Right now, most mock drafts out there have the Washington Redskins focusing on the defensive line with the No. 21 overall pick this year. Alabama's A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed and Baylor's Andrew Billings have all been popular projections to land in D.C., and none of them would be bad choices. Washington cut defensive end Jason Hatcher this offseason and doesn't seem keen on re-signing nose tackle Terrance Knighton in free agency, so the need is there.
But I don't think it's the most pressing need for the Redskins. The team's previous two second-rounders, Trent Murphy and Preston Smith, could both bulk up and move to the line to mitigate those losses. That is why general manager Scot McCloughan should instead focus on the secondary, which has been a mess for almost a decade.
Washington's defense finished the 2015 season ranked No. 25 in passing yards allowed per game (258), No. 22 in passing touchdowns (30), No. 21 in interceptions (11) and No. 22 in opposing passer rating (96.1). It surrendered 11 multi-touchdown games to opposing quarterbacks.
But this year's draft class is a good one for defensive backs, and as many as five or six could go in the first round alone. If available, the Redskins should pick Ohio State's Eli Apple out of that bunch.
Apple may go a few picks before Washington is on the clock, and it's easy to understand why. He's got good size at 6-1 and 200 pounds and quality speed with a 4.40 40-yard dash time. His length and athleticism allow him to be one of the more physical corners in this year's draft, and he loves to contest receivers once they reach the end of their routes.
"Just my press man cover skills," Apple said when asked which element of his game best translates to the next level. "That's something in the NFL that's really important, to be a physical guy at the line of scrimmage and be able to take receivers off their path. And that's something I do better than anybody, in my opinion. My press technique is to me better than everybody out there. That's the main thing I do. I'm a physical guy and I get up on receivers and impact that."
The biggest knock against Apple, 20, is his age (he's leaving OSU after his redshirt freshman year) but not his play. He's a guy who could fill an immediate need in Washington.
Outside of Bashaud Breeland, the Redskins don't have any cornerbacks who can be relied on in the future. Chris Culliver is coming off the second major knee injury of his career and will be closing in on 30 with a $9 million-plus cap hit in 2017. Will Blackmon will be 32 next year, and Quinton Dunbar is still a bit player with questions about his upside. If the Redskins draft Apple and re-sign Breeland to a long-term extension then they suddenly have two young and gifted corners in place for years to come. That solves a lot of problems.
Are there other players in the draft who would be good fits in Washington? Absolutely. But Apple may be able to make the most difference for this team.
Follow Brandon Katz on Twitter at @Great_Katzby
