James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
The buzz that surrounded the Washington Redskins in 2012 during draft time, does not exist this year. The Redskins had to pay the price to trade up to the second overall pick, to select Robert Griffin III. It was a move that no doubt was worth it, on many levels. But now, a year later, there’s a glaring hole in the first round.
It’s very tough to get excited about a team that doesn’t pick until the 51st overall spot, in the second round. 50 of the best NFL prospects will already be off the board, and the Redskins will likely be left looking two or three spots down on their target list.
So much will take place between the 1st and 51st picks, that trying to predict who Washington might take, is extremely challenging. But, the team clearly has some positions it would like to target, mainly on the defensive side of the ball. After the additions of RG3, Alfred Morris and Pierre Garcon last offseason, and the re-upping of tight end Fred Davis this year, Washington has a solid offensive foundation.
It will be very surprising to see the Redskins take anything but a defensive player in round two, or even round three. Secondary players figure to be the top priority, with the team needing depth at safety and cornerback.
One popular name in mock drafts across the web, is Syracuse safety Shamarko Thomas. He’s a stout SS with a nose for the ball, and known for being a hard-hitter. At 5’9″, 213 lbs., he’s not the ideal size, but he figures to add immediate help in the run-stopping game, while holding his own in pass coverage.
That’s just one long-shot projection, but expect Washington to target similar players. Either way, it’s doubtful they’ll match their success from last year’s draft. But, that doesn’t mean they can’t add some key pieces.
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