Don't let coach Ron Rivera fool you. The Washington Football Team drafted for need versus the omnipresent "best player available." If needs and best player coincided, well, all the better.
For the second straight year, Rivera and Co. targeted needed positions. A quarterback would have been nice, but Washington resisted moving up over the three-day draft to find a passer. Instead, they picked a needed outside linebacker in the first round and a left tackle in the second. A deep receiver came in the third while Washington even took a deep snapper in the sixth.
Washington didn't get a flashy franchise player like Chase Young last year. Picking 19th is the price for winning the NFC East despite 7-9. But, on paper, it appears Washington is stronger by loading up on needs versus reserves. It was a B-plus draft, which is about as well as teams picking in the bottom half can do.
The best pick was linebacker Jamin Davis in the first round. Washington bypassed others to get a gritty defender who can prevent a tight end in a short-yardage situations from converting third downs. It has been the defense's biggest hole for several years, but Davis has the speed to match up.
The defense is now complete. Rivera was on the 1985 Chicago Bears, considered one of the better defenses ever, and is trying to replicate a defense-first team with one of the better lines leaguewide and now a solid linebacking core. Not that anyone can beat the secondary with cornerbacks Kendall Fuller and William Jackson III. The team's 10 draftees added several defensive reserves like Minnesota's Benjamin St-Juste in the third round, but it's ready to ride with the 11 starters.
That said, the offense was supposed to be the focus after an uneven effort last year. Rivera wasn't willing to pay heavily to gain a quarterback or tight end Kyle Pitts, but found a needed left tackle in Texas' Samuel Cosmi. This guy is a brawler who can play either side. With veteran Ereck Flowers now filling left guard, Washington's line is respectable.
Washington has 17 receivers on its roster, a preposterous number, but the cutdown survivors will make it more than just Terry McLaurin and Co. Drafting North Carolina's Dyami Brown should open the deep game. Is he the next DeSean Jackson? McLaurin should get a little more space with Brown drawing deep coverage. Seventh-rounder Dax Milne of Brigham Young could gain time in the slot.
Washington needed another tight end, so Boise State's John Bates was selected in the fourth round. The 6-foot-6 Bates can catch and block.
One intriguing pick was Michigan deep snapper Camaron Cheeseman in the sixth round, after surprisingly not retaining longtime veteran Nick Sundberg. It saves Washington money, but the value can be quickly lost on one bad snap.
Overall, Washington kept pace with division rivals Dallas, Philadelphia and the New York Giants. Everyone picked up a needed player. The difference over the next three seasons is how many remain.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
