The Washington Football Team enters year two of the Ron Rivera era having won the NFC East with a record of 7-9. The road to repeat as Division Champs begins with the NFL Draft – April 29 – May 1, 2021. With big questions looming, and roster holes to fill, where will the team go with the 19th Overall Selection?
ESPN 630 DC will be bringing you wall-to-wall coverage on Draft Night with Live Coverage from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. with local reaction from Andy Pollin, national commentary and analysis from ESPN, and reports from the Washington Football Team Draft Headquarters.
The only question that will remain is, where will you be?
ROUND 1 – PICK 19
JAMIN DAVIS – LB – KENTUCKY
With the 19th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team bolstered its defense by selecting linebacker Jamin Davis.
A complete unknown in NFL circles a year ago, Davis could not be ignored as a redshirt junior this past season. The first-year starter led Kentucky with 102 tackles to go with four tackles for loss, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two pass breakups, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
But it was his physical traits that grabbed scouts’ attention. At 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, he has the size to be stout near the line of scrimmage. Then he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, showcasing the speed he will use to stay with pass-catchers and run down ball-carriers.
Despite making just 11 career starts, Davis has shown the intelligence, vision and ball-hawking ability to have success for whichever team ends up drafting him. And while he needs to make some improvements as a tackler and work on getting off blocks, time and instruction will help both areas, especially since he’s learning under a pair of former NFL linebackers in Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.
“He understands our culture, tremendous background, the kind of background I look for,” Rivera said. “Very smart, intelligent young man, plays the game at the right tempo. He understands what they do and that will translate very well with how we do things. He’s the kind of fit in terms of position flex. He can play all of our linebacker positions, he has the athletic ability. He’s what you look for in a football player.”
ROUND 2 – PICK 51
SAM COSMI – OFFENSIVE TACKLE – TEXAS
Washington addressed the offensive line by selecting Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi.
Cosmi (6-foot-6, 314 pounds) started 34 games at right and left tackle over the past three seasons. After redshirting in 2017, he was a freshman All-American at right tackle before moving to the other side for his final 21 collegiate starts. This past season, he was a captain and a second-team All-American.
“It’s unbelievable, I really can’t put it into any words besides amazing,” Cosmi said after getting drafted. “My heart is still pumping right now. I’m super excited to be with the Washington Football Team right now and I am super stoked to get to work.”
Washington was looking for a tackle, and it got one of the most athletic ones of the past three decades. He received a relative athletic score of 9.99 out of 10.00, which ranked second among 1,143 players at the position since 1987.
Based on his skillset, experience and production, he’ll likely compete for the starting left tackle spot with Saahdiq Charles, Geron Christian Sr. and Cornelius Lucas.
“We’re going to put him out at left tackle and see how he does,” Rivera said. “That’s what he did in college, and he played it very well in college. That’s why we think he’s a really good pick for us because of what he does. He’s going to get an opportunity to compete for us, and we’ll see how he does.”
Complete List of Washington Football Team 2021 NFL Draft Selections
Round 1, Pick 19 – Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
Round 2, Pick 51 – Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Round 3, Pick 74 – Benjamin St-Juste, DB, Minnesota
Round 3, Pick 82 – Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
Round 4, Pick 124 – John Bates, TE, Boise State
Round 5, Pick 163 – Darrick Forrest, S, Cincinnati
Round 6, Pick 225 (via PHI) – Camaron Cheeseman, LS, Michigan
Round 7, Pick 240 (via SF through PHI) – William Bradley-King, DE, Baylor
Round 7, Pick 246 – Shaka Toney, DE, Penn State
Round 7, Pick 258 (via KC through MIA) – Dax Milne, WR, BYU
Draft coverage is brought to you by Yuengling Traditional Lager Spread Your Wings on Washington’s new home for sports and your home for the Washington Football Team all season long – ESPN 630 AM, The Sports Capitol!
Yuengling Golden Pilsner a beer so crisp, refreshing and smooth when you crack one open it makes any occasion Golden! If you prefer the great flavor of Yuengling Light Larger why would you settle for a Light Beer that is anything else! Yuengling Traditional Lager, a bold amber color lager All American Beer near 100 years in the making, spread your wings!
