Last season the Washington Redskins had a turnstile along the offensive line due to injuries. Even so, running back Adrian Peterson ran for 1,042 yards. In 2019 it will be important for the Redskins to bolster the interior of the offensive line and add quality depth.
In a move that could help with depth for the unit, the team announced the signing of unrestricted free agent tackle Ereck Flowers. Flowers could be a candidate to move inside to guard, a glaring need for the Redskins entering the upcoming NFL Draft.
One thing is for certain, Washington needs to continue to add quality depth to prevent major drop-offs in production. In the 2019 NFL Draft, there are many intriguing prospects. Let’s consider four players that could fill a glaring need for the Redskins.
1. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama, 6’5″ 301 lbs.
Williams is a player with great hand placement and solid footwork. He does an excellent job of establishing the first contact while using his strength to steer and sustain blocks once he is locked in. The five-star recruit knows how to establish his body positioning to create lanes in the running game.
This three-year starter plays with superior technique and is fundamentally sound. He can anchor quickly when the bull-rush begins, using excellent body control and footwork to close gaps and sustain blocks.
Williams could maximize his talents in the NFL with a move to the guard position. Some talent evaluators expressed concerns about his arm length against longer, speed-to-power edge rushers in the league. But he has the build and the athletic ability to be a versatile player that could be a solid interior contributor on the offensive line.
2. Chris Lindstrom, Guard, Boston College, 6’4″ 305 lbs.
Lindstrom, on film, demonstrates great power, quick feet and is very consistent in his hand usage in both the passing and running game. His quickness consistently puts him in position to make blocks on both the first and second levels and he has an impressive ability to cover lateral space and protect his gaps as a pass blocker.
This lineman has experience playing right tackle but his best fit is inside at offensive guard. When watching the film on Lindstrom he really plays like a four-year starter should: very alert with tremendous attention to detail. He has a smooth response when presented with defensive stunts and pressure packages.
The Associated Press Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC executes assignments with precise timing and understands his role in relation to the play concept.
3. Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma, 6’4″ 329 lbs.
Ford played tackle at Oklahoma but projects as a guard in the NFL due to his inexperience as a starting tackle with exploitable holes that will need to be patched before he can thrive in the pros. Guard is the ideal spot for the highly-talented First-Team All-Big 12 player.
At guard, he would face less exposure in pass protection and this would put him in the best position to use his size and athleticism. The Pineville, Louisiana native has the power to bulldoze down blocks and open the gap in the running game. His size and strength make it difficult for most defenders to move him without extra help.
Something that is underrated with Ford is his quickness and ability to get to the second level. He could use a little refining in his ability to pass protect by being more effective with the use of his length and more consistent hand placement.
4. Garrett Brumfield, OG, LSU, 6’4″ 303 lbs.
Looking at film on Brumfield really shows the physical nature with which he plays. He is aggressive at the point of attack and never gives up. He continues to look for the next guy to block, always attempting to finish plays strong.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native is explosive out of his stance, He keeps a low pad level and creates movement at the point of attack. His exceptional athletic ability allows him to reach the second level defenders with ease.
Brumfield does a great job anchoring down in pass protection, displaying the ability to mirror in space and matching up well with speed rushers. The guard shows good recovery technique to get a hand on the hip of the rusher and run him up the field.