As much as any team in the NFL, the picks for Washington in mock drafts are all over the place. That translates into Washington having several needs, with none more important than any other. Defensive line, linebacker, safety, and running back are their core needs, and that type of potential draft fluidity is a good thing.
2017 NFL mock draft: Dalvin Cook goes to Washington
The Hogs get easily the best player available in our blogger mock.
Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
That syncs up well with how Ken Meringolo of Hogs Haven in the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft sees things going. He could have taken a safety like Jabrill Peppers or linebacker Haason Reddick and it would have been fine. But he happened to take the best player available, and it fits one of the aforementioned needs.
17. Washington: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Meringolo: This pick works for Washington on so many levels. After waving goodbye to two stud veteran offensive playmakers in Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, Washington reintroduces power and speed into their starting lineup with Dalvin Cook. Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, and Cook would cement one of the better running back platoons in the league, and would take at least some pressure off of Kirk Cousins to get immediate results out of newcomer receivers Terrelle Pryor and Josh Doctson (last year’s No. 1 pick that spent the year dealing with injury). Speaking of Cousins, adding a playmaker like Cook on offense would have to go a long way toward convincing him to sign a long-term contract in Washington, right? (Seriously, I’m asking.)
The only potential hangup with this pick is that Cook doesn’t play defensive line. Unless…
Analysis: To answer Ken’s questions: You’d hope a player of Cook’s caliber would help persuade Cousins to stay in Washington, and no, Cook cannot play defensive line. Easy answers. A hard issue to address is how Washington would manage carries for Cook, Robert Kelley, Matt Jones and Chris Thompson. The three current NFL players might not be big names, but they combined for more than 1,500 yards last season and 12 touchdowns. That’s not to say Cook is a bad pick. He’s a star player with his ability to run and catch the ball.
Dan’s top five players remaining
- 16. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
- 17. Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA
- 18. Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
- 19. Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
- 20. John Ross, WR, Washington
Washington picks
- 1-17: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
- 2-49: (coming April 18)
The final pick of the day is coming up at 3 p.m. with Jimmy Morris of Music City Miracles making the his second first-round pick for the Tennessee Titans.
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