Round 4: Marquis Hayes
If Brandon Scherff leaves in free agency then Washington will be short of talent at the guard spot. Even if the team finds a way to re-sign him, they should future-proof the position by adding a young prospect in the middle rounds of this year’s draft.
Hayes isn’t an elite athlete in terms of speed and quickness, but he makes up for those limitations with elite power at the point of attack. He’s a very different sort of player compared to Scherff even if he’s expected to take over for him one day.
Hayes will appeal to Rivera due to his brute strength. He also plays with the sort of nasty streak that can help galvanize Washington’s ground game. It might take him a few weeks to adjust to the rigors of blocking in the NFL, but Hayes should be ready to make a positive impact as a rookie.
Again, some Washington fans might take issue with the value proposition of taking a guard here. The team’s need to build a better offensive line should trump those concerns. Hayes can help in year 1 and that makes him solid value at this juncture in the draft.