clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2015 DBN Mock Draft: Washington Redskins Select DE Leonard Williams at No. 5

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

With the fifth pick in the DBN 2015 NFL Mock Draft, the Washington Redskins select...

Leonard Williams, DE, USC

The selection and write-up were made by michael.hamper:

Washington won only 7 games in the last two years with the likes of RG3 and Kirk Cousins (and of course Colt McCoy) at the helm, which should be oddly satisfying to Browns fans. With QB set and Garcon, DeSean Jackson, and Andre Roberts at WR, and no top-10 OL pick in this years draft, I think Washington would be smart to draft on defense, or trade back to get a better lineman. If I am the GM, I am running up to the podium to make this pick.

On defense, Washington lost Brian Orakpo to free agency this year and could look to replace him with Leonard Williams, but they also have starters in Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy. Murphy was selected with the 47th overall pick last year (Washington's first pick in 2014) and played 15 games before going on IR for a hand injury.

Along the defensive line, Washington signed Terrance Knighton (1 year deal), Stephen Paea (4 year deal), and Ricky Jean-Francois in free agency. Knighton grades out very well against the run and Paea was the 2nd rated DT behind Suh last year, but did not post a positive overall grade from PFF in any of his other seasons and could be a one-year wonder. Jean-Francois is a pet signing by McCloughan (drafted him in SF) and posted negative PFF ratings in Indianapolis the last two years before his release. The remaining starting DL is Jason Hatcher, who is going into his 10th season.

With the uncertainty as to whether Knighton will be in Washington after this year and whether Paea will boom or bust, Washington can utilize Williams' strengths this year in whatever position they want and plan for the future either at defensive end, defensive tackle, or linebacker. Williams will likely challenge Paea and Hatcher for a starting DE position, or Murphy for the starting OLB position he would likely hold. Either way, I think Williams makes an immediate impact and could be in the running for rookie of the year, barring a setback like Clowney had to start 2014.

This would certainly complete a significant upgrade to the Redskins' defensive line this offseason. Williams is projected to be a top five pick, and I don't expect him to get past the Redskins.

The New York Jets are up next, led by aszabo1.

2015 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)

Pick Team Player Position School Username
1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jameis Winston QB Florida State BuenosAires_Dawg
2 Tennessee Titans Marcus Mariota
QB
Oregon
scott tizzle
3 Jacksonville Jaguars Vic Beasley
DE/OLB
Clemson
Legoman0721
4 Oakland Raiders Amari Cooper
WR
Alabama
makeaplay59
5 Washington Redskins Leonard Williams
DE
USC
michael.hamper
6 New York Jets


aszabo1
7 Chicago Bears


Barnestorm
8 Atlanta Falcons


OhioCityBrownsBeliever
9 New York Giants


Bizono
10 St. Louis Rams


Ted Washington's Belly
11 Minnesota Vikings


MConley17
12 Cleveland Browns


Adam Rice
13 New Orleans Saints


TuckJob
14 Miami Dolphins


Brocolis154033
15 San Francisco 49ers


Manly and Loving It
16 Houston Texans


troy145
17 San Diego Chargers


Crawford_T
18 Kansas City Chiefs


JamesPowell
19 Cleveland Browns


Royce Groff
20 Philadelphia Eagles


Matt Wood
21 Cincinnati Bengals


styrofoamboots
22 Pittsburgh Steelers


Marquess of Rockingham
23 Detroit Lions


tmptplayer
24 Arizona Cardinals


a2342432a
25 Carolina Panthers


PaduaDSP
26 Baltimore Ravens


unoservix
27 Dallas Cowboys


Twilightcall06
28 Denver Broncos


Maverick Hunter X
29 Indianapolis Colts


Mudville
30 Green Bay Packers


syndrome
31 New Orleans Saints


pt_999
32 New England Patriots


stravaille