In one recent mock draft, Georgia guard Isaiah Wynn is being linked to the Washington Redskins with the No. 13-overall pick. If selected in that spot, he'd be the third first round pick along the offensive line.
During the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said that he believes the foundation for any good football team is sound line play on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, the Redskins have four starting linemen returning in Pro Bowlers Trent Williams and Brandon Scherff along with Morgan Moses and Chase Roullier, a player Gruden is confident will take a big step in production at center during his second season.
But, for now, Shawn Lauvao, Washington's primary starting left guard over the last four seasons, remains a free agent. The Redskins could look to replace Lauvao with their first round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In his latest mock draft, CBSSports.com's R.J. White has the Redskins selecting Georgia guard Isiah Wynn with the No. 13-overall pick.
"The Redskins should be looking to upgrade the interior of their offensive line with an early pick in this draft, and this is about the range where we expect Wynn to come off the board," White writes. "He doesn't really have the size to stick at tackle, but he's an excellent blocker who will immediately solidify the left side of the team's offensive line, as long as Trent Williams can stay healthy"
In four seasons at Georgia, Wynn appeared in 52 games with 41 starts, alternating between the left tackle and left guard positions.
During his senior season in 2017, Wynn was named a second-team All-American by The Associated Press along with being selected to the All-SEC team while making 15 starts at left tackle. Additionally, the St. Petersburg, Fla., native received Georgia's "Up Front" Award and was the co-winner of the Frank Sinkwich Award, based on toughness.
As a junior, the 6-foot-3, 313 pounder appeared in 13 games with 12 starts at left guard.
In Wynn's first two seasons with the Bulldogs, he appeared in 24 games with 14 starts while helping Georgia rush for an SEC-high 257.8 yards per game during his freshman year.
According to his NFL.com draft profile, Wynn "plays with fluidity of movement and desired knee bend throughout rep. Initial quickness is above average."
"Gets into blocks with tight footwork and runs feet through contact. Stays connected to his blocks and rarely falls off. Looks to finish. Effective as move blocker and base blocker. Takes good angles up to linebacker as backside blocker and has technique and athleticism to reach and secure blocks others may struggle with. Offers tackle-level pass technique if bumped inside. Has body control and balance and feet to handle counter rush moves. Extremely aware against twists and quick to respond. Plays with disciplined hand usage keeping them inside opponent's frame in both run and pass. Hands are very strong. Flashes necessary anchor. Has starting experience at both guard and tackle," his profile states.
A potential pro comparison for Wynn is current Denver Broncos guard Ronald Leary. Originally entering the NFL as a college free agent signing for the Dallas Cowboys, Leary has appeared in 59 regular season games with 58 starts.
"Wynn is a talented, technically sound block-winner with a demeanor that offensive line coaches will love," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes. "His athleticism allows for quick advantages as a run blocker while his hand strength and footwork helps him sustain those advantages into open running lanes. His plus pass protection will be appealing to teams looking for help in that area and he is capable of sliding out to tackle in an emergency. He appears to have the technique and play traits to overcome any concerns about size and could become an early starter."
