Over the years, we’ve seen Dan Snyder walk into the war room and absolutely destroy it in the worst way. Not this time, though.
With the 2019 NFL Draft in the books, the Washington Redskins had one of the best drafts of any team during the three-day event. Surprisingly enough, Dan Snyder and his staff put together a strong board and didn’t make any bizarre decisions that set their franchise back. This was a draft that the fans of the team deserved, and so did Head Coach Jay Gruden. It could be a make-or-break season for him, but they really put together one of the better drafts out of anyone. Let’s take a look at what the Washington Redskins did for the 2019 NFL Draft!
1st Round (15th Overall) – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
The rumor going into Thursday night was that the Redskins were interested in either Haskins or Jones. In my final mock draft of the season, I predicted that they would move up to get Haskins and it would cost them a ton. Dan Snyder was able to keep the 15th pick and patiently wait for Dwayne Haskins to fall into their lap. When their turn was up, they chose my top-ranked quarterback, who was 24th overall on my board. Haskins isn’t necessarily pro-ready with only one year of starting experience; he benefited by playing in a system that had receivers with speed and could do plenty after the catch. However, Haskins makes good decisions and is accurate with the football. He’ll compete from day one, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he does become the starter because of how thin the roster is at quarterback.
1st Round (27th Overall) – Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
Trading back into the first round wasn’t exactly expected, but it was a cheap move for the Redskins; it only cost them their second-round pick. To be able to grab one of the ten best players in the draft in doing so was well worth it. There is a heart condition that made some teams scared of taking Montez Sweat, but he was a productive player for the Bulldogs. In two seasons, he had 30 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks. Winning with length, the ability to translate speed to power, and his athletic ability, Sweat can be a tone-setter off the edge for years to come.
3rd Round (76th Overall) – Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State
One of the biggest standouts from the Senior Bowl was Terry McLaurin. Outside of his ability as a route runner, he had developed chemistry with the Raiders’ coaching staff. At one point, Jon Gruden asked him, “Terry, where did all those (pride) stickers come from on your helmet? What do those even mean, man?” This past season, he only had 35 receptions, but he was a touchdown threat every time he touched the football, with 11 touchdowns. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds and already has chemistry with Dwayne Haskins. This could be one of the best picks of the third round.
it's unfortunate that Bryce Love couldn't get healthy. i really wonder where we'd all be on him as a prospect or if it would even matter.
either way, can't wait for the Eagles to draft him in round 5 so we can watch Doug utilize him the right way pic.twitter.com/Hurp6pX1Qa
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) April 5, 2019
4th Round (112th Overall) – Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
Going into the season, Bryce Love was my top-ranked running back. He was a special talent for Stanford, and the only thing that held him back this year was his health. Had he been healthy, he would have gone at least one round sooner. Can’t complain about this fit, though. He’s going to be a solid back within a committee and is going to complement Derrius Guice well for the future. This gets overlooked, but Love set records in the U.S. at age 11 for the 100-meter dash and the 400-meter dash. He’s a natural track star, and on the football field, he was explosive with the football in his hands. Love averaged over 8 yards per carry two seasons ago. This pick has limited risk, and again, if healthy, can pay off in a big way.
Rounds 4 and 5 add more depth
They weren’t done in the fourth round, though. After taking Bryce Love, the Redskins took a guard from Indiana, Wes Martin. I didn’t watch him much during the draft process but judging by his pro day, he had 38 reps in the bench press. Clearly, he’s one of the stronger players in the offensive line class and could develop nicely with his experience as a three-year starter for the Hoosiers.
To start the fifth round, the Redskins added Ross Pierschbacher from Alabama. He’s an experienced and versatile interior offensive lineman for the Crimson Tide. He had 28 starts at left guard, 13 starts at right guard, and 15 starts at center. He’s got the size and technique to move all along the offensive line at 6’4″ and 307 pounds. With his ability to operate in space and attack the second level with ease, he can compete right away. He has to get stronger, but overall, he looked good enough at the Senior Bowl. From my evaluation, he ended up 161st on my big board.
Huge pro day for North Carolina LB Cole Holcomb
22 bench reps
11” broad
4.48 40
skipped vert (jumped 39.5” at the regional combine)
6.77 3 cone
4.18 20 shuttle👀🔥
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) March 25, 2019
Lastly, Cole Holcomb is a depth linebacker from North Carolina. Taking him in the fifth round doesn’t hurt, and he tested incredibly well at the UNC pro day. He wasn’t a player that I studied during the process, but he brings experience with three years as a starter. Holcomb was a walk-on for the Tar Heels. Look for him on special teams early in his career.
6th Round (206th Overall) – Kelvin Harmon, WR, N.C. State
How in the world did Kelvin Harmon last until the 206th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft? I’m not sure what happened, but this was my 35th-ranked prospect, and he should have been taken several rounds earlier. Harmon is a prototypical “X” receiver and will become a pain for cornerbacks to compete against. Whether it’s in a contested catch situation or blocking downfield, Harmon has a good chance to win. This was a perfect landing spot for him, and the Redskins executed this draft perfectly to build around their new offense with Haskins, McLaurin, Love, and Harmon.
The Last Two Picks
In the 7th Round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Redskins selected Jimmy Moreland and Jordan Brailford. Both are defensive players that can provide depth for this defense. Moreland was a player we saw at the Senior Bowl, but he didn’t stand out from other players. He looked a bit undersized at 5’10” and 179 pounds, but he made some good plays on the ball.
During his career at James Madison, Moreland had 18 interceptions in his career, so having ball skills might be an understatement. As for Jordan Brailford from Oklahoma State, he’s an edge rusher that competed at 241 pounds during the week of the East-West Shrine Game.
He checked into the Combine at 6’3″ and 252 pounds. He doesn’t have great length for the position, and questions regarding his true body weight will cause some concern, but he did test well at the Combine. He posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.65 seconds and showed some explosiveness with a broad jump of 10’6″ and 37.5″ in the vertical jump. For Oklahoma State, he had 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks last season.
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