It's probably not quite fair to say that the Washington Redskins targeting pass-rushers in the 2015 NFL Draft means they're searching for Brian Orakpo's replacement considering the former first-round pick appeared in all of seven games last season, nabbing just 24 tackles and half a sack in the process.
Still, despite his limited production and limited snaps, Orakpo entered the 2014 season as one of two starters on the outside for the Redskins. Now that the 28-year-old pass-rusher has defected to the Tennessee Titans, the Redskins have a clear need across from Pro Bowler Ryan Kerrigan and new GM Scot McCloughan could look to the 2015 NFL Draft to fill that gaping hole (Phrasing, Lana).
"Sources tell WalterFootball.com that Clemson outside linebacker Vic Beasley and defensive end Tavaris Barnes took a pre-draft visit to the Washington Redskins," writes Charlie Campbell of Walter Football. "The Redskins hold the fifth-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and many have projected them to take a pass-rusher after losing Brian Orakpo in free agency."
2014's second-round pick, Trent Murphy, performed admirably when forced into action last season, finishing his rookie year with 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed in 15 games of work.
Still, Murphy is a limited athlete with a low ceiling and likely better utilized as a main back-up on the outside and versatile chess piece that can line up at different spots along the front-seven, than as a starter across from Kerrigan.
Beasley, 6-foot-3, 246-pounds, is an explosive athlete with quick feet and fluid hips who projects as a potentially dominant 3-4 outside linebacker at the professional level.
"He's pretty much what you are looking for if you are a 3-4 team. I think he can play inside or outside because he moves so well. Out of the top-rated outside 'backers, he's the best, in my opinion," an unnamed AFC defensive coordinator said, per NFL.com.
Beasley has a little rawness to his game - then again, what NFL rookie doesn't? - and will need to expand his repertoire of pass-rush moves, but he has the skill set to become one of the best pure edge rushers in the incoming 2015 NFL Draft class.
Interestingly though, per Campbell's report, the mostly unheralded Barnes is actually a major target for the Redskins - perhaps even more so than Beasley.
"Sources say that Barnes (6-3, 275) has a lot of physical talent, and they are hoping to land him on their roster. They feel he is a sleeper pick and was better than Clemson defensive end Corey Crawford, who saw more playing time."
Despite limited opportunities, Barnes finished his senior season for Clemson with 19 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and five tackles for loss. Barnes would, presumably, play a role much like Murphy - a main back-up able to line up in a variety of spots in various packages for the Redskins front-seven.
