The Washington Redskins have done very little to improve a woeful defense in free agency. That must change in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Washington Redskins were awful on defense in 2017. Sure, injuries played a major role in the team’s second-half slide, but an apparent lack of talent in the front seven also doomed the Redskins. Stopping the run has been especially tough for Washington in recent years. After the season, Washington’s front office made it known that improving the defense was a high priority this offseason.
So, how are the Redskins doing in improving that defense?
The only players added from the outside were oft-injured veteran corner Orlando Scandrick, formerly of Dallas, and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee. Both signed cheap, one-year deals representative of their injury history and lack of interest elsewhere. The Redskins did re-sign inside linebackers Zach Brown and Mason Foster, which was crucial. However, the team also let outside linebackers Trent Murphy and Junior Galette walk.
As for that defensive line, the Redskins have flirted with bigger-name guys like Muhammad Wilkerson, Johnathan Hankins and Dontari Poe, however, they’ve stayed patient — or cheap — depending on how you view it, in adding outside help on the defensive line.
That must change in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Redskins desperately need talent along the defensive line. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a nose tackle. Washington needs capable players up front who can stop the run and collapse the pocket. Fortunately, this draft features some solid options in that regard and it starts in the first round with Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea and Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne. Both players could be there for the Redskins, although Vea could also find himself in the top 10.
The good news for Washington is all of the quarterback-needy teams in this draft. As many as four quarterbacks could go inside the top five, even though their talent doesn’t actually represent their potential draft position. There are some solid blue-chip defenders who will fall in the draft due to some of the quarterbacks. That’s good news for a team like the Redskins.
There is talk of the Redskins being high on LSU’s Derrius Guice. Guice is a stud and if the Redskins could move back several spots and pick up an extra pick in the second or third round, then it would be a wise move. However, the Redskins must prioritize defense with the most of their picks, particularly their picks in the first and second round.
The Redskins do need to upgrade the running back position. And this draft is loaded with possibilities. No one would blame Washington, though, if it spent its first two picks on the defensive line. Some second-round options could include Nathan Shepherd, Tim Settle or Taven Bryan.
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-round projection
Washington did a good job in the 2017 NFL Draft by adding players like Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Fabian Moreau and Montae Nicholson to the defensive side of the ball. That must continue in the 2018 NFL Draft or the Redskins will find themselves back in the NFC East cellar for the first time since 2014.
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