By Mark Bacon
Dear Reader,
Been a while, hasn’t it? I’m no longer in D.C., but am forever a Skins fan. Prior to the Draft, I was re-reading exchanges between MESports’ CEO, Haven Harrington and myself. Haven is a man with a keen eye for football, as many of you know. Much better than my burgundy and gold biased lens.
Recapping a Skins game this past season, HH says to me the Skins need help at WR. "DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon are good, but depth would put them over the top."
I forgot about that until yesterday… With a draft rich in defensive linemen, the area we need much help with, I was certain Vernon Butler or Kenny Clark would be the choice. (Bummed Sheldon Rankins wasn’t there. But you knew he would last no longer than 12th-14th. Congrats Sheldon!!)
Wide receiver wasn’t a significant priority for the Washington Redskins in the First Round of the NFL Draft, but they stuck with their board on Thursday.
In other words, when Redskins General Manager, and Football Personnel Genius, Scot McCloughan says best player available, he means it.
Texas Christian wide receiver Josh Doctson was the pick for the Skins last night in the First Round. And while wide receiver doesn’t immediately seem like much of a need, both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon are entering the final year of their pricey contracts. So if you draft to build for the future, this pick makes sense. Defensive linemen will be there later.
After flipping spots with the Houston Texans, Josh Doctson remained the best player available in the Redskins’ war room. Redskins Coach Jay Gruden said the TCU product was the best player on the team’s list (the 22nd overall pick.)
“He’s got height,” Gruden said. “He’s got the mad leaping skills which are very appealing – especially in the red zone. He’s another guy that’s going to bring athleticism to this offense, and we’re excited to have him.”
Washington had pressing needs at defensive line but decided to pass on a number of players, like Kenny Clark (taken 27th overall by the Green Bay Packers), Robert Nkemdiche (taken 30th overall by the Arizona Cardinals) and Vernon Butler (taken 31st overall by the Carolina Panthers).
“There’s arguments there that you can take defense, but we took the best player,” Gruden said. “We addressed defense the other day with Josh Norman. We gave them a first-round pick, so they should be happy. It’s about building a football team and taking the best player to help us, and we thought Josh was a perfect fit.”
Doctson is 6’2” -and his 41-inch vertical that was tied for the best among wide receivers at the NFL combine in February. The Redskins didn’t have a wide receiver over six feet last season. Doctson had 78 catches for 1,326 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games. He suffered a season-ending wrist injury at the end of the year, but Doctson said he’s completely healthy right now.
Doctson was the third wide receiver taken in the draft. The Cleveland Browns took Corey Coleman with the 15th overall pick, then the Texans selected Will Fuller prior to Washington’s selection. Laquon Treadwell went off the board to the Minnesota Vikings right after Doctson at No. 23.
“I think [Doctson’s] the most polished receiver of the group, personally,” Gruden said. “I think he can do a lot of different things across the middle. When the ball is in the air, he’s got the jumping ability. He’s got great hands. I think he’s got the best hands in the draft also. He’s a great pure route-runner. I graded him out very, very high. Our scouts had him graded out very high. Scot loved him. We all loved him, obviously, based on his production.”
Every video I personally viewed after the pick was a highlight reel. Of course. Red Zone monster. Tracks ball very well in the air. And interestingly, doesn’t use his body to help in the catch. All hands. May or may not be a drop problem. NFL corners figure shit out fast.
But I like the pick. Washington’s addition of TE Vernon Davis and Defensive Back Josh Norman make the team already improved in key areas. And the Defensive linemen will be there tonight.
Grade: B+ to A-.
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