Solid Starter
Sam Cosmi, OT, Texas – Round 2 
Trent Williams forcing his way out of Washington left the team with a big hole at left tackle. Luckily for the Redskins, the 2021 NFL Draft was very deep at the tackle position and they were able to land a good prospect in the second round. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Cosmi was a multi-year starter at Texas and enters the NFL with experience and upside.
There is a lot about Cosmi that should translate to being a dependable pass blocker on the edge at the next level. He looks natural bending at the knee and is light on his feet. With his quickness and athleticism, Cosmi can shift his feet to cut off the edge from speed rushers. He can have issues with power rushes to the inside, so continuing to grow stronger to anchor will be a point of improvement for him with his NFL coaching staff. He showed improved strength as a junior and has upside to continue to get better. Team sources think Cosmi could turn into a solid starting left tackle as a pro and be a steady quarterback protector.
Cosmi is not a consistent run blocker and lacks explosion on contact. He showed improved strength in 2020 to wrestle defenders once engaged, and he will flash the desire to finish defenders with some physicality, but he is inconsistent. Cosmi needs to get more explosive off the ball and play with more consistent physicality to become more effective on a down-by-down basis. In the NFL, he could be better off playing in a zone-blocking system than in press man.
Sources from other teams say Washington offensive line coach John Matsko is one of the best in the business, and Matsko could turn Cosmi into a quality starter quickly in his NFL career. Before long, Cosmi could replace veteran Charles Leno Jr. and become a quality long-term left tackle for the Redskins.
2020: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR
2019: Dwayne Haskins, QB
2018: Da’Ron Payne, DT
2017: Ryan Anderson, LB
2016: Josh Doctson, WR
2015: Preston Smith, DE
2014: Trent Murphy, DE
2013: Phillip Thomas, S
Most Likely To Bust
Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota – Round 3 
This was a difficult decision because none of Washington’s draft choices looks like a prospect in serious danger of being a bust. I think the braintrust of Ron Rivera, Martin Mayhew, Marty Hurney and Eric Stokes had a very good draft. Of their four selections on the first two days of the 2021 NFL Draft, St-Juste was the only player who I have a minor doubt about not working out in the NFL.
St-Juste has a good skill set, but he is a raw player who did not see a lot of playing time in college at Michigan and Minnesota. With his rawness and lack of development, his route recognition and instincts seem slow. While he is big, I think shifty quick route-runner receivers could give him problems in the NFL. It would not surprise me if St-Juste tops out as more of backup corner and special teams contributor even though his draft slot indicates the expectations are of being a backup to start out his career before eventually ascending into a starting role. Of Washington’s early-round picks, St-Juste looks like the biggest risk of not working out.
2020: Antonio Gibson, RB
2019: Wes Martin, G
2018: Troy Apke, S
2017: Monte Nicholson, S
2016: Su’a Cravens, S
2015: Matt Jones, RB
2014: Spencer Long, G
2013: Chris Thompson, RB
Potential Boom Pick
Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky – Round 1 
Under the former regime led by Bruce Allen, Doug Williams and Kyle Smith, the Redskins drafted an amazing defensive line and some good skill position talent on offense. With Ron Rivera adding Chase Young in 2020, Washington is on track to have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The one remaining hole on defense needing an injection of young talent was linebacker. Thomas Davis retired, and the other linebackers on the roster were nothing special.
The Redskins added a dynamic talent when they used their first-round pick on Davis, who is big, fast, physical and very athletic with a ton of upside to develop. Regularly in the leadup to the 2021 NFL Draft, I said that if Davis (6-3, 234) had gone back to Kentucky and had one more big season, I thought he could have been a top-16 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and there were some teams that had Davis graded higher than Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, the first linebacker drafted at 11th overall during the 2021 NFL Draft.
In the passing-driven NFL, a linebacker has to be a good player in coverage, and Davis has three-down starter ability who is a real asset for defending the pass. Davis is phenomenal in zone, covering a lot of ground in the middle of the field and covering the flat sideline-to-sideline. With impressive vision to go along with his speed and long frame, Davis glides in coverage, moving to handle receivers and making his presence felt by being around the ball. He gets depth in his drop with smooth athleticism and agility for a big linebacker. While Davis will need development to play man coverage on tight ends and running backs, he has the physical skill set to do it and could add that ability with some more coaching.
Davis is a solid run defender who has instincts and strength at the point of attack. With his speed and athleticism, he can fire to the flat or work his way through trash to make tackles in the box. Davis plays downhill and uses his strength to get ball carriers to the turf.
Davis can pack a punch on running backs, and his strong base with upper body power allows him to stonewall power backs in the hole to bend them backward and keep them from falling forward. For the NFL, Davis could stand to improve his ability to take on and shed blocks. He also could stand to get faster at reading his keys and diagnosing plays. However given his lack of playing time, that is understandable, and those issues could easily be resolved when he gains more experience.
Davis looks like he has major boom-pick potential for Washington, which can give him a tremendous supporting cast. With Chase Young, Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne and Montez Sweat, the Redskins have the potential to field the best defensive line in the NFL. Behind him and next to him, Davis has a good safety in Landon Collins.
2020: Chase Young, DE
2019: Montez Sweat, DE
2018: Derrius Guice, RB
2017: Jonathan Allen, DT
2016: Kendall Fuller, CB
2015: Brandon Scherff, G
2014: Morgan Moses, OT
2013: David Amerson, CB
Future Depth Player
Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina – Round 3 
The Redskins have a talented young receiving corps that was bolstered in free agency with the signing of Curtis Samuel. They continued to build up their speed and playmaking ability by taking Brown in the third round. For the NFL, Brown is a vertical deep-threat receiver who can challenge defenses over the top. While Brown is more of a build-up speed receiver, he stretches defense vertically and can really push defenses downfield. It takes a few steps for Brown to get moving, and he is not a receiver with twitch and burst off the snap. Brown does a nice job of tracking the ball down the field and is natural at making over-the-shoulder catches. His quality height and length also him extend to make receptions away from his body.
Brown’s lack of twitch and instant explosion give him issues with creating quick separation. He will need to develop his route-running for the NFL and improve his hands. Hence I think he will be more of a third and fourth receiver, which is perfect for Washington with Samuel and Terry McLaurin as the starters. Brown can rotate with Cam Sims, Antonio Gandy-Golden and Cam Sims to provide Washington with a rotational speed threat. While Brown may not become a starter, I think he could be a good rotational player and backup contributor for the Redskins.
2020: Saahdig Charles, OT
2019: Terry McLaurin, WR
2018: Tim Settle, DT
2017: Jeremy Sprinkle, TE
2016: Nate Sudfeld, QB
2015: Martrell Spaight, LB
2014: Lache Seastrunk, RB
2013: Brandon Jenkins, OLB
Walt’s 2021 NFL Draft Grades:
19. Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky – B- Grade
I don’t dislike this pick, but I think it’s a bit early for Jamin Davis. I had Davis at No. 41 in my final mock draft, but he’s been as high as the mid-20s in some updates. It makes sense for the Redskins to address their dreadful linebacking corps with the athletic Davis, but I would’ve liked to have seen them address the offensive line because the offense needs all the help it can get. Still, Davis is a good player, and he fills a huge need.
51. Sam Cosmi, OT, Texas – C Grade
I thought the Redskins would go offensive tackle in the first round (Christian Darrisaw) and a linebacker here, but the opposite occurred. Perhaps they should have gone with my plan because this pick is underwhelming. Sam Cosmi is athletic, but he’s tough and tends to get bullied around in the trenches. This does not bode well for the NFL.
74. Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota – F Grade
Talk about a reach. Benjamin St-Juste was in the seventh round of my mock draft. St. Juste had injury issues during his time at Michigan. He had better luck in Minnesota, but he still shouldn’t have been chosen this early.
82. Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina – B+ Grade
Dyami Brown was getting a ton of hype prior to the draft, so I moved him to the second round in some updates. He’s an explosive receiver who can go the distance whenever he touches the ball. The Redskins needed another receiver to go along with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel, so this is a good pick.
124. John Bates, TE, Boise State – D Grade
This is a disappointing pick. The Redskins had no need for a tight end, and they’re not getting any sort of value. I had John Bates in the sixth round, so the value just isn’t there.
163. Darrick Forrest, S, Cincinnati – B Grade
I’ve had Darrick Forrest pegged around this range for a while, so this is fine value with Darrick Forrest, who fills a slight need the Redskins had at the position as far as depth is concerned.
226. Camaron Cheeseman, LS, Michigan – F Grade
There’s no way this guy’s real, right? The Redskins saw Isaiahh Loudermilk’s name and wrote a dairy product on the card to be funny. This is an “F” because the Redskins acquired this pick and another for a 2022 fifth-round choice, which is a huge mistake because 2022 picks are more valuable.
240. William Bradley-King, DE/OLB, Baylor – B+ Grade
I put William Bradley-King into my seventh round, 18 picks earlier than this. A pass rusher obviously wasn’t needed, but it’s nice that the Redskins were able to get some depth. Bradley-King is an athletic player with upside, so this is a solid choice.
246. Shaka Toney, DE/OLB, Penn State – A Grade
The Redskins really want to make sure that they have quality pass-rushing depth. I’m fine with doubling down on the position, especially when considering that Shaka Toney was available. I had Toney in the fifth round, so I love the value the Redskins are getting with this incredibly athletic edge rusher.
258. Dax Milne, WR, BYU – A Grade
Dax Milne is someone who was getting tons of hype in the months leading up to the draft, so I’m surprised he went off the board this late. He could have gone a couple of rounds earlier, so the Redskins are getting great value. I like this pick even though it doesn’t fill a need.
2021 NFL Draft Team Grade: C+. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
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