Washington general manager Scot McCloughan held his pre-draft press conference on Monday. During that Q&A with the press, Washington’s new general manager indicated that it could potentially trade down from the No. 5 position in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Interestingly enough, McCloughan hinted that the likelihood of his team trading down is dependent on former USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams being on the board at five.
McCloughan, via Pro Football Talk, said Williams falling “might bring a trade more into play,” given that Washington apparently has no need for the player many believe is the draft’s very best. McCloughan said, “[w]e do feel good about our defensive front.”
It was possible, initially, that Washington could be in the running for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota at fifth overall, but with the team picking up quarterback Robert Griffin III’s fifth-year option on Monday, worth over $16 million in 2016, Mariota is likely off the table. Instead, it looks like Washington would be interested in moving down and acquiring more picks if Williams unexpectedly falls.
McCloughan said that pass-rusher is the defensive position that Washington is looking most closely at: “A pass rusher, that’s the most important thing. They’re hard to find. Were very lucky to have Ryan [Kerrigan] on the team, he’s one of those players, and hopefully not just in the first but throughout this draft we’ll add more pass rushers.”
Williams totaled 218 combined tackles, 36.5 tackles for a loss and 21 sacks in three seasons at USC. McCloughan is right in his assumption that, should Williams fall, that Washington will be getting many a phone call from teams interested in trading up for the defensive lineman. There are a number of teams that need the defensive line help that Williams could provide, allowing Washington to remain in position for a top edge rusher later in Round 1.
Still, don’t rule Washington out of the running for Williams, either. Washington may need a pass rusher, but the position is deep in this year’s draft class. They could certainly view Williams as the best player available at No. 5 if he is there and ultimately opt to take him, especially if trade offers for the pick aren’t to their liking.
General managers won’t completely tip their teams’ hands with the draft just a handful of days away. McCloughan’s comments could actually be concealing Washington’s interest in Williams.
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