Here is what you need to know on this Monday, January 30, 38 days before the March 9 start of NFL free agency.

Timeline

Days until:



—NFL Franchise tag deadline (3/1) 30

—NFL Draft (4/27) 87

—First Sunday of 2017 season (9/10) 223

Assessing five Redskins mock draft picks

We’re more than seven weeks away from the first day of spring but something is starting to blossom—NFL mock drafts. Here are five Redskins first-round picks from some of the more well-known mock drafters out there and my assessment of the pick.

Malik Hooker, S, Ohio Stats, Mel Kiper, ESPN—If they put Hooker at free safety and Su’a Cravens at strong, the Redskins likely would have solved the safety problem that has been plaguing them for the past decade. They would strongly consider him if he’s available. The problem is that most others have Hooker gone somewhere in the 5-10 range so unless something changes he will be gone by the time pick No.17 goes on the clock.

Related: NFL mock draft ver. 2.0

Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State, Josh Norris, NBC Sports—Norris says simply “McDowell would really help the Redskins front.” Well, actually, there are a lot of players who would be improvements on the Washington D-line. McDowell, however, is a great combination of athleticism and size and the could be an asset against the run and rushing the passer.

Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford, Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com—The key phrase is Jeremiah’s comment on Thomas is, “His motor never stops.” That makes him Scot McCloughan’s definition of “a football player”. The fact that he’s quick and strong helps, too.

More Redskins: Breaking: DeSean Jackson is still fast

John Ross, WR, Washington, Bucky Brooks, NFL.com—Unless a wide receiver is by far the best player on the board when No. 17 comes up I have a hard time believing that the Redskins will go with that position here. If both Pierre Garçon and DeSean Jackson leave as free agents then I might consider it. But I think the Redskins will be fine with Jackson/Garçon, Jamison Crowder, and Josh Doctson as their top three WR’s.

Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan, Matt Miller, Bleacher Report—A year ago, Peppers would have been a great pick for the Redskins. But it seems that his skills overlap with those of Cravens. If they take a safety this early it needs to be a free.

Tandler on Twitter

Some disagreement on my TL over whether or not the Redskins should keep DeSean Jackson. pic.twitter.com/CPiztDl8kd — Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) January 29, 2017

In case you missed it

Stay up to date on the Redskins! Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page www.Facebook.com/RealRedskins and follow him on Twitter @Rich_TandlerCSN.