Washington Redskins: Derrius Guice is a real possibility at No. 13
Will the Washington Redskins seriously consider a running back with the 13th overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft? Derrius Guice could tempt them.
The Washington Redskins thought they had the running back position solved for the foreseeable future back in 2012 when they chose Alfred Morris in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. Morris was fantastic in his first three years, rushing for 3,962 yards and 28 touchdowns. A closer look at Morris’ stats, though, showed his yards per carry going down in each of his seasons in Washington. Morris was good, but he was also a byproduct of Robert Griffin III’s record-setting rookie season.
Another issue for Washington is head coach Jay Gruden. Gruden loves to pass the football no matter what he tries to tell you about running the football. A look back to his three years as offensive coordinator in Cincinnati and his four years as head coach in D.C., and you’ll see a pass-heavy offense each season that struggles to consistently run the football.
That must change with the acquisition of quarterback Alex Smith. And Gruden and Washington vice president of player personnel, Doug Williams, know this. Throughout the offseason, Gruden and Williams have both mentioned on more than one occasion the team needs to upgrade at running back.
That leads us to the 2018 NFL Draft. Should Washington try and solve this position with the 13th overall pick in the first round? This is a deep class at the running back position so the Redskins could wait until the second round (pick No. 44) and get their guy.
The draft’s top running back, Saquon Barkley, isn’t falling to the Redskins. But Derrius Guice should be available to the Redskins at No. 13. And the Redskins are certainly interested. Guice, a 5’11”, 218-pounder from LSU, is a complete back who runs with power, speed and vision. While he wouldn’t solve Washington’s rushing woes alone, he would go a long way into improving the team’s offense.
In between that workout with Philly and his official visit with the team, Guice will head to Washington for a visit with the Redskins from Sunday-Monday. Remember, Washington president Bruce Allen had dinner with Guice before his pro day, as I reported weeks ago.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) April 12, 2018
The Redskins have a ton of needs on defense, so some may view Guice as a luxury. However, if he’s the best player on your board, you take him. Washington needs good football players. Guice would immediately become one of the league’s better backs.
Smith had a career year last season in Kansas City with a talented rookie back behind him in Kareem Hunt. The Redskins have done a good job of addressing the receiver position with the acquisition of Paul Richardson. The team hopes Jamison Crowder returns to form in the slot and Josh Doctson continues to evolve. Chris Thompson’s return as third-down back will be big, too. The presence of Thompson can allow a younger back-like Guice-to ease into the position without the pressure of having to be outstanding in pass protection right away.
With so many quarterbacks expected to go early, good players will fall to the Redskins at No. 13. Guice should be available, too. If he’s there, he could take this offense to another level. He’s that good.
Next: Final Washington Redskins 7-round 2018 mock draft
As the draft rapidly approaches, there are concerns about Guice’s maturity. He’s never been in trouble, but there are some who think he needs the perfect structure around him to succeed early in his NFL career. Is that something the Redskins want to invest in?
We’ll know for certain on Thursday night.