Redskins beat reporter George Wallace looks at the different directions the team could go with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night in Chicago.
1. QB Marcus Mariota, 6’4” 222 lbs — Oregon
If the scenario presents itself — and I don’t think it will, with Marcus Mariota still around at five — then the Redskins could take him. If that happens, then they would have to trade Robert Griffin III immediately. There’s no way you draft Mariota to have him come in and sit behind Griffin. This would enhance the circus atmosphere that already resides in Ashburn. Again, I don’t think this scenario plays out.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
2. LB Dante Fowler Jr, 6’3” 261 lbs — Florida
This scenario seems to be the most popular among the experts, and Fowler could just be the best defensive player in the draft. As you know, the Redskins need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, and taking a 261-pound guy that could play linebacker and fill the void left by Brian Orakpo would be huge. Fowler has a great combination of size and speed that the Redskins could use.
(AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
AP Photo/Phil Sandlin
3. LB Vic Beasley, 6’3” 246 lbs — Clemson
Again, this falls under the category of need for the Redskins. Beasley is an explosive pass rusher off the edge. He played four years at Clemson and totaled 52.5 tackles for loss, 33 sacks, 29 quarterback pressures, 11 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two touchdowns. He is a good fit for a 3-4 defense. I could see Beasley as a member of the Redskins.
(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
AP Photo/Richard Shiro
4. DE Leonard Williams, 6’5” 291 lbs — USC
Williams is a defensive lineman that was USC’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year last season. However, he is projected to go in the top three picks. Reports are that the Redskins told him that they hope he’s around at No. 5. This might be their top choice, but I doubt it will happen.
(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
AP Photo/Gus Ruelas
5. WR Amari Cooper, 6’1” 211 lbs — Alabama
I think this is an even less likely scenario, as Cooper could easily go in the top four and not be around at No. 5. A lot of the projections have him going to the Oakland Raiders at four. Again, wide receiver is a need for the Redskins with so much uncertainty with Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson approaching contract time. Santana Moss also is not likely to be back, and they have lost Leonard Hankerson as well.
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
6. Trade the pick
This is the option I would like to see the Redskins do unless they have a slam dunk at No. 5, and you never know that. They need a lot of help on both sides of the football and acquiring extra picks would be a good way to start rebuilding. If the five-spot comes up and there is a player that another team really wants, then the Redskins should answer the phone.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON — As of Wednesday night, the Washington Redskins have a pick in each of the seven rounds in this year’s NFL Draft — which begins Thursday in Chicago — including the No. 5 spot overall in the first round.
The team has had a relatively quiet offseason so far, which is a good thing. New General Manager Scot McCloughan has brought in some quality players without making a huge splash. Heading into the draft, the team needs a lot of pieces, and they could go a number of different directions with the No. 5 pick.
McCloughan said this week that he wants to stockpile good players and wants to get about 10 players out of this draft. He has also mentioned a number of times that the NFL is a big man’s game — he wants size. The Redskins need a lot of pieces and have a lot of question marks. Their No. 1 need seems to be on the defensive side of the football, where they could use an explosive pass rusher.
However, McCloughan has always maintained that he doesn’t draft for need but he takes the best player available, even if that means a quarterback.
“If the fifth pick comes up and the best player available is a quarterback, then we will take a quarterback,” he said this week.
It should be an interesting next few days as McCoughan oversees his first draft as Redskins General Manager. He knows how to build a team and this is the first chance the Redskins and their fans will have to see him go to work.
With all of that being said, let’s take a look at some of their options. Check the gallery for six different directions the team could go.
