Washington Redskins: Drafting Running Back Could Elevate Offense

The Washington Redskins drafting a top-tier running back could take their explosive offense to new heights.

Robert Kelley, Matt Jones and Chris Thompson return at running back for the Washington Redskins in 2017. Thompson’s role is defined, but the Redskins need much more from the position on first and second down.

The Redskins were one of the top offensive teams in the NFL in 2016. Overall, the Redskins finished third in total offense, averaging over 403 yards per game. Unfortunately for Washington, it averaged just 24.8 points per game, which was the lowest number for any team ranked in the top 10 in total offense.

A big part of that was an inability to convert in the red zone, and Washington’s running game was a big reason for the team’s red-zone struggles. The Redskins ranked 21st in rushing offense, averaging 106 yards per game.

With the departure of the team’s top two wide receivers, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, the Redskins could turn to the running game to make up for the loss of some of the offensive production.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

Jones, a third-round pick in 2015, had every opportunity to take the starting job and make it his last season. He struggled to not only hold onto the football, but he routinely missed open holes, lacked vision and his hesitancy led to negative yardage. That paved the way for Kelley to take over the starting position

An undrafted rookie out of Tulane, Kelley proved to be a nice find. He led the team with 704 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Kelley averaged 4.2 yards per attempt, but struggled in the final six weeks after his 137-yard outburst versus Green Bay on Sunday Night Football. The undrafted rookie showed the team he belonged in the NFL, but maybe not as a featured back on an elite offense.

Finally, there’s Thompson. Washington’s best all-around back isn’t built to be a full-time back at the NFL level. However, Thompson is the Redskins’ best blocker in the backfield, a terrific receiver and averaged over five yards per rush last season. Thompson is an integral part of Washington’s offense.

So would the Redskins go the free-agent route to add to the running back mix for 2017? No, and they shouldn’t. Adrian Peterson isn’t worth spending a lot of financial resources on at this point in his career when the team still has plenty of defensive needs. And James Starks certainly isn’t the answer. That leads us to the 2017 NFL Draft.

This happens to be perhaps the deepest class of running backs in recent memory. Whether it’s Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara, Washington’s options to add a talented, complete back to the mix are plentiful. Fournette will be long gone by the time Washington picks at No. 17. There’s a chance Cook and McCaffrey will be available, though. And Cook could be the best fit for head coach Jay Gruden’s offense.

More from Washington Commanders

• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
• Washington Commanders: Jahan Dotson primed for second-year jump
• NFL: Will Commanders reach expectations under new ownership in 2023?
• Washington Commanders 3 bold predictions heading into 2023 season
• Malik Willis should be on the Washington Commanders radar

Gruden and offensive line coach Bill Callahan have kept some of the zone-blocking principles first installed by Mike Shanahan back in 2010, which fits Cook best. Cook has excellent vision and is extremely patient. He sets up his blocks well and is always a threat to take it to the house.

While Cook’s combine performance was disappointing to some, it shouldn’t cause concern. Cook plays fast and he has impressive power. There are concerns about his shoulders and he was charged with battery for an incident outside of a bar, but the charges didn’t stick.

Cook would take Washington’s offense to another level and help quarterback Kirk Cousins compensate for the loss of Jackson and Garcon. Cook’s presence would make Cousins even more dangerous in the play-action game, where he thrives.

Next: 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Full 3 Rounds Post-Free Agency

The Redskins could choose to go elsewhere with their first-round pick, instead opting to look at Kamara, Joe Mixon, Jamal Williams or Kareem Hunt at other points in the draft. However, Washington must address this position in the draft if the offense expects to operate at a high level. A player like Cook can make Washington even better in 2017, especially in the red zone, where the Redskins struggled in 2016.