Washington Football Team targets in 2021 NFL Draft

Only one quarterback, San Francisco 49ers backup Nick Mullens, was pressured more than Alex Smith during the 2020 regular season. Smith’s upside as a starter may be extremely limited at this stage in his career having recovered from a life-threatening leg injury, but the Washington pass attack would unquestionably have performed better had his protection been more consistent.

Tackle should, therefore, be a priority for Washington as the franchise aims to make the offense serve as a better complement to a young and rapidly rising defense. Any Washington scout that paid close attention to Notre Dame in 2020 should have been excited at the prospect of adding Eichenberg to the trenches.

Notre Dame has a rich recent history of providing first-round talents along the offensive line, with Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey each picked in the top 10 in 2018.

Nelson has gone on to become an All-Pro at guard but Liam Eichenberg looks to be a step up on McGlinchey in terms of pass protection, consistently locking down the left side for the Fighting Irish.

He produced a standout performance in the ACC Championship Game against Clemson, delivering a composed display as the rest of the offensive line crumbled around him. Eichenberg has shown poise and reliability on the biggest stages in college football and would be a significant asset up front for Washington.