All in all, it’s accurate to say that the Washington Redskins just completed another incredibly successful NFL Draft, coming away from 2020 with several weapons that have a chance to contribute meaningful minutes right away in the Fall, and another handful of players who can add depth to the roster and hopefully be molded into eventual difference-makers.
So who were some of the biggest benefactors from the action this weekend, and who is a bit worse for the ware? Let’s break it down.
Winners
Everyone on the defensive line
With the obvious selection of Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick, the entire Redskins defense was better off, but specifically the defensive line. If Young turns out to be the dominant force that many are projecting as early as his rookie year, every lineman on the defensive front will stand to benefit in Washington, as opposing offenses will be forced to shift attention to him, letting others slide through the cracks. Whether that’s Montez Sweat, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, or Ryan Kerrigan, the thought stands the same. High tides let talent rise around them, and the tide that’s coming with Young has a chance to be special.
Losers
Geron Christian and Ross Pierschbacher
In the fourth and fifth rounds of the draft, the Redskins selected both an LT who is projected to sit for a year and a C/G who is projected to do the same. Seems like they could be crowding on Christian’s and Pierschbachers’s space, does it not? While the Redskins used mid-round picks on both players in the last few years, neither has shown any improvement as of yet, and Washington may feel like it’s time to get some new blood in the offensive line depth chart, hoping that these new players can hit. They will all battle for a spot on the roster this fall, but I would be shocked if both Christian and Perschbacher make the squad in the fall.
Winners
Dwayne Haskins
The Redskins were adamant about adding weapons to the offense in the draft, doing everything they could to surround Haskins with as much talent as possible. With the additions of both Antonio Gibson and Antonio Gandy-Golden, Haskins now has a highly versatile pass-catching running back to shoulder the load in the backfield, and a big-bodied WR who can take the top off of the defense opposite Terry McLaurin. Washington also added Thad Moss, an extremely competent blocking TE with as sure of hands as you’ll ever see, plus Saahdiq Charles, an LT who can hopefully step into the starting role down the road.
If you’ve ever wondered who the most important guy is for Washington, the answer is clear — it’s Dwayne Haskins, and he got a lot more help around him this weekend.
Losers
Bruce Allen
If it wasn’t clear before that Bruce Allen was an incompetent general manager who set the Redskins back several years, the trade compensation that Washington got back from the San Francisco 49ers in lieu of a Trent Williams departure was the icing on the cake. After sitting out the entire 2019 season, Williams lost out on $13 million and a year of his prime, and the Redskins were able to get just a third and fifth-round pick for him. It’s easy to think that if Washington had traded him before the deadline in 2019, they would have easily been able to get a first-rounder for him at the very worst.
Winners
Logan Thomas and Richard Rodgers
The Redskins chose to pass up the TE position completely in the draft, saying that instead they are confident that they have a couple of solid players already on the roster, and it wasn’t a major area of need. Talk about a vote of confidence for a couple of free agents who have yet to take a snap in Washington, huh? The Redskins signed Thaddeus Moss as an undrafted free agent after the draft was over, and he will have a chance to compete for a roster spot, which he can definitely take, but as of now, it seems that both Thomas and Rodgers are not only safe going into the 2020 season, but they will likely be slotted in as the top two options at the position.
Winner
Adrian Peterson
Peterson has already had an incredibly historic career in the NFL, and he will no doubt be a Hall of Famer when all is said and done. Now, in the final stages of his career, AP has the chance to be part of a nice NFL story, where he can say he played alongside both TE Thaddeus Moss, as well as his father Randy Moss, whom he was teammates with on the Minnesota Vikings back in 2010.
It may not mean much on the stat sheet, but it’s a fun piece of trivia for the history books.
Winner
Kyle Smith
The Redskins don’t technically have a General Manager at the moment, but….they do..ya know?
Yet again, Smith turned in a very successful NFL Draft, where he has helped to set up the Redskins future, stocking the roster with high-end talent and promising players that can contribute in the future. As the VP of Player Personnel, many expected the draft to be a test for Smith and how he operated. If he succeeded, the GM job could be waiting.
Well, he succeeded alright. If there’s any question as to who Washington should name as the GM, look no further than Kyle Smith. He’s your guy.
