The Washington Football Team shocked the world by winning the NFC East and competing against a Super Bowl competition in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in the Wild Card round of the post-season. Now, in this 2021 Washington 7-round NFL Mock Draft, they continue their climb to continued success.
Despite using four different backs, and having no real talent at Terry McLaurin, with a head coach battling cancer, and several other headlines off the field, Washington was able to exceed all expectations. On top of that, Washington also has one of the best situations in the NFL. A strong concept class will be the icing on the cake. In this Washington 2021 NFL Mock Draft, they get the strong class.
Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
He has a 6’5 ″ frame and a strong athletic profile. He is a nasty finisher in the running competition, and his physical skill sets him up as an elite pass protector. He is phenomenal in space and invents blocks particularly well. His ceiling is a multiple All-Pro, and that alone will set him in the top-20.
The value here is elite for Washington. Cornelius Lucas played a majority of the 2020 season left-hander and exceeded expectations. However, he was not good enough to pass on a talent like Darrisaw if he were to fall at 19. Lucas has been a swing suit up to this point in his career and is best suited for the role for Washington in 2021 as they have the opportunity to become younger and more talented in the position.
Tackle is not Washington’s most important need – why Darrisaw?
Although I realize that Washington has more urgent needs than tackling, at the end of the day, the team stands at the council’s mercy. They can’t choose between every prospect at 19 – that’s the downside of the playoffs. However, if you ask Ron Rivera what he would rather have, a playoff spot or a higher draft pick, he will laugh in your face when he asks the question.
I use the PFN’s NFL Mock Draft Simulator with Trades for the other 31 teams to choose from. It gives an authentic feel to the concept, and I’m not just assuming which players are available at choice 19.
Players like Trey Lance, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Kyle Pitts and DeVonta Smith were all dream scenarios, but no one made it past the 13th pick. There’s a real possibility that Darrisaw is the best player at 19, and that’s what happened in this Washington 7 – round Mock Draft.
Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
This Washington 2021 NFL Mock Draft board may not have fallen ideally in the first round, but it did in the second round. After Washington took Darrisaw with the 19th pick, Washington added a weapon to the offense on Day 2. Moore’s pick made it effortless. Except for Terry McLaurin, Washington does not have a receiver who can consistently divorce. Rondale Moore offers that ability.
Moore is an elite athlete. Not only is he a great athlete, but he is arguably the fastest and most explosive receiver in the 2021 NFL draft class. These include names like Jaylen Waddle and Kadarius Toney. Moore is a better route than he gets credit for and an elite YAC receiver. His presence alone helps attract Terry McLaurin, and if not, Moore will dominate the soft cover in the first year.
Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse
Washington adds another young player to its already impressive defensive core. They got a star in the final round of Kam Curl in the 7th round. He is the future of the team with strong safety, but the free position for safety is still an important question.
Cover-1 and cover-3 looks are the most used in Washington’s defense scheme. The meaning of a single high security is the deep third and functions as a last resort. Ideally, this player can hastily cover ground and force turnover at a high rate.
Ground cover and turnover enforcement are illustrated by Andre Cisco, Syracuse Security. Cisco measures 209 pounds, with excellent athletic ability to cover side-to-side. However, its most intriguing feature is its rare ability to force turnover at a high rate.
In three years at Syracuse, Cisco has recorded 13 interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. If the ball skills can translate to turnover at the next level, it could be the last piece Washington needs to create a championship-caliber defense.
Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Mej
Rondale Moore was selected earlier in this 7-round Mock Draft in Washington, but it should come as no shock to see the team completely revisit the unit with the current state of the WR corps. Rondale will be used as a Z, which is frequently in motion and makes plays around the scrum. Scott Turner will use the YAC ability of Rondale as well as everyone in the NFL.
Elijah Moore would take over the duties as the primary lock recipient. A quiet elite runner with good blast and a YAC threat will fit perfectly into the offense. Instead of getting a bouncy ball receiver, Washington decides to invest in the separation and win in space. A direction the NFL has been heading lately.
Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
After not getting a QB in the first round, it looked unlikely they would pick one in this Washington 2021 NFL Mock Draft. Davis Mills sitting there on Day 3 with their first pick, however, is hard to ignore. Quarterback is obviously Washington’s most important need, and if the team decides to play alongside Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen for 2021, it might make sense to add the best Day 3 quarterback.
Expect to hear Mills in the same conversation as guys like Mac Jones and Kyle Trask in the coming weeks. Mills has a much better arm than both, and he is considerably more agile. Injuries have derailed his career a bit, but he shows excellent qualities on tape at Stanford.
Thomas Graham Jr., CB, Oregon
It’s hard to know if Washington will have to set up a cornerback. Ronald Darby has been excellent for most of the 2020 season, but he is a free agent during the off-season. Until Washington re-signs him, the team’s need for the position remains volatile. In this Washington 7-round Mock Draft, the need meets right in the middle.
Thomas Graham has the experience and skill to start in the first year if Darby were to leave in the free agency. If Darby returns, Graham can function as a corner angle for the rotation limit. Only 5’11 “, but a plague at the catch point, Graham played 32 departures and eight interceptions in Oregon in three seasons. With Jimmy Moreland starting in the lock, Graham functions as a turning point.
KJ Britt, LB, Auburn
Washington has more than enough athletic abilities in the linebacker room and can go from sideline to sideline. However, the unit is soft and struggling to recognize and fill gaps in the run. They fly past the hole and try an arm barrel. The backs’ inability to stop the run in the gap is why Washington produced only the 14th best running defense in the NFL, despite the best defensive line in football.
KJ Britt is not a good athlete, nor does he offer much to the defense during pass scenarios. He’s an old school tractor at £ 6, and he’s going to make the Washington lineout unit nasty. In the seventh round, you do not have to find the next player. The addition of someone like Britt improves the unit because it reduces their biggest weakness.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama
With their final choice, Washington takes the backing of Alabama, Brian Robinson, jr. Clearly, Antonio Gibson is starring in Washington’s offense. JD McKissic is also widely used, both as a rusher and receiver. However, Peyton Barber has been the least efficient runner in the NFL this past season, and he is the team’s main back.
Robinson weighs 226 pounds and strikes like a truck. He also possesses athletic quality, at least enough to break down short runs into big pieces. Hairdresser is sufficient for one yard, but he rarely allows you 15 or more yards. Taking someone like Robinson to complete a talented running room could help ease those who play for Washington in 2021.
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