Washington Redskins should target Shane Ray

Last week, I wrote two pieces about players that I believe the Washington Redskins should target in the 2015 NFL Draft. The two players that I mentioned were Landon Collins and Brandon Scherff. I still believe that they are two players that should be on the radar of the Washington Redskins, but with what will likely be a high draft pick, the team will have to scout numerous players. WIth that being said, this is why the Washington Redskins should target Shane Ray this spring.

The Redskins currently need to upgrade their offensive linemen & defensive backs, but if the team doesn’t retain Brian Orakpo in the offseason, they will have a glaring hole across from Ryan Kerrigan at outside linebacker. Shane Ray is 6-3, 245 pounds and plays 4-3 defensive end for the Missouri Tigers. Though he doesn’t currently play in the same scheme as the Redskins, I believe that he has the ability to make the transition into a 3-4 outside linebacker.

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The Redskins selected Trent Murphy with their second round choice in the 2014 NFL Draft. Murphy has played solid in his rookie season and even has a pair of sacks to his credit. But if the Redskins scout Ray and feel as if he is the better pass-rusher of the two, Murphy can potentially make a move to inside linebacker. Jay Gruden has already stated that Murphy has the ability to play ILB, so shifting him inside really isn’t that far-fetched of an idea.

Drafting Shane Ray would give the Redskins a speedy, effective edge-rusher to compliment Ryan Kerrigan. There is no denying that Ray is fast. ESPN.com states that he reportedly ran in the 4.4s during offseason workouts in 2014. That is freakish speed at any position, especially along the defensive line — though he’d be playing in a 3-4 scheme more often than not in Washington.

The speed that Ray possesses is a major plus. It allows him to collapse on screen passes and gives him the ability to reach the quarterback in the backfield. With more and more teams switching to schemes with mobile quarterbacks, that sort of speed might become a necessity for pass-rushers entering the NFL.

At 6-3, Ray is slightly undersized and will have to add more muscle to adequately turn that speed into power. If Ray can do that, he has a good chance of becoming a successful pass-rusher at the next level. Ray’s pass-rushing ability, work ethic, and strong intangibles make him a great prospect for any team looking to add a pass-rusher to their defense.