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.
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