Washington Redskins 2018 Draft Wish List

Now that NFL Free Agency is slowing down from its earlier frenetic pace, it’s time for the Washington Redskins to turn their focus towards April’s draft. There are multiple avenues that the Skins can take towards re-shaping their roster, and I have made my best picks for Washington in each round of the draft based on where I see the greatest area of need.

Round 1, Pick #13:

With the 13th overall pick this year’s NFL Draft, I see the Redskins staying put (rather than trading up/down) and selecting nose tackle Vita Vea, from Washington State. The Redskins ranked dead last in the league this past season at stopping the run, and will need a versatile big-bodied DT to help bolster their run defense.

Round 2, Pick #12:

The Redskins recently traded away former second-round pick Su’a Cravens to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a handful of picks, so they would be wise to find Cravens’ replacement in this round. At this stage, look for the Redskins to target Ronnie Harrison from Alabama. They may have to do some “wheeling and dealing” for getting this dynamic safety to fall into their lap, however, if they miss out on Harrison, expect them to consider drafting Justin Reid from Stanford.

Round 4, Pick #6 (From Denver):

The Redskins improved their outlook in this round with the aforementioned trade to Denver, so look for them to find a dynamic running back who can compliment Chris Thompson. I would approve of the Redskins taking Kerryon Johnson from Auburn, who many mock drafters have as a late third-round pick who could slip through to the fourth round. If that’s the case, Washington will begin celebrating as they hand their draft selection card to commissioner Roger Goodell.

Round 5, Pick #5 (From Denver):

In this round, the Redskins have two picks to work with, and they should find ways to improve the depth they are missing in areas of need. For this particular selection, Tyquann Lewis from Ohio State would be an excellent edge rusher to complement their All-Pro Ryan Kerrigan.

Round 5, Pick #26 (From Denver):

In the later stages of this round, watch for the Redskins to find a tight end similar to the pass-catching abilities of veteran Vernon Davis. Coach Jay Gruden would be elated to have Durham Smythe from Notre Dame with this selection. This would be a great insurance policy if Jordan Reed continues to have trouble staying on the field. Additionally, the Redskins lost Logan Paulsen and Niles Paul to free agency.  This seems like a sure bet for the fifth round.

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Round 6, Pick #14:

I expect for the Redskins to select another solid route runner in this draft by selecting WR Antonio Callaway from Florida. This Washington team would kill to have him as a fourth option on the wide receiving depth chart in long-yardage situations for new QB Alex Smith to work with.

Round 7, Pick #13:

While the 7th round is mostly for rounding out the depth chart, a few gems still remain. I would expect the Skins to invest in a cornerback here in the likes of Christian Campbell from Penn State. The Redskins need to do everything in their power to ensure they are not “signing players off the street” when injuries happen in the secondary.  This would be another great insurance policy pick.

Round 7, Pick #23:

With the Redskins final pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, look for them to draft an additional running back to compete with the veterans on their roster for a spot, or make an impact on special teams. In this final stage of the draft, Kyle Hicks from TCU would fit the bill.

Photo Credit: Washington Redskins Connection