In the NFL Nation mock draft, I selected defensive end/linebacker Charles Harris from Missouri for the Washington Redskins. It did not go over well. ESPN’s Bill Polian and Todd McShay gonged it; many on Twitter expressed dismay.
But let me explain.
And let me make this clear: It’s not as much because I’m in love with the player as much as what I’ve heard from multiple people about whom the Redskins like. Yes, people lie all the time before the draft, but it’s not until after the draft that we know how much or about who. I did know last year they really liked Josh Doctson; I do know they only moved away from defense because he fell to him. I'd be lying if I thought they'd draft him, however. They were not targeting receivers, just him.
Will the Redskins actually take Harris? Impossible to know at this point. I do know he’ll be under strong consideration. I also know they want pass-rushers (it’s a deep draft for them and you don’t have to select one in the first round) and players who can help on third down. Think: Explosive plays. The guys I keep hearing connected to them have potential to make impact plays.
Aside from Ryan Kerrigan, here are their outside linebackers: Trent Murphy (suspended four games, pending free agent); Preston Smith (inconsistent -- is that who he is or is he still growing as a player?); Junior Galette (missed two years with injuries); Houston Bates (coming off a torn ACL in December).
With Harris, there is no consensus on his projected draft range.
Look at Louis Riddick’s mock draft for ESPN. He’s a former NFL front office executive and player. His ninth overall pick? Harris (to Cincinnati). Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah, who now works for the NFL Network, had him ranked 20th on his board -- certainly close to where the Redskins select. He considered his stock rising, too. Mel Kiper pegged him 23rd to the Giants (giving the Redskins safety Malik Hooker, who was already gone in our draft). Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer also reported earlier this week that he heard the Redskins liked Harris.
In other words, Harris at No. 17 is not outlandish.
But there were definite mixed opinions when asking others in the league about him. One defensive coach for another team said Harris would be a “great player.” One executive thought he would be a late first-round pick.
Some will look at Harris and see production in a tough football conference -- nine sacks last season, seven the previous year. More often than not, Harris was a good yard ahead of his linemates after the snap. There have been times in the past when Redskins coach Jay Gruden will discuss a college pass-rusher and he’ll mention how much a player was ahead of his linemates after the snap. Harris does have a range of moves and turns the corner well.
But others will look at the metrics: He ran a 4.82 in the 40-yard dash; his splits on other drills at the combine weren’t good. There were times he was matched with Kansas State end/linebacker Jordan Willis in workouts and did not show well because the latter was faster, etc. Also, Harris needs to improve against the run.
If we could have traded in our mock, I would have. Had linebackers Haason Reddick or Reuben Foster fallen to 17, one of them would have been the choice. Both can have an impact on third downs in addition to playing every down. Running back Christian McCaffrey did not fall, either.
Not sure I’d take the inside linebackers, Jarrad Davis and Zach Cunningham, at No. 17 instead. If they moved back a few spots, OK. Cunningham is better in the passing game at this point and can run.
Running back Dalvin Cook was a tempting choice. My sense is that a first-round running back would tempt them; otherwise I’d expect defense. The Redskins met with Cook at the combine and again at the facility. He’s a walking red flag with shoulder issues and several off-field incidents. To ignore those and just focus on his game-changing ability is foolish. If a guy keeps getting in trouble, he’ll be suspended and, therefore, unavailable. You don’t need choir boys, but you do need guys you can rely on each Sunday to actually play. For several years now, the Redskins have bypassed players with those sorts of red flags (and I know there are some in this draft they won’t take).
But they’re clearly doing a lot of homework on Cook, which tells you they like him -- enough to draft him ahead of others? Don’t know.
I still have a feeling someone they like more will drop to No. 17. (For what it’s worth, Riddick had the Redskins drafting LSU running back Leonard Fournette.)
But if the Redskins end up with Harris, don’t say you weren’t warned.
