Scot McCloughhan has a reputation for team building and what is going on in Washington should worry NFC East fans. After last draft where Washington saw major contributions from their top picks, the team added even more physical playmakers this year. There is a clear philosophy on prioritizing players who take to the field with a certain brand of aggression and Washington landed quite a few future impact starters through this process.
- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU: One of the surprise picks of the first round, Washington drafted arguably the best receiver in the class "above the rim". Doctson has strong hands, a big frame, long arms and explosive vertical ability that make him a pain in the ass to defend at the catch point. He is also very technically sound in his route running, being able to gain separation on more than just pure athletic ability. While Doctson is a very good athlete, I think he is also maxed out physically. As an older prospect, there is little room for him to grow, although that is fine considering how good he already is. Another concern with Doctson is that he is very skinny for his size and it will be interesting to see how a skinnier player who's game is predicated on catch point prowess fairs in the NFL. Regardless, Doctson's skill set makes him, at the least, a dangerous number two threat in the NFL, especially in the red zone.
- Su'a Cravens, LB, USC: Su'a Cravens was moved all over the place during his time at USC. Cravens has incredible instincts and flies around the field with reckless abandon, like a 230 pound rocket. Cravens is at his best in coverage, but he can make plays attacking the line of scrimmage. While he is very physical, his size allows him to get pushed around in traffic. Cravens will do his best if he can free lance underneath a bit and just make plays for the Washington defense. He has a true playmaker's mindset and I expect Joe Barry to take full advantage.
- Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: Kendall Fuller had a tumultuous final year at Virginia Tech that overshadowed a very impressive college career. Not only did he start the year by getting posterized by Michael Thomas in Virginia Tech's opener, he also suffered an injury that ended his season. When he is healthy, Fuller is a smart and physical player. He has good size, recognition skills and is a very good tackler. He is not incredibly fluid and is best coming forward than moving backward, so Washington is best off using him in short zones and letting him defend against the run. Not a home run pick, but Fuller's smarts and physicality could bolster Washington's secondary.
- Matthew Ioannidis, DT, Temple: Washington dipped into the Philadelphia jar to upgrade their horrid run defense from last season. Ioannidis is not a great athlete, but plays incredibly physical football and has a very high motor. He is a two down lineman who can stop the run and there is little upside for him to become anything more.
- Nate Sudfeld, QB, Indiana: It is hilarious that for as good as Washington seems to be at evaluating most positions, they have major pitfalls in looking at the quarterback position. Sudfeld looked undraftable when I watched him during the year. He definitely has prototypical size and a big arm, but he is horribly inaccurate, makes poor decisions and is not anything special in the pocket. He is a gifted, yet tremendously underwhelming football player which means, knowing Jay Gruden, he will be starting in a few years.
- Steven Daniels, ILB, Boston College: I hate this pick because of how good of value it is (I really hate Washington). Daniels is a bit short for a linebacker, but he is incredibly well built and has the strength to match. Daniels is a smart player who can hold his own in coverage despite not being a great athlete and he is a monster against the run. He will likely start out making plays on special teams, but I could see Daniels working his way into the defensive lineup as a run stopper sooner than later.
- Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia: It wasn't so long ago that people were saying Keith Marshall was the more talented of the dynamic freshman duo of he and Todd Gurley. Marshall's college career was plagued by injuries, unfortunately, but that talent was still evident his final year in Athens. Marshall, who couldn't always depend on his pure athletic ability, became a lot more nuanced and physical in his last year at Georgia. At the combine, Marshall ran a ludicrous 4.31 40 yard dash at 220 pounds, an almost unprecedented level of athletic ability. If Marshall can stay healthy, he could be a serious game breaker for Washington, especially paired with a hammer of a running back like Matt Jones.