Washington Redskins: Target Vic Beasley in draft

By Andrew Long | Apr 1, 2015

The Washington Redskins can go a number of ways in the upcoming 2015 NFL draft. The team holds the fifth overall pick in a draft that is jam-packed with talented edge rushers, and my money is on the Redskins going in that direction. In some of my recent articles, I’ve discussed possible draft day solutions for Washington at number five.

I’ve written articles about the Redskins targeting Dante Fowler Jr., Shane Ray, and Randy Gregory. The three players that I mentioned are still very realistic possibilities, but I believe that Washington needs to consider Vic Beasley as a possible solution to their edge rushing woes.

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Beasley doesn’t possess the size and length that Fowler Jr. and Gregory do; but what Beasley lacks in size, he surely makes up for in strength, athleticism, and explosiveness. The Clemson linebacker showed off his impressive physical attributes at the 2015 NFL combine.

Among his peers at linebacker, Beasley finished first in the 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds) and the bench press (35 reps). He was also near the head of the pack in the vertical jump (41 inches) and the broad jump (10 feet and 11 inches), finishing third in both categories.

Beasley’s incredible athleticism is what makes him such an intriguing prospect because it allows him to utilize different approaches when rushing the passer. His speed allows him to blow past offensive linemen. If the opposing blocker manages to get in front of Beasley, he’s capable of using his strength to keep the pass rush alive.

During his time spent as a Clemson Tiger, Vic Beasley racked up a total of 90 tackles; 52.5 of those tackles were for a loss, and 33 of them were sacks. That means that 58 percent of his tackles were for a loss, and roughly 36 percent of them were sacks.

The production that Beasley provided the Tigers with is proof that he can be an asset as a pass rusher. He spent four seasons in Clemson and walked away with 33 sacks. That’s impressive, yes, but even more so when you consider the fact that 25 of those sacks came within the past two years.

That tells me that Beasley is a player on the rise, and that he is just now coming into his own. Seeing as how he was Clemson’s top defensive weapon, teams were able to game plan for him. That wouldn’t be the case in Washington, though (not right off the bat, at least).

The Redskins defense already possesses Jason Hatcher, Terrance Knighton, and Ryan Kerrigan, meaning Beasley wouldn’t be the top priority for opposing offenses. Knighton and Kerrigan are both talented enough to warrant double teams, and that’s something that would bode well for Beasley – or any rookie pass rusher for that matter.

Not being the focal point of the defense is something that would ease Beasley’s transition into the NFL. He likely wouldn’t be double teamed on a regular basis from the get-go, which would provide him with a lot of 1-on-1 opportunities.

If that’s the case, I believe that Beasley would be able to make an immediate impact for the Washington Redskins.

Next: Should the Redskins draft Mariota?

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