Washington Redskins select Brandon Scherff No. 5 in the 2015 NFL draft

The Redskins probably surprised a lot of people by passing on Leonard Williams for Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff, but anyone who watched them last year knew that offensive line help was desperately needed.

Doug Farrar | Apr 24, 2015

Washington Redskins select Brandon Scherff No. 5 in the 2015 NFL draft /

The Redskins probably surprised a lot of people by passing on USC's Leonard Williams for Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff, but anyone who watched Jay Gruden's team play football last year knew that offensive line help was desperately needed. Scherff is a very nice combination of mauler and technician—he has a good kick-step, is tougher than some may think in the run game and can get to the second level with great speed and skill. There have been a lot of over-hyped Iowa linemen over the years, but Scherff isn't one of them. Scherff can either kick over to right tackle, or perhaps move to left guard next to Trent Williams. And if Williams gets hurt, Gruden now has a guy who can maintain that spot quite credibly.

• 2015 NFL draft tracker: Pick-by-pick grades and scouting reports

Strengths: Unsurprisingly, Scherff is the most fundamentally sound offensive lineman in this draft class. Has ideal size (6-5, 319) and plays with a wide and strong base. Excellent second-level blocker who targets defenders very well in space. Weight-room monster who brings that to the field. Fully conversant with interior pulls and slide protections. Shows excellent power and leverage in two- and three-point stances, especially in run-blocking—Scherff sets the edge very well and can wall defenders out. Understands advanced blocking principles -- will move off his first assignment to his second fairly seamlessly. Controlled blocker in space who keeps his head on a swivel and is very aware of his surroundings. Highly accountable player who was a four-year member of the school's Leadership Group.

Weaknesses: Lateral movement is not a strength—Scherff struggles at times to move outside and maintain his leverage, and he needs a bit more time than ideal to set himself for optimal leverage if he isn't running in a straight line. Though he hits second-level targets well, needs to be more persistent in maintaining those blocks—he'll occasionally veer off and allow tackles to happen. In pass protection, tends to face up and use power as opposed to being smooth with a kick-step to define an arc around the pocket. Can be beaten by edge rushers to either side when he doesn't mirror the defender, and can be vulnerable to quick outside moves to the back of the pocket. Benefitted from multiple tight end sets. Suffered a broken ankle and dislocated fibula in his sophomore season. Short arms for the position (33 3/8") and word is that the NFL sees him more as a guard.

Player Comparison: Jake Long

Grade: A-

GALLERY: SCENES FROM THE NFL DRAFT

2015 NFL Draft in Pictures

The stage prior to the start of the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Don Juan Moore/Characterlines for Sports Illustrated

Jameis Winston takes the call from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made him the first pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans react after their team drafted former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick during the NFL draft party in Tampa, Fla.

Jameis Winston posed for SI in his new team's jersey after he was taken No. 1.

Marcus Mariota at his draft party in Honolulu.

Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton picks up NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he celebrates after being selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 12th pick.

Fans cheer after Kevin White of the West Virginia Mountaineers was picked seventh by the Chicago Bears.

Bears fans cheer Chicago's selection of Kevin White of West Virginia Mountaineers.

Dante Fowler with commissioner Roger Goodell after being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Stanford offensive lineman Andrus Peat, right, talks to Deion Sanders after being selected by the New Orleans Saints as the 13th pick in the first round.

Green Bay Packers fans cheer during the first round of the draft.

A look at some of the NFL team representatives at the draft.

Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree celebrates after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 22nd pick in the first round.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans Keith Kunzig and David Miller are excited to have traveled from Florida to be at the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Shane Ray checks out his threads.

Leonard Williams is interviewed outside the draft venue before being taken by the New York Jets.

Jameis Winston waiting for the call.

The scene inside the Jameis Winston draft gathering.

X159534_TK1_174.w.JPG — Kent Nishimura for SI

Marcus Mariotta in Hawaii before the first round began.

img_54cc-3ada.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Two Patriots fans in Chicago.

Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly arriving at the NFL Draft.

img_c019-5024.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Chicago mounted police before the first round commenced.

img_3bf6-3442.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Dante Fowler's shoes on draft night.

Chicago welcomed the NFL Draft with open arms.

The view from outside Roosevelt University Auditorium Theatre.

NFL prospect Trae Waynes of Michigan State talks to pediatric patient Alec Cabacungan while doing a mock interview during the NFL PLAY 60 activities at Shriners Hospital for Children on Thursday, April 30 in Chicago.

Published Apr 24, 2015

DOUG FARRAR

SI.com contributing NFL writer and Seattle resident Doug Farrar started writing about football locally in 2002, and became Football Outsiders' West Coast NFL guy in 2006. He was fascinated by FO's idea to combine Bill James with Dr. Z, and wrote for the site for six years. He wrote a game-tape column called "Cover-2" for a number of years, and contributed to six editions of "Pro Football Prospectus" and the "Football Outsiders Almanac." In 2009, Doug was invited to join Yahoo Sports' NFL team, and covered Senior Bowls, scouting combines, Super Bowls, and all sorts of other things for Yahoo Sports and the Shutdown Corner blog through June, 2013. Doug received the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse from SI.com in 2013, and that was that. Doug has also written for the Seattle Times, the Washington Post, the New York Sun, FOX Sports, ESPN.com, and ESPN The Magazine. He also makes regular appearances on several local and national radio shows, and has hosted several podcasts over the years. He counts Dan Jenkins, Thomas Boswell, Frank Deford, Ralph Wiley, Peter King, and Bill Simmons as the writers who made him want to do this for a living. In his rare off-time, Doug can be found reading, hiking, working out, searching for new Hendrix, Who, and MC5 bootlegs, and wondering if the Mariners will ever be good again.