As the days go by, it’s starting to feel more and more likely that the Washington Redskins know what they’re going to do when it comes to the 2020 NFL Draft. With the No. 2 overall pick, and a likely clear shot at taking Ohio State’s DE Chase Young, the selection is seemingly signed, sealed and delivered, two months before draft day.
That doesn’t mean that things can’t change though. As confident as you are that Washington will be the landing spot for Young, you’d be lying if you claimed that it’s guaranteed to happen. This is the NFL, and things can get crazy when that clock is ticking down, especially when there are franchise-altering decisions on the line.
So, who actually has the highest chance of being picked by the Redskins in the first round? We’re about to break it down. If you have any knowledge about how sports wagering goes, then you’ll pick this up quickly — we simply handicapped what we think the odds would be. If you’re new to gambling on sports or are unfamiliar with the terminology, here’s a refresher.
Note: These odds were set under the impression that the Redskins could end up trading their first pick as well. There are a select number of players listed below that would be drafted at No. 2, the rest are handicapped with the assumption that the Redskins would have a pick in the range of 5-10.
DE Chase Young — Ohio State (-500)
This doesn’t need much explaining; Young is the HEAVY favorite in this race. Many believe that the dominant edge-rusher is the best defensive prospect to come out of college in several years, and that’s saying a whole lot when you consider that both Nick and Joey Bosa came out of OSU within the past half-decade.
Young had 16.5 sacks in his senior season with the Buckeyes despite missing two games. His impact goes a lot further than that, as well, due to an opposing team’s propensity to send double- or triple-teams to stimy his action on the front line.
Young is about as great of a prospect as you can ask for under a new head coach, and he will likely be the jump-start that this franchise needs to get back into contention.
With (-500) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $20 in profit.
LB Isaiah Simmons — Clemson (+225)
If the Redskins pass on Young, and trade down to get a later pick in the draft, it’s because they are sky-high on Simmons. That’s my opinion at least. There was arguably no player that better helped his draft stock at the 2020 NFL Combine last week than Simmons, who impressed scouts on the field by turning out a 4.39 40-yard dash, as well as a 39-inch vertical and an 11-foot broad jump. At 6-foot-4 and 238-pounds, those are scary numbers.
Simmons is arguably the second-best defensive player in the draft, next to Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah, and the Redskins would have to be careful about how far back in the draft they’d be able to move and still be in a position to take him. Simmons is likely to hear his name called somewhere between the 3-6 range, and if I were Washington, I would be nervous about having him available anywhere lower than the 5th pick.
Unlike Chase Young, Simmons presents a perfect fit for one of the Redskins’ biggest needs — at the linebacker position. Taking a player of his caliber would allow Jack Del Rio to plug Simmons in next to Reuben Foster and Cole Holcomb on day one and watch him go to work. Not a bad consolation prize for missing out on Young.
With (+225) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $225 in profit.
QB Tua Tagovailoa — Alabama (+300)
I gave Tua Tagovailoa the third-highest odds on this list more to save my own ass than anything else. I do not believe that the Redskins would draft the star QB out of Alabama, as I think they are confident that they will be able to make things work with Dwayne Haskins in the near future. Still, the recent buzz about Ron Rivera and other personnel directors meeting with Tagovailoa has to give you a bit of pause. It’s unlikely, but there is a reality in which the Redskins set up a QB battle for the ages between two young and promising quarterbacks. Because of this, the odds are lower so as to deter bettors from placing large sums of money and leaving me liable, should something crazy happen.
This move is not without precedent either, as the Arizona Cardinals orchestrated a plan that was very similar just last year. With the No. 1 overall pick, first-year head coach Kliff Kinsbury drafted QB Kyler Murray, trading away Josh Rosen, who was drafted with the No. 10 pick just a year prior. Much like the Redskins have to choose between Tua Tagovailoa or Dwayne Haskins/Chase Young, the Cardinals had to pick between Kyler Murray or Josh Rosen/Nick Bosa. You could easily argue for either side there, but I don’t think that’s enough for them to pull the trigger.
With (+300) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $300 in profit.
CB Jeff Okudah — Ohio State (+450)
Like Isaiah Simmons, Okudah is an intriguing prospect for the Redskins, as he would be an incredible consolation prize for missing out on Chase Young. Okudah ran a 4.48 40-yard-dash, and his broad jump of 11-feet-3-inches is remarkable. As The Ringer said following the NFL Combine, he is virtually a perfect cornerback prospect.
The Redskins have a major need at the CB position as well. While the future of Quinton Dunbar in Washington is still up in the air, the defense will be looking for another pass-defender that they can plug into the secondary as quickly as possible. Both Fabian Moreau and Jimmy Moreland showed some promise in 2019, but it’s understandable that they want some more depth at the position heading into a new season.
The Redskins are expected to be major spenders at the CB position in this year’s free agency market, but should they get a chance to draft a prospect like Okudah, it would be hard to pass up.
With (+450) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $450 in profit.
OT Mekhi Becton — Louisville (+650)
It’s starting to seem more and more likely that the Redskins will be in need of a replacement for Trent Williams at the left tackle position, and Mekhi Becton might be as good of a candidate as any.
With a massive 6-foot-7 and 364-pound frame, Becton turned heads at the NFL Combine when he ran a 5.1-second 40-yard-dash. That’s insane.
Becton is far more than just a combine athlete, as well, and he had a huge impact for Louisville in his senior season there, protecting the blindside and getting into space in the running game.
There are still a lot of dominos to fall in the Williams situation in Washington, but should he depart ahead of the 2020 season, Becton would be a great replacement.
With (+650) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $650 in profit.
OT Jedrick Wills Jr. — Alabama (+675)
Like Becton, Jedrick Wills Jr. makes a ton of sense for the Redskins if they are looking to replace Trent Williams. He’s not as big as Becton, standing 6-foot-4 and 312-pounds, but he is just as quick and versatile, running a 5.05-second 40-yard-dash.
One of Wills’ biggest assets is his athleticism, as he is able to move to stay in front of edge defenders, while also being able to get out in the running game and find his way into the second level. He would also be joining a die-hard brotherhood of Alabama boys in Washington, should he be picked by the Redskins.
With (+675) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $675 in profit.
OT Tristan Wirfs — Iowa (+750)
If Isaiah Simmons was the biggest defensive benefactor from the NFL Combine, Tristan Wirfs might have been the biggest offensive benefactor. USA Today’s Draft Wire broke down how special his combine performance was:
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound blocker tallied a 4.85 40-yard dash which was the best mark of any offensive linemen in attendance. He didn’t stop there. Wirfs went on post a 36.5-inch vertical jump which is a modern record among offensive linemen. He also posted a 10-foot-1 broad jump, tying the all-time record among O-linemen set by Kolton Miller a few years ago.
A supreme athlete that has the size to be a rock on the left side of the line, Wirfs will be a great franchise player wherever he lands.
With (+750) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $750 in profit.
OT Andrew Thomas — Georgia (+800)
Thomas was once believed to be the top left tackle in this year’s draft class, but the aforementioned prospects have caught up to him as of late. At 6-foot-5 and 315-pounds, Thomas has the size necessary to be a dominant LT that shores up a QB’s blindside. He also has proven to be highly versatile in his career, and his willingness to play at either tackle spot is unmatched in the top 10.
Though there are tackles that are higher on my draft list, should the Redskins end up with a first-round pick somewhere near No. 10, assuming they get an absolutely massive haul of draft picks in return, Thomas would be a great selection.
With (+800) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $800 in profit.
WR Jerry Jeudy — Alabama (+1000)
The Redskins are in need of another receiving threat to go opposite of Terry McLaurin, and Jerry Jeudy is arguably the best receiver in this year’s draft. His combine was slightly less impressive than some would have hoped, as the 6-foot-1 receiver turned in a 4.45-second 40-time, with a 35-inch vertical. Still, anyone who has seen what Jeudy can do on the field has no doubts about his future ability in the NFL.
In his final two seasons at Alabama, Jeudy had 24 total touchdowns and almost 2,500 yards. He is undoubtedly the hottest name at the WR position coming into 2020.
With (+1000) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $1,000 in profit.
QB Joe Burrow — LSU (+2500)
This may be the most unlikely scenario for the Redskins, but it’s at least intriguing to think about. What if the Cincinnati Bengals pass on Heisman-winning QB Joe Burrow for some reason? Maybe he pulls a John Elway or Eli Manning at the last minute and declares that he won’t play for the Bengals if they draft him? In this case, the Bengals would likely select Chase Young with the first pick, or maybe trade it away for someone who does want Burrow. The same could be said for the Redskins; maybe they draft Burrow and trade away Haskins, or maybe they trade the No. 2 pick for an impressive haul.
It’s extremely unlikely to happen, hence the astronomical odds, but it’s fun to consider, at the very least.
With (+2500) odds, if you wagered $100, you would win $2,500 in profit.
