The WFT's Gameplan for Draft Night
With endless possibilities, this is (ideally) how Washington should attack the 2021 Draft.
The football world knows very well that the Washington Football Team is somewhere between one to three years away from contending for a Super Bowl. The defense is well established as a top-five unit in the NFL. The offense, while there are young, phenomenal pieces in place, still leaves a lot to be desired. Finding players to fill these holes will be the difference between a good offseason and an offseason of the past in Ashburn.
And while a lot of the talk in the WFT world has been focused on free agency and the trading block, true diehards know that real and sustainable success is built traditionally: through the draft.
With such a loaded class across the board, it’s easy to let your mind wander and explore all the possible strategies Washington’s new front office could execute in order to revamp the team’s roster. However, I knew that it was in my (and my sanity’s) best interest to hone my focus onto the following blueprint.
Keep in mind that this is just one man’s opinion, and that I have no sources to lead me to believe that the team will select a certain player/position at a certain pick. So, without further ado, here we go.
The Needs
When addressing the team’s needs, I operated under the assumption that the WFT acquired a veteran quarterback via trade, or decided to let Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke battle for the job in training camp. Therefore, the position will not be addressed. Needs are listed in order of priority.
Wide Receiver
It’s no secret that Washington is in desperate need of playmakers on offense. While Terry McLaurin has cemented himself as a top tier pass-catcher, he can’t do it all by himself. For a three to four game stretch in 2020, we saw McLaurin completely disappear due to opposing defenses utilizing bracket coverage on him. This is a result of the defense simply not feeling threatened by the rest of the offense’s receiving corps.
The 2021 NFL Draft class features a surplus of receivers. From big possession receivers such as Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman to smaller, vertical-threat guys such as Purdue’s Rondale Moore, there will be plenty of opportunities for the WFT to address this need without reaching early in the draft.
Left Tackle
Cornelius Lucas had an impressive season at the most coveted position on the offensive line. The seventh-year journeyman showed strides of improvement each week, and earned the trust of Washington’s staff as a swing tackle that can be serviceable when called upon. However, “serviceable” should not be the endpoint for this position, and I believe the burgundy and gold’s front office agree with that sentiment.
Harping on the same point I made in regard to receivers in this draft class, there will be plenty of options to choose from to fulfill this need. However, unlike receivers, this position is quite a bit more top-heavy, and will require the team to explore selecting one with the 19th overall pick. The last time the WFT selected an offensive lineman in the first round, it was All-Pro Guard Brandon Scherff. Not bad.
Linebacker
Finally, defense. While the defensive line is complete after five years worth of first-round investments, linebacker is the most glaring position of need that would put the finishing touches on a championship-caliber unit. 29 year-old Jon Bostic proved that he can be trusted as a depth option at linebacker. However, difference-makers are essential at that spot, and Bostic is not one of those.
While I would consider linebacker as one of the shallower positions in this draft class, there are still some solid options in later rounds if the team misses out on the premiere prospects at the top end of the draft.
Secondary/Running Back
The priority of the need for reinforcement in the back end of the defensive unit will depend on whether or not certain players return, such as CB Ronald Darby.
As for running back, Peyton Barber was automatic on 3rd and 1, but that shouldn’t be enough to keep him around. The WFT needs a back to compliment Antonio Gibson’s skillset and relegate J.D. McKissic to an exclusive third-down back.
The Solutions
Finally, here are my proposed solutions to addressing these holes in Washington’s roster strictly through the draft. Feel free to mention me on Twitter with your thoughts (please, I beg you, be rational). My opinions are, obviously, subject to change. But these are the prospects I feel would best help Washington most fittingly as of right now.
Wide Receiver: Dazz Newsome - North Carolina
Selection: Round 4, Pick 115
Newsome is a wildly intriguing prospect to me. With a 4.37 forty-yard dash time on his resume, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound receiver shows shades of Terry McLaurin in his route running, catch radius, and sheer mannerisms on the field.
While there are certainly higher rated pass-catchers, I am convinced that if it wasn’t for one of the most stacked receiver draft classes in recent memory, Newsome would be regarded as a top-flight prospect for his position.
Left Tackle: Christian Darrisaw - Virginia Tech
Selection: Round 1, Pick 19
Darrisaw is an athletic freak of nature at the second-most important position on the football field. At 6-foot-5 and weighing in at a lighter 313 pounds, he has shown the ability to bend effectively, block in space, and work to the second level with relative ease.
While I would be extremely tempted to draft a player such as Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah or Florida WR Kadarius Toney with this pick, protecting the quarterback has to be a priority this offseason for a team who will likely miss out on a star passer.
Linebacker: Dylan Moses - Alabama
Selection: Round 2, Pick 51
Moses has a lot of experience playing at all three spots (Mike, Sam, and Will) in the second level. He’s a downhill attacker who loves to play in the opponent’s backfield. While there isn’t a whole lot of tape of him in coverage, he is more than enough of a pure athlete to transition his game to meet the demands of an NFL 4-3 linebacker seamlessly.
He’s rated pretty high, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Moses go earlier than the 51st pick. However, I do expect him to be there at this pick, and Washington should send the card in without hesitation when he is.
Secondary: Shaun Wade (CB), Ohio State
Running Back: Trey Sermon, Ohio State
Selection: Round 3, Picks 74 and 83
With the team’s third-round picks (which might be traded for a quarterback), I decided to focus on upside. Cornerback Shaun Wade had an up-and-down season, but showed that he has the potential to be an every-down outside defender. At 6-foot-1, he obtains the ideal frame for the position.
Running Back Trey Sermon is a nice compliment to Antonio Gibson in terms of his style of play. He has shown the ability to stick his nose in the middle of the defense’s front seven and get those tough yards, while also being able to bust every run for a big gain. You can read more about my thoughts on Sermon here.
Attacking these needs in the top half of the draft will be key to a successful offseason. This, in combination with a few splash free agency signings, will put the Washington Football Team on an upward trajectory for the next three to five years. And personally, I believe Dan Snyder and Ron Rivera have built the perfect front office to do just that.
You can listen to more of my roster and front office goals for the WFT on the TBER podcast.
Yes Sam Donald