Over the past few years, the Redskins have had a multitude of head-scratching decisions in the NFL Draft. The list of analysts who have been critical of the team’s past two first rounders, Brandon Scherff and Josh Doctson, is a whole lot longer than I would like. 2017 is a brand new year. The Redskins hit a grand slam with the selection of Alabama defensive lineman (and local product) Jonathan Allen. Allen grew up in Leesburg, VA and was named the Washington Post All-Metropolitan Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. At the conclusion of the college football season, Allen was seen as the clear cut second best player in the draft. Concerns about a shoulder injury, as well as a less than ideal combine performance, put him a position to fall all the way to the Redskins at #17. He may not blow anyone away athletically, but Jonathan Allen is without a doubt one hell of a football player.

Allen is a scheme-versatile talent who can line up anywhere along the defensive line. In the Redskins base 3-4 defense, Allen will likely play as a 5 technique defensive end, aligned head up against offensive tackles. Allen is a special talent against the run; he should help improve what was an atrocious Redskins rushing defense last year. Allen’s value will be felt most in nickel pass rushing situations. At these times, fans will see Allen slide inside to a 3-technique defensive tackle, where he can use his quickness and hand speed to wreak havoc against NFL guards. The Redskins have lacked dominant interior pass rusher for quite some time, and Allen’s presence will help free up the Redskins’ edge rushers, such as Ryan Kerrigan. Allen will need to add a little more strength to his 286 lb. frame, but once he does he is in perfect position to be a dominant prescience on the defensive line for many years to come. Many analysts described Allen as a dream prospect for Washington, but few, if any, envision the team having a shot at him without trading up. Hopefully the experts are right about this local behemoth, because he could have an enormous role in the resurgence of the Redskin defense in the coming years.

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