Well there it is people! My mock draft SUCKED (but so did everyone elses).  Redskins gm McCloughan really outdid himself by being unpredictable and trading down on almost every pick. Here’s a list of all the picks in this years draft (pictured above):

Rd 1 #22 overall: Josh Docston WR TCU

Rd 2 #53 overall: Sua Cravens SS/ OLB USC

Rd 3 #84 overall: Kendall Fuller CB VT

Rd 5 #152 overall: Matt Ionaddis DT Temple

Rd 6 #187 overall: Nate Sudfeld QB Indiana

Rd 7 #232 overall: Steven Daniels ILB BC

Rd 7 #242 overall: Keith Marshall RB Georgia

I can’t help but like the draft class as a whole.  The redskins had needs at DB, Dline, and ILB and addressed all those positions with a player (granted much later than I thought).  I’ve already wrote about Josh Doctson but I’ll say the same thing I did in my first post – he will need to beef up a bit to be an every-down starter.  His spectacular catch potential is there but learning behind Jackson and Garcon will be perfect for this guy.

Before I get started on the breakdown of each pick, someone please find me a fork large enough to eat my take on Andrew Billings.  Not only did the redskins not draft him in the first round like I had in my mock draft, but they proceeded to pass on him 4 EFFING TIMES (along with just about every other team in the league).  I thought his tape was fantastic and his strength was transferrable.  Lot of experts were saying there was something wrong with his knee that my require surgery but I haven’t seen anything.  All in all, I can’t help but be furious at the redskins for passing on him in the 4th round just to trade our pick away to the Saints for their 5th round pick (20 picks down to select DT Matt Ioaniddis) and a 5th rounder next year. He was picked three picks later to the Bengals.  This is where I’d make some bold statement about how good he’ll be there but McCloughan must know something I don’t so I will refrain. Plus he’s going to be buried on the depth chart with the Bengals huge defensive line.

2nd Round: Sua Cravens: SS/ OLB USC 

Measurables: 6’1″ 225 lbs.  Ran a 4.69 40, 31″ vert, 16 reps bench.

College: Su’a graduated high school a semester early to make it to USC spring camp.  From there he started every game from day one.  He was a true freshman All-American his first year playing as a safety where he amassed 52 tackles and 4 picks.  His sophomore year he took on a more strong side linebacker/ safety hybrid role and had 68 tackles (17 for loss and 5 sacks), 3 ints and 9 passes defended.  He was once again an All-American and 1st team All-PAC12.  His junior year he had 86 tackles (15 for loss, 5.5 sacks) 2 ints and 6 passes defended.  He was a finalist for the Butkus, Lombardi, Benarik, Nagurski, and Lott Awards as well as being a 3-time All-American.

Take: I had no idea this guy even existed before the redskins drafted him.  He is a hybrid safety/ linebacker that is “what every team is starting to do in the modern pass happy NFL”.  My first reaction to that statement is he’s a safety that is slow and hits too hard to be a legitimate safety. And watching his highlights, this guy brings the wood on pretty much every tackle. So many of his highlights are him standing up lead blockers, shedding and tackling the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage.  However, there’s plenty of clips of him playing man coverage on slot receivers and picking the ball off.  The talk is that he will come in and start as a nickel/ dime package linebacker immediately.  The more I watch this guy the more I like him.  He is 21 years old and has done nothing but kickass since he came into the NCAA.  He has a “nose for the football”. Instinctive and tough.  It’s also worth noting that he was told by the Patriots that if he was there for their first pick, they were going to take him (two picks away from us). At worst, this guy comes in and becomes a force on special teams.  At best, he becomes a safety the likes of Troy Polumalu/ Kam Chancellor.  Great value pick here with immense potential. Considering that both the Alabama DTs, Derrick Henry, and center Nick Martin were all taken a few picks ahead of him, this was 100% the best player available. Here’s hoping that we found a long time starter at Safety.

3rd Round: Kendall Fuller: CB Va Tech

Measurables: 5’11” 187 lbs.  Knee injury so didn’t participate in the combine but did 15 reps at 225lb.

College: Was the #9 overall CB recruit coming out of high school. Joined VT and was a starter from day one.  Was a freshman all-american in 2013 where he 58 tackles, 6 picks and 17 passes defended.  His sophomore year he was a 2nd team All-American where he amassed 54 tackles, 2 picks and 17 passes defended.  He also played through a wrist injury that he got surgery on after the season.  His junior year was cut short after 3 games when he tore his meniscus that required surgery.  With Frank Beamer retiring, he elected to go to the draft early.

Take: We heard a lot about this guy pre-draft.  He’s a MD-local guy who has four brothers playing in the NFL.  Some experts even had the skins taking him in the first round.  His slide is to be expected.  This year there was a heavy caution on injury-plagued players (ex: Myles Jack falling to the 2nd round even though he’s expected to play next year).  That being said, he is a first-round talent in CB-starved league.  17 passes defended per year is no joke.  He has the size and the genes to be a pro-bowler at the next level.  But can he stay healthy? Will he be the same player as he was before his knee injury?  The redskins are lucky to have Dr James Andrews as the teams personal physician and it just so happens he’s the one who performed the surgery on Fuller.  He must’ve given McC insight.  I really like the redskins taking him here. As a matter of fact, when the redskins were on the clock I was rooting for him or Kenneth Dixon (RB La Tech-Ravens).  In the new NFL, you cannot have enough DBs.  However, this pick gives the redskins the freedom to cut ties with the injured Chris Culliver (who was actually cut TODAY) and save a load in cap room. Assuming Kyshon Jarret won’t be healthy by the start of the season, you may see Fuller play some meaningful downs this year if he can get right before week one.  Tremendous potential from this pick again.  At worst, he becomes a special teamer. At best, he beats out Breeland for the starting job and becomes a pro-bowler like his brothers before him.

5th Round: Matt Ioannidis: DT Temple

Measurables: 6’3″ 299 lbs. 5.03 40 yd and 32 reps at 225lbs (2nd best in class).

College: Was a team captain his junior and senior year.  Started halfway through his true freshman season.  Had 7.5 TFLs sophomore year, 11 junior year and 10.5 senior year.  Helped Temple defense become one of the best defenses in NCAA his final two years. Finished his career with 10 sacks.

Take: This another guy who I didn’t know existed before we took him but that’s to be expected in the later rounds.  Ioannidis is a freaking tank.  He came into the season weighing 280 and came into the combine weighing 300.  He’s played every position on the defensive line.  His highlights are hard to find considering he spent most of his time at nose-tackle but if you watch these brief highlights here you’ll see what kind of potential he has. He is more agile than he looks likes use his hands to push and pull lineman around.  From his stats, you would think he’s nothing but a bull-rusher.  But he likes to whip out that spin-move every now and then.  He shined at the senior bowl which is probably where McCloughan saw him.  He’s most likely going to come in and compete for the nose-tackle position that opened up after pot roast left.  I like this pick. He doesn’t do anything flashy but is great against the run.  He’s a competitor that was part of a great defense in college with no apparent injuries to address. He’ll come in and compete to make the team. At worst, he’s a practice squad player who continues to beef up. At best, he’s your new NT who helps sure-up the redskins run-defense.  Considering that this was the pick that the redskins traded down to get (and passing on Andrew Billings who I will compare him to forever) this was good value. Here’s hoping he makes the team and becomes the nose tackle we needed day one.

6th Round: Nate Sudfeld: QB Indiana

Measurables: 6’6″ 234 lbs. 4.93 40.

College: Started all four years at Indiana.  Completed 62% of his passes as a true freshman.  Sophomore year he had 2,500 yds, 22 tds and 9 picks.  Junior year he suffered a injury to his non-throwing shoulder that caused him to miss half the year.  Finished that year with 1,500 yards, 6 tds and 3 picks.  Senior year he was third-team all Big 10 and finished with 3,500 yds passing, 27 tds, 7 picks and a completion percentage of 60%.  He finished his career with over 60% completion %. His highlight of his senior year was his big day against MSU where he went for 308 yds and 3 TDs.

Take: Can’t help but wonder if he’s related to the white linebacker in the “Remember the Titans”movie.  I mean they look identical.  Overall, watching his film I wasn’t as depressed as I was when the skins made this pick.  He actually showed pretty good accuracy and a good deep ball.  Indiana did not have many playmakers on the offensive side of the ball but he seemed to make the most of it.  From watching him, this guy isn’t anything to write home about.  He has a tendency to hold on the ball to long and double clutches a lot.  He will need a lot of work to become a starter at the NFL level.  His big day against MSU was more of him throwing to wide open receivers.  He does throw a good deep ball, however.  He appears to like to sit in the pocket and check down his receivers.  However, some of his throws were so bad in the senior bowl that I can’t believe he was even drafted. This reeks of a fulfilled promise by Jay Gruden when he said “we always want to be grooming a QB”.  Well Jay you’re going to have your hands full here.  Don’t expect much from this guy in his first 3 years.  He’ll most likely be third string until he stops throwing flare routes in the dirt.  At best he’ll be a Joe Flacco type who can throw it the length of the field and make just enough plays with his feet to frustrate opposing defenses.  At worst he’ll be cut before week one (which I could legitimately see happening).  He was selected 2 picks after a long snapper so I can’t hate this pick completely but boy it would’ve been nice to add a center or a guard here.

7th Round: Steven Daniels: ILB BC

Measureables: 5’11” 243 lbs.  Ran a 4.86 40 and repped 225 16 times.

College: Played 10 games as a true freshman and started the rest of his career at inside linebacker. Led the team in tackles (82) and second in tackles for loss (18) senior year. He was a two year captain of the #1 ranked defense in the NCAA.

Take: His film was fun to watch.  Every now and then, this moving refrigerator sends lineman flying and knocks the ball clean out of running backs hands.  It really makes you wonder how this guy fell to 7th round? Well he wasn’t very good in pass coverage and not a sideline to sideline LB (read fast).  He’s also a little small for the position (under 6 feet and under 250 lbs).  But my God does he bring some force when he hits you.  He may have no impressed with his bench (16 reps) but watching him toss FSU lineman around like ragdolls makes me believe he has the “twich-strength” that makes you so hard to block.  His arm length isn’t that long and his play recognition isn’t perfect but if he gets a hold of you, you’re going backwards.  I applaud this pick.  At worst, he’s a life-time special teamer.  At best, he’s a workhorse 3-4 inside linebacker who plays the game like London Fletcher.  Here’s hoping the skins found a diamond in rough here.

7th Round: Keith Marshall, RB Georgia

Measurables: 5’11” 220lbs. Ran a 4.31 40 (fastest at the combine – 4.26 40 at his pro day) and repped 225lbs 26 times (4th out of the RBs).

College: Marshall was highly recruited out of high school – #2 RB nationally and #48 overall.  He played in all 14 games as a true freshman  making one start and was SEC freshman of the week against Tennessee. He suffered a torn ACL his sophomore year in week 4.  This may have carried over into his junior year where he missed 10 games with an injury. His senior year he was the “comeback player of the year” by his coaches but he never started. It’s worth noting SEC honor role student all four years.

Take: Now here’s a cool pick.  McCloughan knew the skins needed a change of pace RB and he took the fastest and strongest one at the combine.  This pick reeks of “combine warrior”.  He was essentially a third string RB for the underperforming Georgia Bulldogs last year. However, he’s clearly been in the gym since the end of the year.  He surprised everyone with his blazing fast 40 at the combine and his even faster 40 at his pro-day.  No one expects this guy to be an every down back but if he can learn how to pass block he could be the third down back of the century and possibly mature into a new Chris Johnson.  At the very worst, he can be used as a gunner/ punt returner on special teams.  He was picked at #242 (11 picks away from Mr. Irrelevant).  Why not take the fastest guy at the combine? As I heard on the radio today, this guy will be the fan favorite at training camp and in the preseason.  He’s not a small back (225lbs), he’s not weak (26 reps), and he’s now the fastest guy on the team (4.26 40).  The sky is the limit with him.  Hopefully he can stay healthy.

Trades:

The real story of this draft was McCloughans trades.  Here’s a list of Redskins draft picks for 2017:

• First round (1)
• Second round (1)
• Third round (1)
• Fourth round (2 — own, acquired from Jets)
• Fifth round (1 – acquired from Saints, lost one for 2015 trade for tight end Derek Carrier)
• Sixth round (2 — own, acquired from Texans)
• Seventh round (1)

McCloughan suckered the Texans into swapping picks for a 6th rounder in 2017. McCloughan used one of the two 5th round picks and swapped it with the Jets for their 4th rounder in 2017.  So, at the end of the day the redskins 9 picks in 2017 (3 more than they had originally).