Washington Redskins should target Reggie Ragland in draft
By Andrew Long
The Washington Redskins possess the 21st overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Their surprising 9-7 finish pushes their selection down sixteen spots from last year, meaning that Scot McCloughan and company will have to take a slightly different approach to the process.
Picking late in the draft isn’t something that regularly occurs for the Washington Redskins, as the team has only finished above .500 three times in the last ten seasons. Selecting later in the draft doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t land a talented football player, though.
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The New England Patriots selected Chandler Jones, a Pro Bowl defensive end, at number 21 in 2012. A year later in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals nabbed tight end Tyler Eifert, a player that has become an elite talent at his position. The Green Bay Packers held the 21st overall selection in 2014, and used the selection to add HaHa Clinton-Dix to their roster, a move that surely bolstered their secondary.
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The fact that teams are capable of finding talented players in the mid-to-late portion of the first round is a promising sign for Washington, especially when you consider the fact that general manager Scot McCloughan is running things now. He has proven that he possesses the ability to find talent at all stages of the draft, something that bodes well for the Redskins and their improved win-loss record.
I foresee the Redskins make a concerted effort to improve their defense in the first round, as the team could use upgrades at defensive end, middle linebacker, and safety. A number of solid candidates will likely still be available once Washington is on the clock. One player that the team should strongly consider is Reggie Ragland, a run-stopping middle linebacker out of Alabama.
Due to a series of injuries, the Washington Redskins had a number of players man the middle linebacker position in 2015. Perry Riley Jr., Keenan Robinson, Will Compton, and Mason Foster all registered starts last season. Compton, in my opinion, deserves to keep a starting position in the middle, but I’m not completely sold on the other three players as long-term solutions. Foster played well for a late season addition, while Riley Jr. and Robinson showed flashes of potential early on.
With that being said, it wouldn’t surprise me if Washington elects to draft a middle linebacker to pair with Compton. Ragland has something that the Redskins desperately need, and that’s run support. Washington ranked 26th against the run in 2015, allowing a robust 122.6 yards per game.
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Ragland’s ability to storm the gap and take down ball carriers is an impressive aspect of his game, as he often captures the runner without over penetrating. Ragland relies on his awareness and knowledge of the game to anticipate when to attack the ball carrier, and it’s something that has turned him into one of the premiere run-stoppers in the 2016 NFL draft.
I believe that Ragland possesses everything that McCloughan looks for in a prospect. He’s a smart, gritty football player that isn’t afraid to get involved at the point of attack. Pairing him up with the fiery Compton in the middle would be a great move by the Washington Redskins, and would most likely provide the team with a talented tandem for years to come.