ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins’ eight selections from the 2018 NFL Draft were among the 74 players to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp Friday at Redskins Park.
It was the team’s first official practice of the 2018 NFL season.
Draft picks, tryout players and first-year Redskin veterans worked out for a little more than 90 minutes in positional drills, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 situations for head coach Jay Gruden and his staff.
“We’re trying to throw some stuff mentally at them to see how they can learn and get them out there on the field,” Gruden said. “A lot of individual work, so we can see how they move around, see what kind of speed. Obviously they have quickness. We can’t do any live contact, so it’s hard to see their physicality, but we can see a lot with their movement skills and all that stuff and how they learn, how they process information.”
Gruden was loose with reporters after the practice. He joked that first-round pick Daron Payne was “big, strong — kind of what we thought,” and on second-round selection Derrius Guice, a running back, he remarked that “Nobody tackled him, so that was a good thing.”
The players expressed excitement for embarking on their professional careers.
“(Running backs) Coach Randy (Jordan) also stated that this not college, you don’t got actual classes, just football all day,” said running back Derrius Guice out of Louisiana State University. “I feel like that’s the best part about being a pro. It’s football all day. You don’t have to worry about X, Y and Z other things to worry about. You’re just learning these plays, going out there and put it all to the test.”
The early-round draft picks were not the only ones in the spotlight. Seventh-round draft picks Greg Stroman (a cornerback) and Trey Quinn (a wide receiver) fielded punts during a punt coverage drill.
Gruden said the Redskins were committed to wide receiver Jamison Crowder as their primary punt returner, but that it was “important to have another guy that can do it.”
“Last year, we kind of did a poor job of having a guy who could do it, and that’s my fault,” Gruden said. “DeAngelo Hall (returned punts) one game, but we need another guy that can do it. Having Trey Quinn and Greg will be a big benefit.”
Although the majority of the minicamp’s attendees won’t make Washington’s final roster, Gruden said he was looking for players who might challenge players currently on the roster and “make a battle out of it.”
“This is just step one in the process,” Gruden said. “A very important process to try to make sure we’re bringing the right guys to training camp, get them through OTAs first and then to get them to training camp for the competition because competition is king.”
Six players who made the 2017 squad, but who played in a small number of games, were invited to work out at the minicamp alongside the true rookies.
“These young guys who get an opportunity to go through this, it’s not a punishment for them, it’s actually an opportunity for them to get on the field, listen to the coverages again and go through it and perform and separate themselves from the rest of the guys,” Gruden said. “(Safety) Fish (Smithson) showed up, and obviously (defensive lineman Ondre) Pipkins did a great job today. All those guys that were invited to come back to the rookie minicamp all looked well.”
The rookie minicamp will conclude Saturday.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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