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The Smartest Pick the Redskins Made in the 2020 NFL Draft

By Joe Birdsall

While Chase Young was the obvious pick at No. 2 overall, the Washington Redskins added an under-the-radar playmaker later in the draft.
While Chase Young was the obvious pick at No. 2 overall, the Washington Redskins added an under-the-radar playmaker later in the draft. / Alika Jenner/Getty Images

The Washington Redskins finished a paltry 3-13 in 2019, but were rewarded in the 2020 NFL Draft with Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young at No. 2 overall. However, this was the clear choice in the first round. Washington invested a first-round pick in quarterback Dwayne Haskins a year ago, and in a weaker quarterback class, Young would have been a lock at No. 1.

To find the team's smartest and sneakiest pick, however, one must look no further than Memphis WR/RB Antonio Gibson, whom Washington selected in the third round at No. 66 overall. Gibson, a relative unknown for most of his career, transferred to Memphis after two years at Mississippi's East Central Community College, per The Washington Post's Les Carpenter.

After struggling to carve out a role early in his Memphis tenure, Gibson found success as a gadget player during his senior year, earning 71 touches for 1,104 yards and 12 touchdowns. While his tape is limited, Gibson was vital to the Tigers' offense in 2019.

As Pro Football Focus analyst Nick Akridge points out, Gibson's best trait is his elusiveness. He excels at breaking tackles and making defenders miss, and should give Washington a reliable receiver out of the backfield.

With Washington planning to use him mostly in the backfield, Gibson should be a safety net for Haskins throughout his rookie year. Having a reliable checkdown receiver will help the second-year quarterback to limit his mistakes and cut down on the turnovers which plagued him as a rookie.

This is a presence that the team severely lacked in 2019, with Derrius Guice struggling to stay healthy throughout his career, and an aging Adrian Peterson scaring few defenders in the passing game. If Gibson can play in the same style as a running back like Austin Ekeler, he could provide a struggling offense with a much-needed spark.