Content available exclusively for subscribers
Why did the Washington Redskins pick offensive lineman Brandon Scherff over defensive end Leonard Williams with the fifth pick of the 2015 NFL draft? Let’s take a look.
I asked Redskins sideline reporter Rick Walker why the team passed on Williams.
They picked Iowa guard Brandon Scherff instead, which surprised a lot of people.
Walker told me that Scherff was rated third on the Redskins’ board, so they were very happy to get him a five.
Also, he mentioned Williams’ shoulder was a concern.
After the 2013 season at USC, Williams had surgery for a torn right labrum.
He missed the Trojans’ spring practices following the surgery.
Then there were reports he didn’t do the weight-lifting drill at the combine because of an issue with the right shoulder.
Williams said that isn’t true. He claims he didn’t lift because he chose not to. It’s common for top prospects in the draft to pick and choose what drills they participate in at the combine.
One draft expert wrote about Williams, “he has a history of shoulder injuries.”
I’m not sure that is entirely true.
During his sophomore year, he tore the right labrum. He sucked it up, and played through it. He aggravated the injury against Oregon State, and then missed the next game against California.
And then he had the surgery after the season.
So the fact that he suffered the injury, played through it, and then aggravated it, to me, fall into the category of one injury, and not a history. It was all the same injury, and he got if fixed, and didn’t miss any games in 2014.
Perhaps the Redskins doctors weren’t as comfortable with William’s MRI at the combine as the Jets were.
But you know what, while he hasn’t had a shoulder issue per se, Scherff actually had more medical issues in college than Williams.
In 2012, Scherff suffered a catastrophic right leg injury, dislocating his right ankle and breaking his right fibula against Penn State. He also pulled a hamstring running the 40 at the combine, and pulled out of the rest of the workouts that followed. He’s also had issues with neck stingers, or what some people call “burners.”
I actually asked Williams after the Jets picked him why he might have slipped, and he said he heard it could have been the shoulder.
But like I said, he played the entire 2014 season and didn’t miss a game, following the labrum surgery earlier that year.
He said he does a lot of preventive medicine for the shoulder – probably a lot of icing and work with trainers to prevent further issues.
One factor that could help him prevent future shoulder issues is getting stronger in the upper body. His upper body is somewhat underdeveloped for a man as big and naturally powerful as he is.
Time will tell how the Redskins decision to pick Scherff over Williams.
I think the Redskins made a mistake, but this is just one man’s opinion.
You don’t pass up defensive linemen who can move like this guy, with the balance and quick feet of this player. They don’t come around very often.
But if he does have shoulder problems in the future, the concerns of the Redskins, and perhaps other teams, will be founded.
May 18, 2015
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.