Washington Draft Surprises And Reactions

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May 5, 2021

by David Earl

Jamin Davis Tops Their Board

Heading into pick 19 having seen the talented Micah Parsons heading to a hated rival, many Washington fans were hoping for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (drafted by Cleveland in 2nd round) or Christian Darrisaw (who went to Minnesota pick 23 overall). So when the pick was in and Jamin Davis was announced some eyebrows were raised I’m sure (including mine) but once the selection fully registered it appeared many approved of the pick.

180 votes is a small sample size, but the common theme I’ve noticed was that Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio know linebackers, and Jamin is an absolute freak of an athlete. As trusting in them for that reason is fine, understand what exactly Washington got in Jamin Davis. Being compared to Colts linebacker Darius Leonard by many, Jamin Davis is a great anticipatory player with outstanding length, speed, and lateral movement. According to Next-Gen stats, he scored an elite athleticism score of 99 following his pro-day numbers, which included an impressive 4.47-second 40-yard time.

While the pros on Jamin Davis are encouraging, the cons on him – such as the fact that he’s inexperienced (only 11 starts) and inconsistent taking on blocks – aren’t major concerns in my opinion. Playing behind that defensive front here in Washington should help alleviate many second-level blocks keeping him relatively clean in the trenches. Jamin should have every opportunity to utilize his speed and length to be an impact player starting in week 1. So as fans were hoping for a specific outcome, the Davis pick (albeit a bit early) brings in a potential day 1 starter filling a huge hole and could greatly help a linebacker core that was a major liability in the passing game. With everything said and the potential of this player, Jamin fits the cultural mold Ron Rivera has begun to instill within this organization. An upstanding, mature, and intelligent kid born into a military family goes a long way in speaking about his character makeup.

Sam Cosmi Brings Toughness and Athleticism

Mark does an excellent job breaking down Sam Cosmi and does mention some technical issues like poor footwork. Overall he talks about how Sam graded as one of the top athletic tackles in the draft and who he has an absolutely nasty mentality. As he certainly grades out to be a starting tackle in NFL, Cosmi is another testament to what Ron is building in culture. Sam is truly a high character guy with a relentless work ethic as attested by those who knew him.

Replacing Trent Williams is a near impossibility and Lucas and Christen are just not the answer. Lucas did provide some stability at the position with a 78.3 overall grade and an 83.1 grade in pass protection that ranked 11th at the position over the regular season but will be 30 years old come week 1. While Saahdiq Charles slid in the 2020 draft and projected as a mid to late 2nd round (some say early 3rd) left tackle prospect, his true value could be at left guard. With the trade of Ereck Flowers, drafting of Cosmi, and a healthy Charles entering camp the offensive line may not be as talented without Trent but its depth is undeniable. If Cosmi develops into what his athletic score projects him to be this offensive line could very quickly become a strength of this team, which should be music to everyone’s ears.

Dyami Brown The Most Hyped Selection?

First off I will admit this pick excited me tremendously, especially as I watched him creep closer to our selections. A true deep threat and a solid route runner, Brown gives us a wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin that’s been terribly lacking. At 6’1″ Dyami Brown was near perfect on contested balls while averaging 20 yards per reception his last 2 years of college. Adding him to a wide receiver core of Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel along with tight end Logan Thomas and a dynamic running back in Antonio Gibson, Fitzpatrick and this offense has no excuses. If the defense takes the next step (a scary thought for the league) and this offense plays to its potential then this team, can dare I say, win 11 or more games. I know – pump the brakes as Steve Thomas is probably ready to cut ties with me as a writer just saying that…LOL. For the full draft, class breakdown check out Steve Thomas’ Draft Thoughts article. Now enough with my thoughts: