Washington Redskins: 2016 NFL Draft won’t be flashy
By Andrew Long
The 2016 NFL Draft is on the horizon, meaning the Washington Redskins are in the midst of scouting players to add to their roster come draft day. I foresee the Burgundy and Gold opting to choose safe, football minded players rather than highly touted skill position players.
The Washington Redskins are currently prepping for the 2016 NFL Draft, bringing prospects into their building on a regular basis to ensure that they adequately assess the class ahead of selection day. While it’s important for the team to nail their first round pick, general manager Scot McCloughan will have to assemble a strong group of players throughout the rest of the draft process for the 2016 class to be considered a successful haul for the team.
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The life blood of the draft is in the middle rounds, a portion of the draft that a lot of people take for granted. Yes, the team must make good selections at the top of the draft, as players selected in the first two rounds are often ready to contribute right away, but, with that being said, it’s an absolute must for the team to get good, football minded players in the mid to late rounds. These are the players that help build the talent on your special teams and, with hard work and time to develop their skills, eventually become starters or key contributors.
That’s why it’s so important for the Redskins, and every other team for that matter, to make strong selections in the middle rounds. The best way to do that is to find players that don’t mind putting in the time and work, these type of players aren’t often considered flashy or sexy selections, but that’s okay, as players like that aren’t always best for team chemistry and long term roster development.
I strongly believe that to build a competitive football team, one that reaches the playoffs on a regular basis, you must select players at positions that generally aren’t considered exciting. Sure, drafting players at skill positions will grab people’s attention, but adding players along the offensive and defensive lines is what will build strong, consistent forces in the National Football League.
That being said, I believe that McCloughan will select a number of big bodied players to insert into the trenches for the Washington Redskins. I do believe they’ll add a wide receiver and a few defensive backs throughout the process, but I largely suspect that the team will look to build their roster from the inside out, meaning linemen and pass-rushers will likely be the core focus for the team in this year’s NFL draft.
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I foresee the team selecting a defensive tackle in the first round, most likely Jarran Reed out of Alabama or Andrew Billings from Baylor. Both players are dominant forces, and, in my opinion, would give the team a quick return on their investment, especially when you consider the fact the team is relatively thin along the defensive line. It wouldn’t surprise me if the team went right back to the defensive line in the second round, adding an athletic, strong defensive end.
All in all, I believe that at least four of Washington’s eight draft picks will be spent on offensive and defensive linemen. While that draft style doesn’t make for the most exciting draft party, it will help build the team for long term success, something that will make for exciting contests and playoff entries for years to come.