The 2018 NFL Scouting Combine is now over. The next big event in the NFL off season calendar is the franchise tag deadline, and then free agency when the new league year starts.
Lets first review the combine and the interests and presumed targets of the Redskins.
The Washington Redskins met with the following players at the combine:
- Iowa RB Akrum Wadley
- NC State RB Nyheim Hines
- Maryland WR D.J. Moore
- Memphis QB Riley Ferguson
- USC RB Ronald Jones
- Ohio State C/G Billy Price
- Ohio State OT Jamarco Jones
- Florida State OT Rick Leonard
These are the reported meetings and sure to be a few more. These meetings are significant because most of these players are projected as third round or later. Most teams meet with presumed first-round picks just to get a read on them.
Here are some of the combine performances that stood out by position:
Running Back
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley was absolutely amazing. He ran 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at 233 lbs. Barkley did 29 reps on the bench press with a 41-inch vertical jump. Barkley has to the potential to be the first running back drafted number one overall in 23 years. Hopefully for the Redskins, the Browns take him at one so the Giants cannot draft him at two.
Linebacker
UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin had the inspirational performance of the combine. Griffin had his left hand amputated when he was four years old. With the help of a prosthetic hand, Griffin did 20 reps on the bench press. Then on the field, Griffin ran the fastest 40-yard dash ever by a linebacker at 4.38. For a guy who was a late invite to the combine, he now has a huge following and there will be a few teams that will look to give Griffin a chance.
Other targets the Redskins may consider are linebackers Tremaine Edwards of Virginia Tech and Roquan Smith of Georgia. Edwards had an impressive combine measuring at 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, with 19 reps on the bench press. Edwards ran a 4.54 40-yard dash and showed good movement in the drills. Edwards will be drafted in the 10-14 range of the first round. Smith measured at 6-foot-1 and 236 pounds, and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash. Smith looked good in the drills as well. Smith has the better game tape of the two. One of these guys will be available to the Redskins at 13. This depends a lot on if the Redskins re-sign Zach Brown.
Defensive Tackle
Most fans are hoping that the Redskins take a defensive tackle in the first round. The two names that have come up the most are Da’ron Payne out of Alabama and Vita Vea out of Washington. Vea measured in at 6-foot-4 and 341 pounds, and 41 reps on the bench press. Payne measured in at 6-foot-2 and 311 pounds, and did 27 reps on the bench press. Vea ran a 5.1 in the 40-yard dash, while Payne ran a 4.95. Vea showed mobility and strength, and seemed to move himself into a top-10 pick. Payne showed well also, but Vea has now become the top interior defensive lineman of the draft and out of reach for the Redskins at 13.
Defensive Back
Defensive back targets Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama and Derwin Jones of Florida State headlined a fast safety group. Safeties were consistently in the 4.5 speed range, with Fitzpatrick running a 4.47 and Jones a 4.48. Fitzpatrick looks to be gone by 13, however, Jones may just be there for the Redskins. The team will have choices to take a player who can have instant impact. Also, Troy Apke of Penn State lit up social media when he ran a 4.34 40-yard dash. Apke has a fourth-round grade and speed is a skill that can’t be coached.
Franchise Tag
With the franchise tag deadline at 4 p.m. yesterday, the Redskins were not expected to tag anyone. Notable tags around the league include: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, while Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano was signed to a deal.
The 2018 salary cap was raised from $167 million to 177.2 million dollars which now gives the Redskins around $31 million of space after the Smith deal becomes official. Teams can talk to other teams free agents starting Monday and on Wednesday the new league year starts. It looks like Brown will hit the open market, but you have to remember that Brown wasn’t signed until April 3 last year. Stayed tuned for free agent targets the Redskins may pursue.
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(Photo Credit: Associated Press)
