Free Agency, The Mock Drafts, 2017(Continual Updates)
Greetings from BBQ to all in BGO land.
Today we bring you the latest mock as we get closer to the draft of 2017. The big event occurs in two days and the roster will be full of new prospects before you know it.
We will have two mocks tomorrow. On Thursday BBQ will bring you a list of first round possibilities. For Friday, we will do the same for rounds two and three. Saturday features players who could be targets in rounds four through seven. We will not be featuring mocks that have a trade involving Kirk Cousins – only if and when that actually happens.
Feel free to offer your own ideas about the draft, free agency, team cuts, team additions, coaching changes and anything else related to these subjects. Too, we’d love to see your mocks if you are so inclined.
An extra note that we will continually post throughout the mocking process: These mocks may not necessarily be what BBQ wants or what the members at BGO may prefer. These mocks are designed to try and get into the mind of the Redskins brain trust and see what they will do. It’s not an easy task, but we’ll try to do our best.
Without any further delays, let’s take a look at the latest mock for 2017.
Team Needs:
Free Safety
Defensive Line
Wide Receiver
Inside Linebacker
Left Guard
Running Back
Round One: Trade
The Redskins trade down to the latter portion of round one and pick up a second rounder and a fourth rounder.
Round One: Malik McDowell, DE, Michigan St.
The commitment to the defensive line this offseason is real and totally obvious. With a new defensive line coach, the Redskins are placing a new emphasis on the front seven. The All-Big Ten stud is a powerful force who is a major disruption for opposing quarterbacks and running backs alike. Although he could play inside for a few snaps each game, his greatest potential is likely at end. There are a couple of concerns about his work ethic, but those fears are somewhat overblown and he could shine with Jim Tomsula as his position coach. McDowell recently added fifteen pounds of muscle and his measurements are now 6-6, 295.
Other Possible Targets:
Derek Barnett, OLB/DE, Tennessee
Forrest Lamp, OT/G, Western Kentucky
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio St.
Haason Reddick, ILB/OLB, Temple
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
Round Two: Adoree Jackson, CB, Southern California
The quality of wide receivers in the NFC-East has grown significantly over the last few seasons and it would be a good idea to take a quality corner here. The PAC 12 dynamo is an electrifying player and is arguably one of the best corners in the draft. He also had a fantastic career as a kick/punt returner for the Trojans. Lightning fast – can jump routes with ease. Can also play wide receiver on occasion and effectively so. Does has issues with taller receivers and can get beat on jump balls. Passionate player. Former teammate of Su’a Cravens.
Other Possible Targets:
Justin Evans, FS/SS, Texas A&M
Chris Wormley, DE/DT, Michigan
Kevin King, CB, Washington
Budda Baker, FS, Washington
Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio St.
Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland
Round Two: Marcus Williams, FS, Utah
Continuing their focus on defense, the Redskins look to the PAC 12 and find a free safety. Marcus Williams is a multi-talented athlete – a player who combines those skills into being one of the best in this draft. The Ute has great closing abilities on the deep ball. His incredible leaping skills allow him to win jump balls more often than not. A good tackler and finisher, but this disciplined player is rarely flagged for a penalty of any kind. Good speed. Takes good angles against running backs. Excellent middle field to sideline abilities. Almost never out of position. A true ball hawker who can goad the quarterback into mistakes. Humble, but determined attitude.
Round Three: Anthony Walker, ILB, Northwestern
There are several inside linebackers who garner more publicity, but Walker comes from a Big Ten program that receives lesser attention. Couple that with him being something of a sleeper prospect and it is not surprising to learn that he is rated a bit lower. But Walker should be rated higher and could be a starter on day one. Has extreme quickness – gets to the quarterback quickly and limits running backs coming out of the backfield. Would need to improve his coverage skills, but is very intelligent and a quick learner.
Other Possible Targets:
Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson
D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas
Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova
Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Nate Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh
Montravius Adams, DT/DE, Auburn
Round Four: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
Ray Rice saw his career end for a fist to the face of his wife on an elevator. It was brutal. Joe Mixon slapped a young woman over two years ago and the tape is also brutal. Does the young man deserve a chance? It could be a question that the Redskins front office is willing to answer and do so in the affirmative. No one questions the elite talent that is Joe Mixon. The Sooner is a true first round talent – possibly the second best running back in the 2017 class. The Big 12 dynamo is electric and powerful at the same time. If he can assure the Redskins that lack of maturity is no longer an issue, then Mixon is a major steal here.
Other Possible Targets:
Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech
Kendell Beckwith, ILB, LSU
Jake Butt, TE, Michigan
Brendan Langley, CB, Lamar
Elijah Qualls, DT, Washington
Ryan Glasgow, DE/DT, Michigan
Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M
Vincent Taylor, DE, Oklahoma St.
Round Four: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT/DE, Alabama
The Redskins continue to rebuild their defensive line this offseason (now with the draft) and look to the Crimson Tide – that perennial powerhouse of the SEC. They produce a lot of talent and Dalvin Tomlinson is another one of their prospects. His specialty is run stuffing, but he became a better pass rusher later in the 2016 season. He won’t get a lot of sacks, but will bat plenty of passes down. Solid player who gladly puts team goals ahead of his own. Very intelligent. Needs to develop a little bit more of a mean streak attitude.
Round Four: Isaac Asiata, G, Utah
This very strong and powerfully built guard could be a target for the Redskins. Asiata has played tackle and center, but mostly out of necessity due to injuries along the Utes offensive line. The PAC 12 lineman has the prototypical size to play inside and left guard is his natural position. Excellent in the rushing offense, but will need some work in the pass protection schemes. This four year starter could crack the starting lineup by mid-season, maybe sooner.
Round Five: Jarron Jones, DE/DT, Notre Dame
The Redskins are massively overhauling the defensive line and are taking no prisoners. Jones is a productive force at defensive tackle and end. He has superb athleticism for a man his size and figures to play more at the end, but could slide inside at times. Jones has the potential to dominate offensive linemen when he is in a groove and can live in the backfield. The ACC (Affiliated) standout uses his length to block passes and possesses a respectable pass rush. He can disappear at times during a game, but Jim Tomsula will likely provide good coaching and motivation.
Other Possible Targets:
Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas
Charles Walker, DE/DT, Oklahoma
Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego St.
DeDe Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma
John Johnson, FS, Boston College
Taylor Moton, G/OT, Western Michigan
Eddie Vanderdoes, DT/DE, UCLA
Round Six: Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado
There are some humongous, towering, massive mountains in Colorado – Telluride, Pikes Peak, Mount Elbert, Crestone Peak, Josh Tupou. He’s big! He eats only one meal a day – it last about eight hours. Ok, enough of the lame one liners. Let’s get to the obvious – Very strong. Plays with a passion. Good at the point of attack. Handles double teams with ease. A major cog in the middle. Excels in the rushing defense. Provides a decent pass rush. Can play in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 defense. At 6-3 and 355, the PAC 12 standout can actually run a 5.3 forty. A true Buffalo indeed.
Other Possible Targets:
Jordan Morgan, G, Kutztown
Josh Augusta, DT, Missouri
Delano Hill, SS/FS, Michigan
Jehu Chesson, WR, Michigan
Jordan Evans, ILB, Oklahoma
C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa
Richie Brown, OLB/ILB, Mississippi St.
Round Six: Jay Guillermo, G/C, Clemson
Jay Guillermo is versatile and can play either guard or center. That’s a good reason for the Redskins to take a flyer on him. Also, there is a need to have a backup at center. He would be drafted for depth purposes, but could actually be a starter within a year or two. The ACC lineman has the massive size that is favored in the NFL for inside positions on the offensive line. Good pass protector, but would need to work on the running game.
Round Seven: Ricky Seals-Jones, WR, Texas A&M
Ricky Seals-Jones was a five star recruit for the Aggies of the SEC, but has failed to live up to the hype. However, some pundits feel that his best days are still ahead of him as he does flash occasional bouts of greatness. At 6-5 and 240, he would be a definite target in the end zone for jump balls and various fade routes. He likely needs two years to get a feel of the NFL. He ceiling is very high, but can he reach it? The Redskins front office may think so. Could potentially play defense/special teams when the opposing team lines up for a field goal – jumping and raising those long arms would be interesting.
Other Possible Targets:
James Quick, WR, Louisville
David Jones, FS, Richmond
Ben Boulware, ILB, Clemson
Pharaoh Brown, TE, Oregon
Tyrique Jarrett, DT, Pittsburgh
Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina
Hardy Nickerson, ILB, Illinois
Ben Braden, G, Michigan
Hardy Nickerson, ILB, Illinois
Round Seven: Dylan Donahue, OLB, West Georgia
The University of West Georgia is about forty-five miles west of Atlanta. The athletics program has one interesting footnote – a women’s volleyball player in the late 1990s that stood just under seven feet tall. Now the Wolves could have a new claim to fame – a football player who could become a star in the NFL. Dylan Donahue could be legit. He has the size. He has decent speed. He has a nose for the football. Good in all phases of the game. The Gulf South product produced 20 tackles for a loss along with 13.5 sacks in 2016. He posted similar numbers in 2015. Could become a special teams standout. So much for that volleyball player.
Undrafted Free Agent Prospects:
Dayon Pratt, OLB, East Carolina
Patrick Ricard, DE/DT, Maine
Erik Austell, G, Charleston Southern
Connor Bozick, OT, Delaware
Adam Griffith, K, Alabama
Chad Williams, WR, Grambling
Darius Victor, RB, Towson
Derrick Griffin, TE, Texas Southern
Will Holden, OT, Vanderbilt
Vernon Sainvil, OT/G, St. Francis Xavier (Canada)
Joey Ivie, DT, Florida
Patrick Towles, QB, Boston College
Tony Stevens, WR, Auburn
Prospects Contacted, Interviewed, Visited:
East-West Shrine game - EW
Senior Bowl - SB
Combine – NFLC
Team Pro Day – TPD
Team Visit – TV
Private Workout – PW
Billy Brown, TE, Shepherd – EW
Avery Moss, DE, Youngstown St. - EW
Erik Austell, OT, Charleston Southern – EW
De’Veon Smith, RB, Michigan - EW
Tony Stevens, WR, Auburn - EW
Channing Stribling, CB, Michigan – EW
Joey Ivie, DT, Florida – EW
Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky – SB
Ryan Glasgow, DT, Michigan – SB
Brendan Langley, CB, Lamar – SB
Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M - SB
Marquez White, CB, Florida St. – SB
Ben Gedeon, ILB, Michigan – SB
Tarell Basham, DE/OLB, Ohio – SB
Zach Banner, OT/G, Southern Cal – SB
Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn – SB, NFLC
Dalvin Tomlinson, DE, Alabama – SB, NFLC
Patrick Vidal, DL, Catholic Univ. – PW
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – NFLC
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida St. – NFLC
John Ross, WR, Washington – NFLC
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama – NFLC
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Southern Cal – NFLC
Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina – NFLC
Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson – NFLC
Avery Gennesy, OT, Texas A&M – NFLC
William Holden, OT, Vanderbilt – NFLC
Danny Isidora, G, Miami – NFLC
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech – NFLC
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford – NFLC
Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida – NFLC
Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama – NFLC
Chris Godwin, WR, Penn St. – NFLC
Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova – NFLC
Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan – NFLC
Adoree Jackson, CB, Southern Cal – NFLC
Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas St. – NFLC
Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio St. – NFLC
Budda Baker, FS, Washington – NFLC
Jamal Adams, FS, LSU – NFLC
Malik McDowell, DE, Michigan St. – NFLC, TV
Obi Melifonwu, SS, Connecticut – NFLC, PW, TV
Cameron Lee, G, Illinois St. – NFLC
Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado – TPD
Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State – PW
Patrick Towles, QB, Boston College – TPD
Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan – TV, PW
Patrick Ricard, DE/DT, Maine – TPD, PW
Derrick Griffin, TE, Texas Southern – TPD
Niles Scott, DT, Frostburg St. – TV
Dayon Pratt, OLB, East Carolina – TPD
T.J. Watt, ILB/OLB, Wisconsin – PW
Chad Williams, WR, Grambling – PW
Haason Reddick, OLB/ILB, Temple – TV
DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida St. – TV
Josh Jones, SS, N.C. State – PW
Tedric Thompson, FS, Colorado – TV
Derek Barnett, OLB/DE, Tennessee – TV
Kofi Amichia, G, South Florida – PW
Darius Victor, RB, Towson – TV
Levern Jacobs III, WR, Maryland – TV
Tyus Bowser, OLB/ILB/DE, Houston – TV
Deon-Tay McManus, WR, Marshall – PW
Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama – TV
Connor Bozick, OT, Delaware – PW
There is your latest mock and prospect lists. The draft will be here before you know it. See you as we go along.
Hail To The Redskins!