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Washington Redskins: Should they trade down in draft?

By Andrew Long

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The Washington Redskins hold the 5th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. Their 4-12 record can be attributed directly to a lack of talent and depth. With an abundance of holes to fill across their roster, the Redskins should at least consider trading the fifth overall pick in an effort to acquire more ammunition in the draft.

The fact that they sit right in front of the New York Jets at No. 6 is also crucial. I say this because the Jets, under a new coaching regime, may be in the market for a new starting quarterback after two disappointing seasons under Geno Smith. Meaning if Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston is available at number 5, Washington’s pick becomes an important asset for a team looking to add a rookie quarterback.

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Outside of the Jets, I believe that the St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles are possible trade partners. Both of the possibilities that I mentioned are admittedly intriguing partners for the Redskins to deal with. Trading with the Eagles creates obvious hazards.

Would trading within the division steepen the asking price for Washington? Most likely. By trading with the Eagles, the Redskins would allow Chip Kelly to draft a quarterback that properly fits his fast-paced scheme. Moving up from 20, Philadelphia would likely have to ship a couple of second-round draft picks as well as a first-round pick in 2016. They may even ask for a third-round pick, too.

In the 2012 trade that brought quarterback Robert Griffin III to the nation’s capital, the Redskins swapped first-round picks with the Rams. They also sent St. Louis their 2012 second-round pick, as well as their 2013 and 2014 first-round picks. It’s worth noting the Redskins only moved up four spots in this deal because they originally held the sixth overall pick. With this trade in their hindsight, and the Eagles having to climb 16 spots, it’s possible that the asking price could be even steeper than the one I mentioned earlier. Especially since it’s a move that would be supplying an in-division rival a potential Pro Bowl player.

If the Redskins opt to deal with the Rams, the price wouldn’t be quite as steep. St. Louis currently sits at No. 10 and in my opinion should be in the market for a quarterback. Their current starter, Sam Bradford, is often injured and his future with the team is uncertain, as explained by Molly Geary and Paul Palladino of SI.com.

Thanks to their 2012 deal with the Redskins, the Rams have built a solid team. I believe that they can be very competitive if they add a talented quarterback to their roster. It’s unclear what Washington would ask for in return in a deal with the Rams. It’s almost a sure thing that they would swap 2015 first-round picks, though.

If the Washington Redskins decide to trade with the Rams, they would find themselves holding the 10th overall pick. By moving down a few spots, the Redskins would put themselves in a position to select players that would be considered reaches at No. 5. Players like Landon Collins and Brandon Scherff come to mind. Washington’s Danny Shelton is also a strong possibility and would fit well within their 3-4 scheme.

The teams that I mentioned are just a few possibilities and if another team decides to offer the Redskins a deal, I believe that they should strongly consider taking it.  Trading the fifth overall pick would also allow the Redskins to add depth in later rounds. Adding talented players in the first-round is important, yes, but so is adding solid players in the middle rounds.

The Redskins have numerous holes to fill. It’s not something that’s going to happen with just one draft, either. Washington would be wise to consider trading the pick in order to build depth across their roster.

Next: Should the Redskins consider Brandon Scherff?

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