NFL
By: Ryan Cooley
Most teams look to get one or two starters out of the draft. Washington managed to select three starters who had a major impact in their first year.
Here are Washington’s final draft 2020 grades.
Chase Young: A+
Initial grade: A+
Young was the best player in the 2020 NFL draft, and he did not disappoint his rookie campaign. He finished with an 87.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 6th among edge defenders who played 500+ snaps. Week 12 was when Young hit his stride. From week 12-17, Young ranked 2nd among all edge rushers with a 90.6 grade, which was only .1 less than Khalil Mack (90.7).
The defensive rookie of the year lived up to the hype in 2020 and will look to become the league’s premier defensive end.
Antonio Gibson: A-
Initial grade: B
The Gibson selection was a head-scratcher for many. At the time, Washington had Guice, Peterson, McKissic, Barber, and Love on its roster. Due to this, I assumed Gibson would be used more as a receiver. However, Guice was arrested and released from the team, Peterson was cut, and Love went on IR.
Gibson found himself as the starting running back week one. His role continued to grow throughout the season and ended as the highest-graded rookie running back. His 80.9 regular season grade ranked third among backs who had 150+ carries. Expect him to be a larger focal point in 2021.
Saahdiq Charles: C-
Initial grade: C-
Charles dealt with injuries all season, so it is hard to give him a higher or lower grade. After recovering from a calf injury, he was thrust in the starting lineup at left guard. Saahdiq only lasted two plays before he dislocated his knee cap and was placed on IR the rest of the season.
In college, Charles had character concerns and failed drug tests, which ultimately led to him falling to the 4th round. Rivera was willing to take a chance on the project who had a high ceiling. Luckily for Washington, their offensive line came together in the second half of the season and ended up being one of the few strengths on offense.
Antonio Gandy-Golden: D-
Initial grade: B+
Gandy-Golden was my favorite pick outside of Chase Young. The 6’4 220 lbs wide receiver put up 79 receptions for 1,397 yards and 10 TDs his last year at Liberty. Coming from a small school, he needed time to develop. However, on a team with a weak receiving core, only managing one catch on seven targets was nothing short of a disappointment.
Fans still shouldn’t give up on Gandy-Golden. He was placed on IR after week six with a hamstring injury. His only appearance after that was week 16 against the Panthers. He received a significant amount of playing time that game being on the field for 59 snaps. He will need to take a massive step up in his second year after an abysmal 44.6 grade.
Keith Ismael: C
Initial grade: B-
I was a fan of the Ismael pick. He was listed as a center but had experience at all three interior positions. I still believe he can develop into a solid lineman. He only played on four snaps in 2020. It was difficult to give him a grade above or lower than C due to this. If Brandon Scherff leaves in free agency, I would expect Ismael to compete for the starting role at right guard.
Khaleke Hudson: C+
Initial grade: C-
Hudson is an athletic freak, finishing in the 99th percentile for the 10-yard split, 95th percentile for bench press, and 92nd percentile in the 40-yard dash among all LBs in the 2020 draft. Most 5th round picks are not going to play much and are utilized on special teams. This is why Hudson’s grade rose. He played on 381 special teams and managed a 74.7 ST grade.
Hudson has the physical tools to make an impact on defense but has already solidified himself as an asset on special teams.
Kamren Curl: A
Initial grade: C+
In his initial grade, I mentioned that Curl had a ton of potential for someone selected in the 7th round. I didn’t expect him to have the impact that he had in his first year. His 68.4 grade ranked first among qualifying rookie safeties. He ended the year with 96 total tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions.
I can’t imagine Landon Collins starting at strong safety next season. Curl played too well to be put back on the bench. Expect Del Rio and Rivera to move Collins around, possibly at linebacker, while Curl remains at safety.
James Smith-Williams: C-
Initial grade: C-
Smith-Williams’ grade is tough to raise/lower. You don’t expect the 216th pick in the draft to have much of an impact. He did play for 100 snaps on defense but didn’t impress with his opportunities. He finished his rookie year with a 59.8 grade. The 7th rounder was on the field for 266 special team plays, but his 66.9 ST grade wasn’t anything to brag about. Hopefully, Smith-Williams can take a step up next season.
Overall Grade: A-
Initial overall grade: B
The Washington Football Team ended up having one of the best drafts in the league. Chase Young is well on his way to becoming a premier defensive end, Antonio Gibson was the best rookie running back, and Kamren Curl will look to become a top tier safety. Hopefully, the new front office in Washington can have back-to-back impressive drafts.
