2017 NFL Draft: Washington Redskins final grade
By John Buhler
Fourth Round
Samaje Perine
Running Back, Oklahoma Sooners
There was another running back out of Oklahoma besides Joe Mixon in this draft process. Washington found him in the form of Samaje Perine. He was the featured back in Norman in 2015 before Mixon became the Sooners’ star tailback last fall. At worst, Perine can be a solid, multipurpose back in the Washington ground game. There is a lot of upside with this kid.
Montae Nicholson
Safety, Michigan State Spartans
Safety Montae Nicholson played his college back in East Lansing for Mark Dantonio’s Michigan State Spartans. He is adept at coaching up his defensive talent. When his players arrive at the next level, they are ready to compete, despite a lack of talent. Nicholson could be a good find for Washington in their secondary with that No. 123 pick in the fourth round.
Fifth Round
Jeremy Sprinkle
Tight End, Arkansas Razorbacks
Now here’s the Washington we’ve all known. The Redskins ended up drafting a kid that shoplifted at a Belk when he had a gift card to shop at Belk for free because Jeremy Sprinkle’s Arkansas Razorbacks played in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte. Fortunately, the guy is a better pass catcher at tight end than a pick-pocket. This could be a solid value pick in the fifth round for Washington. Will there be a Belk clause Sprinkled into his rookie contract?
Sixth Round
Chase Roullier
Center, Wyoming Cowboys
Washington should still have an awesome passing game, even after losing coaches to other gigs and wideouts to other teams. The Redskins still have Jay Gruden at head coach and Kirk Cousins at quarterback. They invested a sixth-round pick in a Wyoming Cowboys center by the name of Chase Roullier. Yee haw! Whatever it takes to keep Cousins happy and upright in a clean pocket, do it, Washington.
Robert Davis
Wide Receiver, Georgia State Panthers
Since Washington lost both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon to free agency, the Redskins needed more than just Terrelle Pryor to make their receiving corps better. Expect last year’s first-round pick Josh Doctson to be an impact player. Adding Georgia State Panthers wide receiver Robert Davis only helps the Washington aerial attack.
Seventh Round
Joshua Holsey
Cornerback, Auburn Tigers
As it is with the entire Washington defense, getting any players in any round would help that bunch out for sure. Washington will still be an offensive-minded team and probably one of the eight best teams in the NFC again in 2017. Using a seventh-round pick on Auburn Tigers cornerback Joshua Holsey may only be to fill out a practice squad, but competition is key in making Washington’s defense great again.
Next: 2017 NFL Draft instant grades
Overall, Washington used its collective brain to put together one of the better drafts of the weekend. Allen was a complete steal in the first round. Anderson, Moreau, Perine and Sprinkle can all make an impact as rookies. Nicholson and Holsey make the secondary deeper and more competitive. Roullier and Davis do the same on offense. Washington may not have won in free agency, but the Redskins organization had one of its better drafts in a very long time.