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  6. article_body => "<p>It's way too early to know what will actually happen, but for three days in April, the Redskins front office crushed the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n<p>Most players will need years to realize their full potential. Some will bomb out early, and others might impress out of the gate only to regress as the opposition gathers film.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Pronouncing one draft class stellar&nbsp;or lousy&nbsp;as soon as the selections conclude is&nbsp;a fool's errand. Still, it's reasonable for Redskins fans to be happy with the latest haul of college players.<\/p>\n<p>Early the Redskins played it smart, drafting stout defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne from Alabama with the 13th pick. Washington's defense struggled mightily against the run in 2017, and Payne should help right away. The rookie explained his skill set best when he said,&nbsp;\"I stop the run for a living.\"<\/p>\n<p>Once the draft got to the second round, the Redskins got out of the safe lane and transitioned to the fast lane. The team traded down from the 44th pick, getting the 59th pick and gaining a third-rounder in the process.<\/p>\n<p>At 59, things got interesting. Washington took Derrius Guice, a star on the field with questions off it. The value became too much to ignore as the third round approached, and if Guice is ready to be a professional football player, the pick will be a heist.<\/p>\n<p>\"I can't control what happens. I'm here now,\" Guice said Saturday at FedEx Field's Draft Party. \"The Redskins definitely&nbsp;got a steal and everybody's going to see this year and we're going to have a great year.\"<\/p>\n<p>Again and again, the Redskins made great picks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Penn State's Troy Apke recorded the fastest 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCSRedskins\/status\/990276650456768512\" target=\"_self\">The Redskins drafted him in the fourth round<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Virginia Tech's Tim Settle should be another instant impact player for Washington on the defensive line. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YK3YJsZDFD\" target=\"_self\">The Redskins drafted him in the fifth round<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>SMU's Trey Quinn led all of college football with 114 catches last season. The Redskins selected him <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ngoExvxL3F\" target=\"_self\">with the last pick in the entire NFL Draft<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There was another Alabama prospect in Shaun Dion Hamilton,<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/u4kuKVFBgi\" target=\"_self\"> and another Hokie in Greg Stroman<\/a>. Don't forget Louisville OL Geron Christian that the Redskins got with the acquired third-round pick, a player with potential that scouts drool over.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let's be crystal clear about something: There is no way to know what will become of the drafted players. They may flame out. They may become Hall of Famers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nobody knows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>April, however, is the time for optimism. And the Redskins came into the draft looking to improve their run defense and their ability to stop the run. They addressed that early in the draft, then found prospects all over in the later rounds.<\/p>\n<p>What's clear is the Redskins intend to get younger, bigger and quicker on their defensive line. That should happen immediately.<\/p>\n<p>Speed was another trend, and no pick represented that more&nbsp;than Apke. He might not be able to play safety right away at the NFL level, but he could make a significant impact on special teams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sure, nobody knows. In fact, repeat that a few times.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the Redskins did great work. Fans can be excited.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>MORE REDSKINS DRAFT NEWS<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Report Card:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/need-know-tandlers-take-grading-redskins-draft\">Grading the Redskins' 2018 draft<\/a><br><strong>\u2014 Draft Analysis:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/what-looks-great-draft-redskins-added-value-and-addressed-key-needs\">Redskins drafted for value AND need<\/a><br><strong>\u2014 Day 3 Results:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-2018-nfl-draft-recap-late-round-draft-pick-results-selections-analysis\">Meet the Redskins' late-round&nbsp;picks<\/a><br><strong>\u2014 Day 2 Results:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/nfl-draft-2018-day-2-second-and-third-round-results-picks-selections-trades-order\">Second and third-round selections<\/a><br><strong>\u2014 Rolling the Dice:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-wait-right-time-roll-dice-derrius-guice\">The right move drafting Guice<\/a><br>\u2014 <strong>Bring the Payne:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-hope-daron-payne-will-be-able-solidify-porous-run-defense\">Redskins address porous D-Line at No. 13<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>#REDSKINSTALK PODCAST<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Don't forget to subscribe to the #RedskinsTalk podcast, hosted by JP Finlay.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/redskins-talk\/id1151988852?mt=2\">Click here for the #RedskinsTalk on Apple Podcasts<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Iygppa4jqsc74swaa7q7vfdc3ym?t=Redskins_Talk\">here for Google Play<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;or press play below.<\/p>\n <iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/redskin-talk\/episodes\/cc9ab80c-a0ac-4752-9231-0f8ec1831085\/embed?theme=light-custom\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<ul>\n<li>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Redskins

Redskins

It's way too early to know what will actually happen, but for three days in April, the Redskins front office crushed the NFL Draft.

Most players will need years to realize their full potential. Some will bomb out early, and others might impress out of the gate only to regress as the opposition gathers film. 

Pronouncing one draft class stellar or lousy as soon as the selections conclude is a fool's errand. Still, it's reasonable for Redskins fans to be happy with the latest haul of college players.

Early the Redskins played it smart, drafting stout defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne from Alabama with the 13th pick. Washington's defense struggled mightily against the run in 2017, and Payne should help right away. The rookie explained his skill set best when he said, "I stop the run for a living."

Once the draft got to the second round, the Redskins got out of the safe lane and transitioned to the fast lane. The team traded down from the 44th pick, getting the 59th pick and gaining a third-rounder in the process.

At 59, things got interesting. Washington took Derrius Guice, a star on the field with questions off it. The value became too much to ignore as the third round approached, and if Guice is ready to be a professional football player, the pick will be a heist.

"I can't control what happens. I'm here now," Guice said Saturday at FedEx Field's Draft Party. "The Redskins definitely got a steal and everybody's going to see this year and we're going to have a great year."

 

Again and again, the Redskins made great picks. 

Penn State's Troy Apke recorded the fastest 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Redskins drafted him in the fourth round. 

Virginia Tech's Tim Settle should be another instant impact player for Washington on the defensive line. The Redskins drafted him in the fifth round.

SMU's Trey Quinn led all of college football with 114 catches last season. The Redskins selected him with the last pick in the entire NFL Draft. 

There was another Alabama prospect in Shaun Dion Hamilton, and another Hokie in Greg Stroman. Don't forget Louisville OL Geron Christian that the Redskins got with the acquired third-round pick, a player with potential that scouts drool over. 

Let's be crystal clear about something: There is no way to know what will become of the drafted players. They may flame out. They may become Hall of Famers. 

Nobody knows. 

April, however, is the time for optimism. And the Redskins came into the draft looking to improve their run defense and their ability to stop the run. They addressed that early in the draft, then found prospects all over in the later rounds.

What's clear is the Redskins intend to get younger, bigger and quicker on their defensive line. That should happen immediately.

Speed was another trend, and no pick represented that more than Apke. He might not be able to play safety right away at the NFL level, but he could make a significant impact on special teams. 

Sure, nobody knows. In fact, repeat that a few times.

Still, the Redskins did great work. Fans can be excited. 

MORE REDSKINS DRAFT NEWS:

— Report Card: Grading the Redskins' 2018 draft
— Draft Analysis: Redskins drafted for value AND need
— Day 3 Results: Meet the Redskins' late-round picks
— Day 2 Results: Second and third-round selections
— Rolling the Dice: The right move drafting Guice
— Bring the Payne: Redskins address porous D-Line at No. 13

#REDSKINSTALK PODCAST

Don't forget to subscribe to the #RedskinsTalk podcast, hosted by JP Finlay.

Click here for the #RedskinsTalk on Apple Podcasts, here for Google Play or press play below.

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