NFL Washington Redskins

2015 NFL Draft: Pick By Pick With Washington Redskins At No. 5

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By @rickstavig

Leonard Williams, NFL Draft

Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, it’s officially mock draft season. Yes, mock drafts are entirely and utterly useless. It’s all speculation loosely based on rumors and projections, with no mock draft ever being anywhere near perfect. It’s like making a bracket for the NCAA tournament: you’ll get a few right but you’ll never get them all right. Still, they’re fun to make, they’re fun to read, and it fuels hope for a good offseason and a better future for whomever you cheer for.

I had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking Oregon QB Marcus Mariota with the first pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans taking Jameis Winston, (QB, Florida State) at no. 2, the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Brandon Scherff, (OT, Iowa) third and the Oakland Raiders taking Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) fourth. Who do the Washington Redskins take fifth?

Leonard Williams, DE/DT, Southern Cal.

Help along the defensive line isn’t necessarily the Redskins biggest need, even on defense. The secondary would love to add an elite talent at safety or cornerback with this pick, but there just isn’t a DB worthy of a top-5 pick in this draft class. Everyone raves about Alabama SS Landon Collins, the latest-greatest Nick Saban disciple, but in my humble opinion, he’s not strong enough in coverage to justify such a high draft slot (remember, only two safeties have been selected top-5 since ’98).

If the Redskins can’t, won’t or don’t trade down (absolutely the best decision they could make considering this is their first full allotment of draft picks in years and how much help they need), and someone like Williams is still on the board, this pick would make a lot of sense.

Remember, Williams is considered by many analysts (not myself, however) to be the best player in the entire draft class. If he falls to the fifth pick and to a team that could absolutely use an infusion of elite talent to their defensive line, you’re talking about great value. Maxing out on both value and need with one pick? The perfect scenario in any draft room shot-callers world.

Williams (6-foot 5, 300, 4.85 estimated 40) has been an absolute monster on the Trojans defensive line the past few years and is a very well rounded lineman. His versatility will be a plus for a Redskins defense that figures to feature a flexible scheme under new DC Joe Barry as he can play 3-tech, strong-side DE and 5-tech end. He’s already mature enough against the run to make an immediate impact and has enough athleticism and upside to continue developing his pass rush.

The Redskins need help at DE. Jason Hatcher, the teams best and most productive lineman, will be 33 when the season starts. Jarvis Jenkins, the teams second round pick in 2011, is a free agent and has largely been a bust (when he’s actually been healthy). Stephen Bowen will be 31 and has one year left on his current deal, and has been unproductive. Frank Kearse and Travian Robertson? Just not starting caliber players, plain and simple.

Adding a talent like Williams would be a major boost for a largely disappointing unit and would make a nice building block to go along with Ryan Kerrigan in the Redskins front seven.

Rick Stavig is an NFL Draft Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @rickstavig or add him to your network on Google+.

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