With the NFL season officially in the books, but now is a wonderful time to reflect on the 2015 NFL Draft. While the true career arcs of these players won't be known for years to come, we do have an idea of which way the teams' draft classes are trending.
For the Washington Redskins, the 2015 draft class was a great one. They had 10 draft picks, with most of them playing some role on Washington's playoff team this year. With that in mind, here's our grade of the Redskins' 2015 draft class.
Day One:
OL Brandon Schreff (Rd. 1, Pick 5)
Schreff struggled at times early in the season, but he proved to be a valuable asset at guard as the season wore on. He improved seemingly every week, giving Redskins fans a lot of hope for his future as one of the staples of their offensive line.
Day Two:
DE Preston Smith (Rd. 2, Pick 38)
RB Matt Jones (Rd. 3, Pick 95)
This is where the Redskins front office really made their mark. Smith was a very big part of Washington's defense, racking up 35 tackles and eight sacks while forcing four fumbles, and Matt Jones emerged to form a dangerous pair with Alfred Morris. Both of these guys will have big positive impacts for the Skins moving forward.
Day Three:
WR Jamison Crowder (Rd. 4, Pick 105)
G Arie Kouandjio (Rd. 4, Pick 112)
OLB Matrell Spaight (Rd. 5, Pick 141)
S Kyshoen Jarrett (Rd. 6, Pick 181)
CB Tevin Mitchel (Rd. 6, Pick 182)
WR Evan Spencer (Rd. 6, Pick 187)
C Austin Reiter (Rd. 7, Pick 222)
Crowder became a very reliable target for quarterback Kirk Cousins, especially out of the slot, and Kyshoen Jarrett proved he can be a contributor. Getting that much value in the later rounds is a testament to how good this draft class was.
Grade: A
Many of Washington's top contributors were from this rookie class, and they played a vital role in helping the Redskins win the NFC East. There aren't any perennial Pro Bowlers in this group, but they make the Redskins a much better team.