The Redskins’ Doug Williams said Monday he’s not worried that the team’s No. 2 pick, running back Derrius Guice, fell so far in last week’s NFL draft.
Washington drafted Guice with the 59th overall pick in the second round — much lower than the late-first, early second-round grade analysts projected.
The LSU product was the seventh back taken, and rumors swirled about an altercation during his meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and Guice each denied the report.
Williams, Redskins senior vice president of player personnel, said they had “inside information” that convinced them to draft Guice.
“Where Guice is from, I’m from the same area basically,” Williams said, referencing they’re both from Louisiana. “I knew Guice. I know who he is. I know where he comes from and when you talk about a kid who has produced on the field the way he has, other than what was out there, and you look at this kid, man, he’s just a happy-go [lucky] kid who likes to play football.
“And I think we were fortunate enough to get a guy like that.”
Washington was able to land Guice despite trading back from the 44th overall pick to No. 59. The trade landed them a third-round pick in the process, which they used to draft Louisville tackle Geron Christian.
Guice said Saturday he felt his name was “slandered” as teams passed on him, and he vowed it would only motivate him to run harder.
At LSU, Guice had a track record of doing exactly that. He racked up 3,074 yards for 29 touchdowns in three seasons. He finished with more than 250 rushing yards in a game on three separate occasions, an SEC record.
But the rumored Eagles incident wasn’t the only off-the-field controversy surrounding Guice. Last week, the NFL announced it found no evidence that a team asked Guice if he liked men or if his mother sells herself — claims the running back made on the radio during the scouting combine.
Guice declined to address the NFL’s report, saying “all that is behind me.”
Williams dismissed any rumors, citing the effect social media can have on players.
“Most of them take one thing and they run with it,” Williams said. “Unfortunately they don’t know the kid. You’ve got to give the kid some credit to say that from where he comes from and what he’s accomplished and what he’s done. Let me take it from that standpoint.”
Overall, Williams said the team feels good about the eight players they drafted. He said the Redskins “got our guy” at No. 13 with Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne. Williams revealed they received two or three calls about trading back, but ultimately stood pat.
In taking Payne and Guice, the Redskins tried to patch up its run game and run defense — areas that were major problems for Washington last season.
The only hole the team failed to address was left guard. Williams said the guard they had targeted wasn’t available, so they weren’t going to reach.
Coach Jay Gruden and Williams acknowledged tackle Ty Nsekhe could move to left guard after the veteran briefly played the position in 2017. Washington plans to play Christian, its third-round pick, at swing tackle.
Christian was the Redskins’ lone head-scratcher because Williams said prior to the draft that he didn’t anticipate taking a tackle with Trent Williams and Morgan Moses were entrenched as starters. “I think we’re going to be alright from that position,” Williams said at the combine.
But the Redskins liked Christian’s upside, as well as the chance to learn from the starters.
“I can’t say what the guy is going to be, but all we saw is what he has and that’s athletic ability,” Williams said. “He was able to swing from the right side to the left side. He’s got great feet.”
Williams said the Redskins took players who “fit in” rather than just drafting for need.
“Fortunately enough, Payne was there, fortunately enough Guice was there,” Williams said. “The football Gods were looking after us this past weekend.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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