Washington Redskins: Seven Round Mock Draft 5.0
Draft week is officially upon us. Which probably means that Scot McCloughan is in his office with his feet kicked up on his desk smiling at his completed draft board thinking about his plan to make this team better.
Tomorrow? That’s when the chaos begins. Surprise picks will happen, surprise prospects will fall, and the phone will be ringing frequently for trade inquires. However, unlike in years past: you can sit back, relax, and feel good knowing that Scot McCloughan has the reigns to the team. I don’t know who he will pick come Thursday, but what I do know: is that the Redskins will be a far better team once Saturday is over and the 2016 NFL draft has concluded.
With that being said: here’s my final Redskins mock draft for the 2016 season:
Round 1, Pick 21: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
In an ideal world, McCloughan would find a trade partner and trade down to the bottom of round 1, in order to gain additional mid round picks and still land a playmaker like Butler. Regardless, Butler has been my pick throughout the pre-draft season and that isn’t changing now.
Butler is simply too good to pass up, first of all, he fills a need along the defensive line that needs more youth and playmakers. Secondly, Butler has a rare combination of size (6’4 323 pounds with 35 1/8” arms), power, hand technique, and speed/wiggle enough to collapse the pocket and rush the passer. Butler would be a versatile chess piece who can fill multiple roles and line up from multiple positions for defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Scot McCloughan made his first splash with the signing of Josh Norman, who is a very good, intelligent zone corner. But, what helps the type of aggressive zone corners like Norman? A pass rush up front. Butler will ultimately have a trickledown effect on the entire defensive unit.
Round 2, Pick 53: Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
Shepard may not be the classic “big target” wide out the Redskins are currently lacking, but don’t let his smaller frame fool you, Shepard plays bigger than his size. With Norman’s signing, combined with their contract numbers and age, it’s unlikely that both Garcon and Jackson will be back beyond this season, so the Redskins would be wise to start developing a player who can be a starter in the future.
Shepard has good route running ability, as well as phenomenal body control to make difficult catches often. The Oklahoma product has good feet which makes him effective from the slot, outside, and as a returner. His college coach, Bob Stoops called him “The most competitive player I’ve had in 17 years”. This pick might not be popular on draft day, but he’s the exact type of “red” player McCloughan wants to add to the Redskins roster.
Round 3, Pick 84: Jeremy Cash, S, Duke
I’m not sure that Jeremy Cash will be available at this point, and I’m not sure exactly the best way to use the former Duke product, but what I do know is that he’s a super intelligent football player, who would be a great addition to the Redskins defense.
Cash is one of the most instinctive players I’ve studied, and he’s phenomenal close to the line of scrimmage. He played a hybrid safety/linebacker role at Duke which makes his ultimate long term position tough to predict, but what I do know is this: Cash is a solid football player who poses good value at this point of the draft and will improve the Redskins defense and special teams units.
Round 4, Pick 120: B.J. Goodson, LB, Clemson
Goodson might not get the hype that some bigger name prospects, partially because he didn’t take over as a full time starter until his senior year, and boy did he make the most of his limited opportunity. Goodson, the senior leader and captain of the National runner up Clemson defense racked up 108 tackles, including 14 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
Goodson may not blow you away with his testing numbers, and some evaluators worry about his speed to cover sideline-to-sideline, but he makes up for his lack of elite speed with his high football IQ. Goodson would be a great fit in the middle of a 3-4 defense because of his willingness to shift through traffic and take on blockers in the run game. Goodson can be a solid special teams contributor while he learns the defensive scheme and continues to develop in order to eventually push for a starting position.
Round 5, Pick 158: Jack Allen, C, Michigan State
Jack Allen may not have the ideal size or arm length that many NFL teams covet, but Allen is a nasty football player with a wrestling background who understands that leverage is key to winning in the trenches. Allen is a leader and great communicator in the middle, not to mention he plays with a nasty streak similar to Brandon Scherff, if the whistle hasn’t blown, he’s looking for someone to hit.
A versatile prospect with experience at guard and even left tackle in college, Allen consistently “over achieved” in college, and he’ll continue to be one of the hardest workers and competitive players in practice. Those are the type of players you want on your team. McCloughan adds depth and versatility with this selection.
Round 6, Pick 187: Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia
Marshall has the desired size (5’11 219 pounds) and speed 4.31 40-yard dash to be an effective NFL back. However, after a promising start to his career at Georgia splitting carries with Todd Gurley as a freshman, injuries took a toll on his career.
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However, Marshall is a reliable ball carrier (only two career fumbles at Georgia) with natural receiving skills, and home run ability every time he has the ball in his hands. Marshall accepted a backup role, and excelled on special teams during his final year as a Bulldog. Marshall’s high ceiling, and team first attitude will be a welcomed addition to the Redskins backfield that has plenty of questions itself. If he can avoid the injury bug, Marshall has all the raw skills to be a contributor on offense and special teams.
Round 7, Pick 232: Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky
Doughty has the size (6’3 213 pounds) and arm strength to be an NFL passer. When he has a solid pocket around him, he can be a very accurate passer progressing through reads well. He has a lot to learn, and will need to continue developing in an NFL caliber offense, and he may not have the arm strength to ever be a starting caliber quarterback. However, he can be a solid backup, and the Redskins desperately need to develop a backup for the future.
Round 7, Pick 242: Michael Caputo, S, Wisconsin
Caputo has been labelled the toughest guy on the team by teammates, who consistently plays through nagging injuries and delivers big hits on a consistent basis. Caputo is a force as a tackler, leading the team with 106 in 2014. A safety without the desired range to hold up in coverage deep, Caputo is another candidate to improve the Redskins special teams unit. Caputo is a smart, tough, McCloughan type football player, who is worth a look on day 3 of the draft. He’s the type of competitive body you want at camp, who can easily sneak onto your 53-man roster with determination and effort alone.
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