Entering the 2021 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team was in a position to fill out their remaining roster needs. They have already proven they have the talent to compete against the league’s best by nearly shocking the to-be Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round. However, with their loss, it became clear they still have a few holes to fill. That being said, did Washington make the necessary moves to contend? Here are the final results of Washington’s 2021 NFL Draft.
- Round 1 (19th Overall): LB Jamin Davis – Kentucky
- Round 2 (51st Overall): OT Samuel Cosmi – Texas
- Round 3 (74th Overall): CB Benjamin St-Juste – Minnesota
- Round 3 (82nd Overall): WR Dyami Brown – North Carolina
- Round 4 (124th Overall): TE John Bates – Boise State
- Round 5 (163rd Overall): S Darrick Forrest – Cincinnati
- Round 6 (225th Overall): LS Camaron Cheeseman – Michigan
- Round 7 (240th Overall): DE William Bradley-King – Baylor
- Round 7 (246th Overall): EDGE Shaka Toney – Penn State
- Round 7 (258th Overall): WR Dax Milne – Brigham Young
Overall Washington 2021 NFL Draft Class Grade: A+
Washington Football Team 2021 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: LB Jamin Davis
Going in the 2021 NFL Draft, head coach Ron Rivera seemed set on taking care of their need at linebacker. So why not do so in the first round? Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis is exactly what Rivera wanted – an athletic leader who can play sideline to sideline. Davis has excellent length and initial burst and saw his stock skyrocket late in the pre-draft process. Davis is rather rough around some of the edges, but if Rivera develops him right, he can become a very good player quickly.
The Head-Scratcher: Camaron Cheeseman
Here is the issue – the Washington Football Team had a perfect draft through and through. They added talent all over the field and got the guys they wanted to fill out the roster with. This including Camaron Cheeseman, who simply deserves recognition for having one of the best names in the draft. The long snapper was taken with the 225th overall pick, which one could argue could have gone to another premium position. Either way, Cheeseman is in the NFL, and fans could not be happier!
The Surprise: Dyami Brown
In a way, the surprise is not that Washington landed Dyami Brown, rather when. While “The Steal” award goes to another pick, Brown also has a very strong case to be one of the top steals in the entire draft. Taken with the 82nd overall pick, Brown is a player who should have gone early on day two. He is a downfield threat who ran a 4.44 40-yard dash time and has very reliable hands. Given Brown’s ball-tracking skills, one could expect him to have an early impact in Washington attempting to stretch the field this season.
The Steal: Samuel Cosmi
Another one of Washington’s biggest needs was at left tackle. Since the entire Trent Williams left, the team has been searching for his replacement. Well, they found him. Texas offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi is a raw left tackle prospect who has a very high ceiling. Standing at 6’6” and 614-pounds, Cosmi is a physical and athletic blocker who needs to refine his technique. Nevertheless, his talent could have seen him go in round one, making his selection at 51st a massive steal for Washington.
Most Likely to Turn Heads During Training Camp: Shaka Toney
The Washington Football Team has a very deep front seven. It is the strength of the team, with Chase Young, Jonathan Allen, and many more leading the charge in the trenches. Yet fans should look out for seventh-round pick Shaka Toney to carve out a role for himself before the season starts. He is a dynamic rusher with great bend around the edge. He may need to bulk up more to handle 4-3 defensive end duties, but with his natural rush skills, Toney could practice his way into a situational pass-rushing role.
The Rest
In the third round of the draft, Washington landed Senior Bowl standout cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and tight end John Bates. St-Juste is a tall, lanky cornerback who is raw with size and tackling skills worth developing. Meanwhile, in drafting Boise State tight end John Bates in round four, Washington gets another big tight end who excels as a blocker and has reliable hands.
In round five Washington took Cincinnati safety Darrick Forrest. The safety is best in the box, playing against the run and covering tight ends. In a division with Evan Engram, Zach Ertz, and other tight ends, Forrest’s coverage ability will come in handy. Similarly, Washington added more depth along their defensive line in William Bradley-King. The 240th overall pick has the size and necessary edge-rushing traits to be a quality rotational piece.
Lastly, Washington closed out their draft by taking wide receiver Dax Milne. The BYU receiver stands at 6’1” and 193-pounds, bringing a smooth runner to the unit. He is a great all-around athlete with great ball tracking skills.
In the 2021 NFL Draft the Washington Football Team simply needed to add talent to fill out their roster. In having a well-rounded draft that took care of the team’s biggest needs, it is safe to say that Ron Rivera and company killed it on draft weekend.
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