Washington Redskins full 2018 NFL mock draft
By John Buhler
The Washington Redskins will have a lot of holes to fill in the upcoming NFL Draft. Can they do it? Here is their latest 2018 NFL mock draft.
It will be a different year for the Washington Redskins in 2018. That’s for sure, but why is that? Well, Washington decided it wasn’t going to triple-franchise tag starting quarterback Kirk Cousins. He now plays in the NFC North for the Super Bowl contending Minnesota Vikings. To offset that loss, Washington traded for former Kansas City Chiefs starter Alex Smith. It cost Washington promising cornerback Kendall Fuller and a 2018 third-round pick.
Overall, Washington wasn’t good or bad last year. The Redskins struggled at times on both sides of the ball. Cousins lacked the necessary weapons offensively to get Washington back into the NFC playoffs. Defensively, Washington started to give up points in bunches as the season progressed. Washington went a mediocre 7-9 and finished in third place in the NFC East.
Fortunately, the Redskins still have the same coaching staff in place. Head coach Jay Gruden should be happy to have essentially replaced Cousins with Smith. Both are Pro Bowl caliber passers that can lead their team to the playoffs. Though they finished in third place last year, Washington could conceivably win their second division title in four years in a highly contested NFC East for all we know.
The Redskins will have seven picks to get better in the 2018 NFL Draft. Primary needs are at defensive line, running back and guard. Secondary needs include cornerback, center and wide receiver. Safety, edge players and linebackers are considered tertiary needs for Washington. Here is the latest 2018 NFL mock draft for the Redskins.
First Round
Picking at No. 13 should have the Redskins in prime position to take a nose tackle to pair alongside second-year pro defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. Allen showed signs of promise as a rookie before getting hurt, but adding Washington Huskies defensive lineman Vita Vea could make the Redskins very strong in the trenches.
Vea frankly could have gone pro after his sophomore season in Seattle if he was eligible to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. He is 6-foot-4, 347 pounds with 32 5/8 inch arms and 10-inch hands. At the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Vea ran a 5.1 40-yard dash and put up an impressive 41 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press.
In three years with the Huskies, Vea had 99 total tackles (65 solo, 34 assists), 15.0 tackles for a loss of yardage, 9.5 quarterback sacks, five passes defended and two forced fumbles. What really makes Vea a potential Pro Bowl level playmaker at nose tackle is his ability to generate pressure.
Yes, he is a bit of a space eater, but he’s so much more than that. For all we know, he will end up being the most talented player on that 2016 Pac-12 champion Huskies team that made the College Football Playoff two years ago. Taking Vea at No. 13 feels both safe and super exciting, as he could form a monstrous tandem with Allen in Washington for years.