With the fifth pick in Pride Of Detroit's 2015 NFL mock draft, the Washington Redskins select Florida defensive end/outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. DrewsLions is serving as the Redskins' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.
I've heard this team linked to a lot of offensive players like Marcus Mariota or Amari Cooper, but it just seems like new GM Scot McCloughan wants to build this team the right way. If that's the case, then his thinking might be the same as mine, which is pass rush. Washington ranked 22nd in the NFL in defensive sacks and 20th in total defensive yards allowed. Time to upgrade. I think McCloughan has brought in a few nice pieces in the secondary with Dashon Goldson and Chris Culliver, but now it is time to get a pass rusher to play opposite Ryan Kerrigan.
The question is who do you take? To me, it's down to Vic Beasley or Dante Fowler. Both have pros and cons, but in the end, I like the size/speed combination that Fowler offers. I think Beasley is very quick off the edge, but his smaller frame and ability to shed blocks concerns me a bit. I don't have those same concerns with Fowler. I think what you may lose in his quickness off the edge, you gain in his play in the run game. I think he is going to be the perfect complement to Kerrigan in Washington.
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Check out the 2015 POD Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.