need to improve upon his technique as a pass blocker at the NFL level. Can lose his contain with a spin move and did have one contain broken by a swim move. Can struggle at initial point of attack by speed rushers (that said, as I mentioned above, he does recover quickly). I hate his cut blocks on pass plays!!! The defender usually recovers quickly and can still be in position to pressure, hit or hurry the QB. Had a shoulder injury in 2017-2018 that required surgery. Was suspended for 6 games in 2019 (but appears to have learned from mistakes). Has less than prototypical offensive lineman arms, which had some suggest he was a better fit to move inside. Charles addressed this question with DC media by saying he played 3 years in the SEC and didn't have any problems with it. It's a good answer.

Why The Redskins Drafted Him: Trent Williams potential replacement at LT. With Geron Christian and Cornelius Lucas being the primary candidates to replace Williams, Charles provides the possibility to compete for the starting job in 2020 or at worst develop to be the team's starting left tackle in 2021.

How He Fits: Charles will be in competition for the LT position. At worst, he'll provide depth and be on the roster. Ron Rivera also mention a possibility of cross training Charles to play left guard as well. I'm not 100% certain that Charles will start the season at LT. If he doesn't however, I do expect him to either win the job or eventually get some playing time at the position at some point in the season.

Ourlads Grade: 7.25, 3rd/4th round. "There are shoulder and maturity issues that need to be screened but if that checks out, he has the chance to be a week one starter." 

Is Antonio Gandy-Golden the steal of the 2020 draft?

Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
What I Like: A very tall WR (6'4") who can provide some physical mismatches against smaller corners, yet appears to have enough speed to make it difficult for safeties to cover. A big, physical WR who can help the Redskins block in the run game. Runs an excellent slant against zone and man coverage when the DB is not on the LOS. Also, has decent speed in that AGG has fooled DBs with Sluggo routes and can break away if given the chance in open space. Has shown the ability to make dynamic catches on deeper routes. With his frame, he can turn a five yard gain into an eight yard gain with a simple lean after being hit. Should be an immediate red zone threat or given the opportunity to make a play in jump ball situations. I am surprised Gandy-Golden fell this far and I believe he would've gone higher had there not been a glut of WR talent in the 2020 draft.

Concerns: As with many bigger WRs, may have more difficulty getting separation in man coverage. Competition is a major concern as the level of competition with his teammates and his opposition won't be at the level of what AGG will face at the NFL level. Gandy-Golden did have a good Senior Bowl against much better competition which bodes well for his tenure with the Redskins. From what I saw, overall the route running was good but I did notice a couple of times where routes were rounded off slightly. Ourlads mentioned some inconsistency with his hands and that AGG drops some easy catches. I honestly didn't notice this in the 2-3 games I observed but it will be something worth keeping an eye on.

Why The Redskins Drafted Him: The Redskins are looking for a #2 WR to compliment Terry McLaurin. Kelvin Harmon, Cody Latimer (if he's not suspended 4-6 games) or a potential cut from another team are likely competition with Gandy-Golden for that position. Also, the team needs more size to give Dwayne Haskins bigger targets once the team gets inside the 20. With the Redskins not having the best TE corp, AGG and other WRs like Cam Sims will have to fill the void in causing height mismatches in the red zone.

How He Fits: I expect the Redskins will use AGG in some packages that involve short slants or bubble screens that can use WRs in pick plays. I would expect AGG will be used frequently as a red zone WR and will on occasion line up in the slot  to be used much like a pass catching TE would be used. I'm not sure he will win the starting WR spot, but I do expect him to be used frequently in certain packages. He should push Kelvin Harmon to truly earn the #2 WR spot.

Ourlads Grade: 6.94, 4th/5th round. "He has the size, strength and leaping ability to take over a 50/50 situation and come down with the ball, making him a credible red zone threat right away."

Versatility is a must in the Ron Rivera era.

Keith Ismael, C/G, San Diego St.
What I like: Versatile. Was primarily a center for the Aztecs but also can play LG and RG positions. Basically, the Redskins are getting a 3 in one type of player which has been par for the course for many of the players in this draft. Very good directional blocker. Has  a very good ability getting the lineman to go where he wants him to once he gets his hands on the player. As a pass blocker, seems solid, able to anchor on a bull rush but prefers to toe the line and rely on his punch. Quick and agile enough to get to the second level. No problems with snaps in shotgun or when QB is under center. Ismael did make some line adjustments in the two games I was able to view. Plays to the whistle, will find someone to hit if there isn't a player in front of him.

Concerns: Will not "WOW!" fans with his blocking. Remember Erik Flowers in 2019? Transitioned to LG after failing as a OT out of the draft. Flowers was very raw from a technical standpoint (however, he continued to improve as the season went along) but was a mauler and from time to time blew opposing players off the line and down the field. You're not going to see much of this from Ismael. May need to get stronger at the next level as the competition improves. May struggle against a good bull rush. May need to adjust to secondary moves.

Why The Redskins Drafted Him:  There are three main reasons for his drafting: Versatility, Competition and Depth. 2020 will be primarily a depth year for Ismael as he develops as an NFL player (barring him beating out Martin, Schweitzer and Pierschbacher for the starting LG position). However, after 2020 anything is possible. Chase Roullier is in the final year of his rookie contract and Brandon Scherff is currently on a one year franchise tag. The Redskins do have the cap room to extend both players but there is a chance that either the team or the players may want to move on which would give Ismael a chance to compete for the starting C or RG positions.

How He Fits: Right now I have Ismael as either the Redskins 9th or 10th offensive lineman. It's not a guarantee that Ismael will make the final 53. If he does make the final roster, I don't expect a lot of playing time barring injuries (which the Redskins have been pretty good for having in the past few seasons). Ismael is just a depth prospect as of this writing, but could become significantly more after the 2020 season. 

Ourlads Grade: 4.99, 6th/7th round. "An explosive athlete who is an effective combo blocker." 

Can the Redskins find room for a "Viper" on the field?

Khaleke Hudson, LB/S, Michigan
What I Like: You're probably getting sick of seeing this word, but here it is again: versatility. Hudson played a "viper" position while at Michigan. Basically, what this means was that in some packages (usually nickle or dime schemes) he would usually line up either over top the in-line TE, on the outside of the OT (if there wasn't a TE on that side) or line up in the slot vs. either a RB/WR/TE in the slot. In most cases, it was usually on the line of scrimmage which gave Hudson the ability to blitz, play man coverage or drop into zone. Hudson's rushes off the LOS remind me a great deal of Troy Polamalu when he was with the Steelers. There is no hesitation on his attack. He takes sharp angles and can get to the QB immediately or  catch the ball carrier behind the LOS for a loss. When he's on this attack mode, he seems to be able to shed blockers pretty easily. Is a very good tackler. I only saw one broken/missed tackle in the three games I watched. Excellent open field tackler who can on occasion lay a major hit or strip a ball. Has good response speed and can keep up with most TEs and WR is crossing routes. Seems to be near the ball at all times. Apparently is a special teams beast in coverage and has blocked 8 punts during his time at Michigan.

Concerns: Will need to work on his technique with his hands at the NFL level. Saw a few illegal contacts and holds while in coverage. Knowing the NFL and the referees with the Redskins, he'll get called for everything and more than I saw.  This is fixable. May have a size disadvantage against some of the bigger TEs in the league. Much like with Antonio Gibson, the Redskins will need to be creative in how they use Hudson. If the Redskins just make him a LB or a S he will lose some of his dynamic skill set.

Why The Redskins Drafted Him: Another player who can provide mismatches with opposing offenses