Redskins Draft Special Round 1 (Pick 17)

Everyone except for Myles Garrett has been linked to the Redskins at the 17th pick.  It is hard to determine what the Redskins will do, and the smart money is that they may trade down to acquire more picks for trade in the later rounds.  I think the Redskins trade up a lot in this draft to get players they want for the simple fact that it may be hard to carry 10 new players on their roster.  I do think that they need an elite pass rushing DE more than anything, and if they are to stay at 17 that would be Derek Barnett.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports, NFL Combine Results Page, and the NFL Draft Tracker.

Round 1 (17th Overall Selection):  Derek Barnett    DE    (Tennessee)
Height: 6'3"   Weight: 259 lbs   40 yd: 4.88   3 Cone Drill: 6.96 sec

Who would not want an elite level SEC pass rusher?  Derek Barnett is the cream of the crop when it comes to pass rushing ability and stat production. Barnett was a three year starter at Tennessee, the first defensive lineman ever to start as a true freshman for the Vols, where he accumulated 32 sacks over his three years.  Barnett was named First Team All-American by numerous outlets in 2016, and his stat production came against some of the SEC's best. Barnett is a violent pass rusher who uses superior hand fighting technique in unison with good footwork to rush the passer.  While his speed and athleticism are question marks for some, his 6.96 cone drill time was 5th at the combine for defensive linemen and only .01 seconds behind Solomon Thomas.  Barnett shows this quickness in his ability to get around lineman and close in on the quarterback in the pocket.  Barnett is a play maker who is not content with just setting the edge.  He uses great moves to get around the tackles and finishes his sacks.  Barnett also shows great spatial awareness in batting passes, defending screens, covering passes in the flat.  Barnett is described as a quiet player who lets his high level of hustle and intensity do his talking, and someone the coaches described as the heart and soul of the Volunteer defense.

Barnett's limitations come with his athletic acumen.  Scouts worry about his inferior athleticism compared to other DE's in this class, and that he relies too much on timing the snap to make up for his lack of burst off of the line. That timing has caused him to be on the wrong end of offsides penalties.  Barnett also has trouble changing direction once he gets going down field, and scouts note that he will have trouble with quarterbacks who elude the pocket.  There are also questions about his overall footwork, and his ability to sustain pressure when he does not win the initial confrontation with his hands.  Scouts also note that he needs to diversify his pass rush techniques and not rely solely on beating tackles of the edge with dip moves and hand fighting.  Finally, Barnett comes from a 4-3 scheme and may have trouble adapting to the 3-4.  Whatever.  The Redskins need a guy like this on the line.

Barnett's highlights are a thing of beauty.  He wins one-on-one battles at the line and can put major pressure on the quarterback.  Barnett's style maybe reminiscent of Brian Orakpo's straight line approach, but remember that that move worked for a few years.  The Redskins could develop his technique and possibly put muscle on him to be able to handle NFL level tackles, but those are things that can be easily done.  You cannot teach someone to do what Barnett does at the point of attack to win against lineman, and his dedicated level of play could prove to be infectious.  He would also provide yet another option at pass rusher that would give the Redskins front seven a scarier look in passing situations.  The Redskins have relatively good  outside pass rushers at the linebacker position, but they need people at the line who can strike the same fear into opposing offenses.  Barentt would do that the moment he puts on a Burgundy and Gold uniform, and if the is there at 17 (or wherever the Redskins end up in the first round) without any better alternative at D-line (i.e. Solomon Thomas) the Redskins would be fools to not pick him.

Redskins Draft Special Round 2 (Pick 49)

Another pick where the Redskins could do a lot of things.  This one could be a reach, and yes I propose that we take two safeties in this draft, but what would a Redskins draft be without a little redundancy.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports, NFL Combine Results Page, and the NFL Draft Tracker.

Round 2 (49th Overall Selection):  Marcus Williams    S    (Utah)
Height: 6'1"   Weight: 202 lbs   40 yd: 4.56   Vert: 43.5"

Everyone seems to be falling in love with Obi Melifonwu from UConn, and for good reason.  He is an athletic freak who wowed people at the combine, and whose body type maybe more suited for the NFL than Marcus Williams.  But the Redskins have plenty of thumpers at safety.  What they need is someone who can play center field and actually cover a lot of ground on deep pass plays. Williams fits that mold perfectly.  Williams is a safety with 4.5 speed and whose quickness drills at the combine were comparable to Budda Baker, not to mention that he had the second highest vertical behind Melifonwu.  Williams, though, is not just a workout warrior.  He forced 18 turnovers the past three seasons for the Utes including 11 interceptions, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.  Scouts note his impeccable ability to make plays on the ball from deep positions, and he possesses the instincts and timing necessary to track deep balls and break up pass plays.  He also has good instincts in the run game that allow him to be first to the ball, and he is avid in trying to strip the ball from the ball carrier.  Williams is characterized as a true center field type safety who has the speed and quickness to cover a lot of ground in the open field in order to defend the pass, and he is also not afraid to step up and play the run.  The Utah coaches attribute Williams's honed instincts to his voracious appetite for film study, and they have called him one of the most committed people on the Utah team.  With all of these positives, there are some worrisome negatives that Williams has.

Williams missed two games in 2016 with a sprained knee, and while the injury appeared to be nothing major it could be indicative of a larger problem for Williams in the NFL.  His smaller frame and wrap up tackling style may leave him more prone to injury, and he may not have the same type of success with creating fumbles as he did at Utah.  Bigger running backs have been able to carry him for extra yardage, and even slip his tackles due to Williams's lack of pop on his hits.  Williams also has been known to read the quarterbacks too carefully, and he can fall for misdirection and pump fakes. Despite these shortcomings, which can be fixed at the next level, Williams is the safety the Redskins should go with in the higher rounds.

The Redskins need someone to police the deep routes that they get killed on time and again, and Williams is that type of guy.  His 10 INT's over the past two seasons against PAC-12 competition should be all the Redskins need to know in drafting a player like this.  His size could be a turnoff, but just like Tarell Basham that can be fixed through proper training and conditioning.  It is also hard to deny Williams's instincts and work ethic that could increase the level of commitment from everyone in the locker room.  Williams would not necessarily be a physical enforcer, but he was a guy that PAC-12 quarterbacks had to think twice about challenging due to his elite level of play.  The Redskins have not had someone like that at safety for a long time, and when paired with Cravens or Swearinger it could allow the Redskins to play around with interesting coverage packages.  The Redskins need a sure fire play maker in the back of the defense, and for my money it should be Marcus Williams.

Redskins Draft Special Round 3 (Pick 81)

This could be a pick the Redskins package into a Draft Day trade.  There is a lot of talent around this part of the Draft, and there are a lot of directions the Redskins could go if they decide to stay at 81.  Here is someone who could be an intriguing project for the Redskins to get in the 3rd round.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports, NFL Combine Results Page, and the NFL Draft Tracker.

Round 3 (81st Overall Selection):  Tarell Basham    DE    (Ohio)
Height: 6'4"   Weight: 269 lbs   40 yd: 4.70   Vert: 31.5"

Tarell Basham is a prototypical NFL Defensive End that started all four years for Ohio and recorded a school record 29 sacks over that time.  His best season came in 2016 where he had 16 TFL and 11.5 sacks en route to being named The 2016 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year.  Scouts note that Basham is quick in short bursts, which allows him to close on running backs and scrambling quarterbacks.  Basham also has long arms and a high motor that he uses to never give up on a play, and he has good spatial awareness that allows him to avoid cut blocks and even drop into coverage at times.  The Ohio coaches also raved about his infectious personality and work ethic that allowed him to evolve as a football player.  Basham does not come without limitations, most notably his surprising 15 reps on the bench at the combine.  Being overpowered by strength at the NFL level is a major concern, and there are questions about his stats being a product of the level of competition Basham faced in the MAC. Basham still has room to grow in the area of diversifying his pass rushing skills, and there is uncertainty as to whether he can enhance his play style in order to beat NFL level lineman.  As the saying goes, though, you can't teach speed/quickness, and the Redskins could get someone they could develop into a solid NFL pass rusher.

The Redskins need edge rushers, and they could get a guy with that type of speed and quickness in Basham.  The depth along the defensive line needs to be bolstered, and Basham could inject youth, work ethic, and talent into that group.  The Redskins need to give teams other people to worry about pressuring the quarterback other than Ryan Kerrigan, and Basham's college stats indicate that he could be that guy.  While his strength and rawness may give teams pause, his speed, quickness, and instincts should prompt the Redskins strength coaches to develop a plan to get him game ready by September.  Basham could be the guy who backs up Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee while learning the facets of the NFL game.  The Redskins need help in their defensive front, and while some scouts say that Basham could fall to the lower rounds, the Redskins may not want to take that chance.

Redskins Draft Special Round 4 (Pick 114)

The Redskins traded their 5th round pick last year (158th overall) to the Jets for a 4th round this year, which turns out to be the 114th overall selection.  The Jets took OT Brandon Shell out of South Carolina with that pick, and hopefully the Redskins can out do them by choosing a better SEC offensive lineman.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports, NFL Combine Results Page, and the NFL Draft Tracker.

Round 4 (114th Overall Selection):  Will Holden    OT    (Vanderbilt)
Height: 6'7"   Weight: 311 lbs   40 yd: 5.47   Broad Jump: 111.0"

The Redskins could use depth at the tackle position, and Will Holden may be able to fill the role as Morgan Moses's understudy.  Holden is a redshirt senior out of Vanderbilt who has played all over the offensive line, but made a home as the Commodores resident do-it-all tackle.  He started 10 of 12 games at right tackle in 2014, but was moved to left tackle the next season due to injuries along the offensive line.  All Holden did there was make 37 consecutive starts for Vanderbilt from 2015-2016 and he was named Second Team All-SEC as a left tackle in 2016.  Holden is noted as being a very good run blocker who has the quickness and strength to move the defenders off the line in the run game. He has good instincts when moving to the second level on run plays, and is fundamentally sound enough to compensate for some athletic shortcomings.  The most notable of those shortcomings is Holden's struggle with speed rushers off the edge.  Holden has been beaten by players with enough quickness and speed to get around the edge, and Holden also tends to struggle shutting down stunts at the line.  Despite those shortcomings the Redskins would be wise to give Holden a look if he is here at the 114th pick.

While the Redskins are high on Ty Nsekhe he cannot be everywhere at once.  As Morgan Moses continues to age, and if Trent Williams continues to smoke pot, the Redskins may need another option at tackle that they can plug in.  Holden brings experience at both tackle spots to the Redskins offensive line, but more than likely the right side is more suitable to his skill set at the NFL level.  It would be another case of finding someone who can provide depth at first and maybe develop into a starter.  If the Redskins are looking to take a running back anywhere in this draft it would behoove them to start adding depth to the offensive line as well.  Even if they don't take a running back, the running game last year was sporadic at best and Holden's durability and skill set play right into bolstering the offensive line's ability to sustain changes due to injury or suspension.  Holden's disciplined nature would also bring good intangibles to the team as well, so the Redskins would be wise to give Holden a look in the 4th round.

Redskins Draft Special Round 4 (Pick 123)

There are a lot of directions the Redskins can go with this pick, but I propose choosing a player who may not be as obvious.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports, NFL Combine Results Page, and the NFL Draft Tracker.

Round 4 (123rd Overall Selection):  Wayne Gallman    RB    (Clemson)
Height: 6'0"   Weight: 215 lbs   40 yd: 4.60   20 yd Shuttle: 4.28 sec

He is no Joe Mixon, but I could not in good conscience take THREE players who had to miss a year in college due to disciplinary reasons.  Hence the choice of Wayne Gallman, and he may fit the Redskins scheme better than you would think.  Gallman is a hard runner who has good bursts through the tackles and can make quick cuts at the line of scrimmage.  His 20 yard shuttle time was 5th at the combine for RB's, and was only .06 seconds slower than Christian McCaffrey who is listed as being almost 15 pounds lighter than his Clemson counter part.  Gallman has used that size to be a hard runner who always falls forward and fights for the extra yards.  He is noted as being trustworthy in fourth and short situations as well as goal line packages, which can be seen in his 28 rushing touchdowns over the past 2 seasons at Clemson.  The knocks on him are that he has trouble finding lanes and he slows down at times to try and find the hole.  He is not a shifty type back and has trouble moving in tight spaces, and his pass protection is average at best.  Scouts state that he may need large lanes to run through at the NFl level, and his pass catching ability is spotty.

So why waste a pick on a possible Matt Jones 2.0?  Because Matt Jones 1.0 may have fallen out of favor with the coaching staff, and they need another power back with a little extra.  Gallman's profile sounds like that of Rob Kelley, but he has a little more speed and quickness that can add an extra element to the Redskins running game.  His negatives are all somewhat ameliorated by the fact that the Redskins offense can provide big one cut lanes he needs when working properly.  Gallman also worked out of the shotgun a lot at Clemson, which may limit his ability as an every package type back but it could also make him an intriguing option on 3rd downs if given the proper coaching.  Gallman could push Matt Jones to either fix his fumbling issues or push him out of the depth chart all together.  Either way, it would add competition to a position that needed some new talent to invigorate it, and Gallman could eventually become a steady go-to option for the Redskins

Redskins Draft Special Round 5 (Pick 154)

The Redskins can finally be rid of the Derek Carrier trade after this pick.  The 49ers hold the Redskins 5th round pick this year (161st overall) because of the Carrier trade, but Scot McCloughan was smart enough to get that 5th rounder back.  The Redskins traded their 4th round pick last year to the Saints (who selected David Onyemata) for their 5th rounder last year (where we selected Matt Ioannidis) and this year which turned out to be 154th overall pick.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports, NFL Combine Results Page, and the NFL Draft Tracker.

Round 5 (154th Overall Selection):  Devonte Fields    OLB    (Louisville)
Height: 6'2"   Weight: 236 lbs   40 yd: 4.72   Vert: 34"

The second player I propose the Redskins draft that has played for more than one FBS team.  Fields started his career off with a bang at TCU registering 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, which won him the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Award and a First Team All-Big 12 Nomination.  Things did not go so well for Fields after that.  He only played in three games the next season due to a foot injury.  Then he was robbed at gun point and had to face domestic violence charges when he allegedly punched his girlfriend and pointed a gun at her.  That case was eventually dismissed, but not before Fields was dismissed from TCU.  He would play one year of Junior College before transferring to Louisville in 2015 where he finished his career drama free this past season.  Fields's activities outside of football are major red flags, and there are a lot of questions about him when he does get on the field.

His production waned in 2016, and a lot of scouts point towards his apparent lack of effort as being the cause.  Fields is characterized as giving up on plays too easily and loafs when the play is not in his direction.  He also played significant time as a down lineman at Louisville, which he will not be able to do in the NFL due to his size.  He also gets overpowered very easily at the line of scrimmage.  So, after all of this, why should the Redskins draft him?  Because you do not get 26.5 sacks in 39 FBS games in the Big 12 and the ACC by accident.  Fields is a quick and agile defender who uses that ability to make quick changes of direction at the line of scrimmage to give him openings to the ball carrier or quarterback.  He can change direction quickly, which allows him to mirror scrambling quarterbacks and sack them before they can get away.  He is undersized, but some scouts say he has the potential to get bigger at the next level if he is willing to work.  His lack of production can be partially explained by teams running plays away from his side of the ball, as evidenced by his tape from the Florida State game this past season.  The negatives may outweigh the positives with Fields, but the Redskins could be a good fit for him.

If there is any position on the Redskins with a boon of leadership that could motivate a player it is the linebacking corps.  Between Ryan Kerrigan, Will Compton, and Mason Foster, Fields would have players around him that could push him to maximize his potential and have the NFL pedigree to back it up.  Kerrigan and Preston Smith will be the starters, but if one of them goes down are you confident in Trent Murphy and Zach Vigil's ability to get to the quarterback?  Exactly.  Fields would add pass rushing depth to the OLB position, and his ability to contain scrambling quarterbacks is enough to make him a valuable addition to the defense.  The fact that he will not need to start right away and he can learn from professionals like Kerrigan could give him the time he needs to develop into an NFL level talent.  Yes, his past and his apparent lack of motivation are concerning, but Fields's potential is something the Redskins need to take a flyer on with this 5th round pick.

Redskins Draft Special Round 6 (Pick 201)

Finally, the Redskins get to use a pick that was not involved in a trade and is at the beginning of the round.  The Redskins should take advantage of being able to pick high in the sixth round to add some depth.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports, NFL Combine Results Page, and the NFL Draft Tracker.

Round 6 (201st Overall Selection):  Connor Harris    ILB    (Lindenwood)
Height: 5'11"   Weight: 242 lbs   40 yd: 4.73   Vert: 33"

Lindenwood is a Division II school in St. Charles, Missouri that plays in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association.  Connor Harris was highly recruited, but received only one FBS scholarship from Kansas and that was after he committed to the Tigers.  Harris made a name for himself by becoming the NCAA's all time leading tackler with 633 career tackles.  He was also a First Team All-American and won the Cliff Harris Award in 2016 for being named the top defender in Division II, III, and NAIA.  Now, you probably have the Sandlot mentality right now about Harris's accolades, but he has skills that would warrant the Redskins taking him early in the sixth round. Harris is described as a high motor player who has tremendous leadership skills and the quickness to be in front of run plays and disrupt their timing.  He has a good burst to the ball, and has the quickness in space to cover running backs out of the backfield.  Harris finishes his tackles, he is noted as a linebacker who can play all three downs, and has experience playing QB, Safety, Running Back, and Punter throughout his football career.  There are questions about his production being a product of the level of competition, and his lack of length has caused him to be eaten up by bigger offensive lineman. Scouts note that he has trouble shedding blocks and is more of a straight line/downhill type tackler.  While his quickness is above reproach there may be issues with his speed at the NFL level.  His size and lack of experience with higher level athletes may be concerns, but Harris is someone the Redskins need on this roster.

Yes, the Redskins just signed Zach Brown to shore up the inside linebacker position, but it couldn't hurt to add depth there as well.  At the very least, Harris will add competition to that ILB group with his determined demeanor and level of work ethic.  While you can't coach him to be bigger or taller, you also cannot teach quickness.  Harris seems to have the quickness to be in the play and the determination to finish the play once he is there.  The fact that he can cover running backs coming out of the backfield should also have the Redskins praying that he falls to this spot.  The big issue with The Redskins defense last year was stopping the run and Harris's skills set is geared to do just that.  His leadership skills would also be a bonus to have in the locker room, and the Redskins should look to select Connor Harris if they have the chance.

Redskins Draft Special Round 6 (Pick 209)

The Texans must have really wanted Will Fuller bad.  The Texans swapped picks with the Redskins last year to take Fuller at #21 and we selected Josh Doctson at #22.  The bonus for the Redskins in making that trade is we get to select this future Hall of Famer with the 209th pick instead of The Texans.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports and NFL Combine Results Page.  I used the overall rankings on the CBS site to determine who would possibly be available in each round.  For example, if the player was rated 50th overall on the CBS site then I would assume that they would not be available in the 3rd round where the Redskins pick 81st.

Round 6 (209th Overall Selection):  Josh Harvey-Clemons    Safety    (Louisville)
Height: 6'4"   Weight: 217 lbs   40 yd: 4.76   Vert: 31.5"

The first of at least two players that I will propose the Redskins select that has played for more than one FBS team.  Josh Harvey-Clemons was a five star recruit who committed to Georgia and played there between 2012-2013, but ran into a wee bit of trouble that caused him to be dismissed from the team after the 2013 season and it had nothing to do with the fact that he was the safety involved in the Prayer at Jordan Hare.  He transferred to Louisville where he ended his collegiate career in 2016 sans drama and decent stats his senior year (37 Tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.0 SCK, 1 PD).  It is his size, athleticism, and toughness the Redskins should covet.  He is a tall safety whose arm length is described as being that of an offensive lineman.  Scouts describe him as a rangy tackler who can change direction quickly when tackling or in coverage, and a hard hitter who does not slow down or avoid contact.  They also note his ability to drop back into coverage on play actions, and his ability to adjust coverage when a quarterback begins to scramble.  Clemons is not without his negatives, however, most notably his apparent affinity for marijuana. But he has been described as being late to cover deep routes, and is better suited to be a box safety that can come up in run support or cover more mid level routes.  Scouts note that he is late to reacting to throws when he is the single high safety so he may not fit the mold of a true free safety in the NFL.

Clemons sounds like a poor man's Su'a Cravens, and we already signed Swearinger, so where is the benefit in drafting a guy like Clemons who has the same skill set? My counter question is, do you feel comfortable rolling with DeAngelo Hall or Will Blackmon if one of those guys goes down?  Clemons adds depth and an elite level mentality.  Scouts note that he plays with high intensity and swagger with the athleticism to back it up.  Both Cravens and Hall are coming off of an injury plagued season, so it may not be out of the question to add an insurance policy in the sixth round that can mirror the skill set of Cravens in order to lessen the impact of his absence if that occurs.  Plus Hall and Blackmon are not getting any younger, and the Redskins should look to add depth at safety that they can groom into a possible starter.  Clemons has had trouble in the past but it is worth taking the risk at the 209th pick if he is available.

Redskins Draft Special Round 7 (Pick 220)

Who knew that the Derek Carrier trade would resonate all the way to the 2017 Draft?  If you can believe it, Carrier cost us our 5th round pick this year (#161 overall) in exchange for this seventh round pick.  Hopefully, the Redskins can make the most of it, considering we got very little from Carrier himself.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports and NFL Combine Results Page.  I used the overall rankings on the CBS site to determine who would possibly be available in each round.  For example, if the player was rated 50th overall on the CBS site then I would assume that they would not be available in the 3rd round where the Redskins pick 81st.

Round 7 (220th Overall Selection):  John Toth    C    (Kentucky)
Height: 6'5"   Weight: 307 lbs   40 yd: 5.51   Bench:  21 reps

Why draft a center when The Redskins signed a perfectly good back up center in Ronald Patrick?  Competition.  Spencer Long may need someone to back him up this season at center and John Toth (pronounced TOE-th) may be the guy to fill that back up position, or at least push Patrick Ronald to do his best.  Toth had 48 starts in 49 games for the Wildcats and was a four year starter who held his own against elite SEC defenders including the Alabama defensive front.  The assessment of Toth's overall skills vary depending on who you ask, but his awareness and toughness are not in question.  His experience as a starter has honed his ability to identify blitzes, and he has been characterized as a hard worker who looks to work especially hard in pass protection.  Toth also utilizes his length to keep defenders at a distance, and is strong enough to hold blocks on the inside.  Concerns arise from his agility and foot work.  Scouts are concerned about his ability to reach the second level, and his fit in a more dynamic zone based run scheme is questionable.  His athletic prowess is limited, but scouts state that his experience and awareness could outweigh his athletic limitations.

Despite a crowded Center position, it is not out of the question to draft a guy that could be groomed to take over as Center in the future or push current players to their highest potential.  Toth seems like the type of player Scot McCloughan wanted to add to this team, and if center does not work there are hints that he could move to guard if given the proper coaching.  His pedigree playing in the SEC may have him go higher than this position, but the Redskins need to add depth on the offensive line, and to get a guy with Toth's experience at this part in the draft would be a steal.  Toth would, at the very least, be a project that the Redskins could mold over time, and he is someone who would add a level of work ethic, toughness, and insurance to the Redskins offensive line

Redskins Draft Special Round 7 (Pick 235)

It is that time of year again. The time where the NFL reminds all other sports why they all have to suck tail pipe in the pecking order of professional sports because The NFL Draft can out do their playoff games in number of viewers.  The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away and for the Redskins fan base this year, the ray of hope will be to continue to build the roster in hopes of either keeping Kirk Cousins happy or preparing for his departure.  With 10 picks this year the Redskins may have a chance to do both, and I am making my predictions on who the Redskins will select with each pick.  I will do one pick at a time and in reverse order so that my prediction for the Redskins's first round pick will be the last prediction I make.  Please remember that I am assuming the Redskins do not trade out of any position they currently hold, and none of the players I predicted last year were selected by the Redskins.

Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports and NFL Combine Results Page.  I used the overall rankings on the CBS site to determine who would possibly be available in each round.  For example, if the player was rated 50th overall on the CBS site then I would assume that they would not be available in the 3rd round where the Redskins pick 81st.

Round 7 (235th Overall Selection):  Josh Tupou    DT    (Colorado)
Height: 6'3"   Weight: 325 lbs   40 yd: 5.35   Bench Press: 29 reps

The Redskins need defensive line help, and Tupou can provide that in a big way literally and figuratively.  He is listed on NFL.com as being 325 lbs but CBS has him at 353 lbs, and the real number may be somewhere in between.  Scouts have stated that his weight may be hindering him from what little lateral agility he possesses, but his job was to do one thing and he did that to great effectiveness for the Buffaloes in 2016.  Tupou recorded 45 tackles, 4 TFL, and 2.0 Sacks for a defense that ranked 19th overall in the nation last year.  He ate up space and filled lanes, which is something the Redskins 3-4 defense has sorely lacked since the departure of Terrance Knighton.  There may be some questions as to why Colorado still managed to give up over 4 yards per rush with Tupou on the line, and there was that issue in the Spring of 2015 that got Tupou suspended for the entire 2015 season, both of which may cause Tupou to fall to the Redskins at their last pick.  However, there are others who think that he may go in the sixth round due to his impressive production in 2016.

With the addition of Zach Brown at linebacker it would be good to add a big body that could take care of blockers up front to allow the middle linebackers to do what they do best.  Josh Tupou would be able to do just that, and it would give the defensive line some depth, and possibly a part time starter that could be used to help the defense on inside run plays.  His presence could also force teams to double up in the middle leaving more one-on-one blocks on the edges for pass rushers like Ryan Kerrigan.  His past may drop him to the seventh round and the Redskins should take a flyer on him if he is available at the end of the draft.  The Redskins could go with pretty much any position you can name at this pick, but the defensive line needs depth at nose tackle and Tupou is the right man for the job.     

Tomorrow we will preview the other pick the Redskins have in the seventh round at 220th overall.

Cole Field House Continues to be A Symbol of Pride

It is hard to believe that it has been 15 years since the most iconic building on Maryland's campus has hosted a Men's Basketball game. On March 3, 2002, the Maryland Men's Basketball team defeated Virginia to close out a regular season that ended with a National Championship and the closing of the beloved arena.  Cole Field House meant so much to so many people that were privy to have attended an event there over it's 47 year history, and for the Terrapin Alumni (especially the Alumni who grew up in The Baltimore/Washington Metro Area) it meant so much more.  It was a symbol of local pride.  It was a place that was steeped in historical significance, and everyone who called themselves a Terp knew its secrets.  But outsiders could not fully grasp what it meant to the Maryland alumni.  It was a basketball Mecca that hosted contests that would herald the evolution of the game into what we see today.  It hosted concerts and athletic events that held significance beyond the hard court.  Cole Field House was a place that every Terp who grew up in this area felt proud about and made sure that those stories were passed on to the next generation.

My father, and local Maryland Alumnus, would always tell me how Cole Field House was special because it was the only on campus venue of it's size when it opened in 1955, which is why it hosted some of the biggest basketball games in the country.  Everyone knows about Texas Western beating Kentucky in 1966 that would herald the integration of college basketball.  Little do people know that one year earlier Cole hosted one of the most significant high school games in history.  Local legend Morgan Wootten led DeMatha High School to victory over Power Memorial Academy and some guy named Lew Alcindor.  Everyone growing up in the DC area knows DeMatha basketball, and that game carried clout for a local team defeating the guy who some would still call the best basketball player ever and it happened at Cole Field House.  My dad would also tell me about the Maryland vs. South Carolina slow down game that was played at Cole Field House.  It seems more relevant now, but South Carolina was one of the founding members of the ACC and a basketball powerhouse back in the early years of the conference. On January 9 1971, the Terps beat South Carolina in a 31-30 barn burner that was 4-3 at halftime.  This was one of the classic slow down games that some point to being one of the inspirations for putting the shot clock into college basketball.  These were the main stories I remember my dad telling me, but I know that other Terrapin Alumni have their stories they heard from their parents.

Some may have heard about the first ever nationally televised women's basketball game that was held at Cole in 1975.  Others may have listened to how Maryland phenom Len Bias outscored Michael Jordan at Cole Field House in 1984.  Some may have heard about Elvis's performance at Cole in 1974, or the Chinese National Ping Pong Team playing in America for the first time at Cole in 1973 at the behest of Richard Nixon.  Most people, though, heard about the seven number one seeds that lost at Cole Field House, six of which came at the hands of the Terps, and the last one coming on Feb. 17 of that magical National Championship season.  I still hold the ticket stub to that game in my wallet, and it will be the story of attending that game that I will pass on to my kids when they are old enough to understand it.  Of course they will
know as much about Sheldon Williams and Mike Dunleavy Jr. as I knew about the 1971 South Carolina Gamecocks.  But it was the conviction and reverence in my dad's voice when speaking about how the game was at Cole that let me know that it was more than just a basketball conversation.  My father was instilling in me a sense of appreciation of the history that was a part of his life and this area that only Terp alumni who came from this area could appreciate, and that is what I intend to pass on to my kids.  The significance of those stories could have waned as Cole Field House was left fallow for so many years, but the renovations of Cole Field House have rejuvenated the importance of those stories, and created new ones for a new generation.

The $155 million renovation project to Cole Field House has given new life to the historic building and once again made it a beacon for the collegiate world to follow.  It will be the home to Maryland's ground breaking Sports Medicine Program and Entrepreneurship Lab, as well as being a state of the art training facility for The Maryland Athletic Teams.  More importantly, it continues the tradition of Cole Field House being the gold standard for collegiate buildings.  No longer will students get to see players like Len Elmore or Juan Dixon defeat hated rivals in basketball, but through its revitalization those stories hold new relevance when alumni speak to younger generations about the history of Cole Field House.  The new building will also give future generations of alumni their own history to tell about how Cole Field House continues to be a symbol of innovation and pioneering.  There will be classes of Alumni who will earn a cutting edge degree from the programs that will call Cole Field House their home.  So when older generations go on about Cole Field House being a significant building in sports history, newer generations can respond to them by saying that because of Cole Field House their Maryland Degree means more in the real world.  Cole Field House will now forever be the symbol of The University of Maryland, and the source of local pride for all the Terrapin Alumni who hail from the Baltimore-Washington area.

The Redskins Empire Is Losing Control

For the first time since they established their outright hegemony over the Washington DC fan base, the Washington Redskins find their empire at its most vulnerable state.  With the firing of Scot McCloughan and the Kirk Cousins contract debacle, the Redskins brass stands to alienate generations of fans that had a lukewarm investment in the Redskins to begin with after years of losing and ineptitude.  And where once there was no viable alternative for these fans to turn to, the Capitals, Nationals, and Wizards find themselves in advantageous positions to woo these fans to their cause.  The winds of change are already blowing in the DC area, and the fans are responding by raising their sails in the opposite direction of Redskins Park.  The causes of these changes go beyond mere brotherhood between the other three DC franchises.  It is rooted in the success that the other three teams are experiencing in contrast to the Burgundy and Gold.  The Capitals and Wizards have legitimate chances this summer to make it to their conference and league finals, The Nationals are expected to be a contender for the World Series, and all three teams have superstars that are recognized as being in the top tier of players in their respective leagues.  These factors have placed these three franchises in a position to steal a generation of fans from the Washington Redskins, and the portents of these shifting allegiances can be seen in various areas.  The first sign of this lost fandom can be seen in jersey sales.

The Redskins jersey sales for the 2016 season show that they have very little to offer young fans in the area of recognizable, and marketable, superstars unlike their DC counterparts.  The NFLshop and Dick's Sporting Goods have lists of their top selling jerseys for the 2016 season.  While these probably do not constitute all of the NFL jersey's sold in 2016, it is not good news for the Redskins when none of their players crack the Top 25 jersey sales on either site, and Ryan Kerrigan and Kirk Cousins round out the Top 40 on the Dicks list at #39 and #40 respectively.  Just to give perspective on how far down that is, Tyler Eifert, Joe Haden, and Sammy Watkins all sold more jerseys at Dicks than Kerrigan and Cousins.  Compare that to Alex Ovechkin, who has the 7th highest selling jersey on shopnhl, and Bryce Harper, who as of 2015 had the 5th highest selling jersey in the MLB.  This is quantitative proof that the Nationals and Capitals are outpacing the Redskins in the area of marketable superstars, and while John Wall doesn't crack the NBA's top jersey sales he is being marketed as the next big superstar by the Wizards who are suddenly catching fire.  Contrast this with how the Redskins have passively undermined their franchise quarterback, and it is not hard to see that  a generation of DC fans have grown up with other heroes to root for that do not wear Burgundy and Gold.  It has become cooler for young kids to have a Bryce Harper jersey than it is to have  Kirk Cousins jersey (if you can find one).  But the NFL is about marketing the team, not the individual player, right?  If that is the case then the Redskins are still losing ground to the other three teams.

Forbes Magazine puts out their list of most valuable teams for every major sports league.  Please look at the pages for the Caps, Wizards, Nationals, and Redskins to see what they are worth, but an analysis of some of the information on these sites show that the Redskins may be losing ground in popularity to the other three DC teams.  Forbes has four areas of how the team's value is broken down, but the one that is most telling is the percentage of value attributed to the team's brand.  The Redskins' brand only accounts for 7.5% of their overall value, which is worth about $221 million in absolute value according to Forbes.  None of the other teams match that total amount of money, but all the other teams have a higher percentage brand value relative to their overall worth than the Redskins.  The Wizards are at 9.8%, The Nats are at 11.0%, and The Caps are at 12.3%.  This means that these other teams spend more time promoting their brand than the Redskins, and it can be seen with the promotions and slogans they have put out over the past decade.  The Caps have Rock the Red.  The Nationals have #Nattitude.  The Wizards have #DCRising.  The Redskins have...........HTTR?  It is hard to think of one for them, right?  The other three teams have done more to connect with the fans through brand promotion than the Redskins, and the fans have taken notice by buying jerseys, merchandise, and tickets for the Nats, Caps, and Wiz at a higher clip than they have for the Redskins.  If you're still not convinced just look at the total revenue for each team since 2008, which is provided on the Forbes site.  

The Redskins have the lowest increase in total team revenue (36%) from 2008-2016 than any other DC Sports team.  Even the Wizards have managed to show a 38% increase in total revenue according to Forbes, and their play over that span of time may have been worse than the Redskins.  It is also worth mentioning that the Caps increased their revenue by 86%, and that Nats increased their revenue by 91% over that same time span.  The Redskins total revenue ($447 Million projected for 2016) dwarfs all other teams, but the slowing growth rate shows that the other teams are gaining in popularity by the increase in the amount of money they are pulling in.  And the argument that "Well, these teams were so small that they were due for a large increase, and the NFL is such a moneymaking leviathan that the room for growth in that league is less" doesn't hold up.  Not only have the Redskins shown the least amount of revenue growth for DC sports teams, they have the lowest revenue growth for all 32 NFL teams in that span according to Forbes.  And it is not even close.  All other NFL teams have seen at least a 50% increase in their revenue over that time frame, and that includes teams like the Browns (57% increase), Jaguars (68% increase), and Bills (58% increase).  So the lack of revenue growth cannot be attributed to something that is inherent within the NFL. It is another sign that the Redskins are losing fans to the other three DC Sports teams by not gaining as much money through merchandising and ticket sales.  One needs to look no further than the Redskins having to remove seats from FedEx Field to see the loss of ticket sales.  But all of these numbers pale in comparison to the one thing that sways any fan to a certain team.  Winning.

All of these jersey sales, brand percentages, and increase revenue growth are all based on winning.  The Capitals and Nationals have been able to experience sustained success over the past 8-10 years, and the Wizards may be beginning their time as NBA contenders.  All three have legitimate shots to make a run at a championship, and the Wizards and Capitals have a chance to bring post season championships to the DC area before the Redskins can take a snap for their 2017 season.  If they are able to do that, and the Nationals at least win the NL Pennant this fall, it would herald a new age in DC sports fandom.  The Redskins may have to play second or third fiddle to teams that have marketed themselves better, organized themselves better, and won better than they have over the last 10 years.  At no time have we seen the Redskins's popularity among the DC fan base as vulnerable as it is right now, and the financial numbers seem to indicate that is not some poetic musing.  It is a reality that the Redskins are losing their absolute rule over this area's fan base, and one championship from any of the other three teams could make this even more of a reality.