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          NFL Nation

          Redskins should focus on front seven, running backs at combine

          Washington's Vita Vea would add another intimidating presence to the Redskins' improving defensive front. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
          • John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 27, 2018, 01:00 PM
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              John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on 'The John Keim Report', which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim
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          A closer look at the positions the Washington Redskins could target at the NFL combine in Indianapolis:

          Positions of need: The Redskins solved their quarterback situation by trading for Alex Smith and giving him an extension. Now they must surround him with more playmakers on offense. They want a speedy receiver -- they will have interest in some free agents -- as well as a dynamic full-time running back. The Redskins would like to find Smith their own version of Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt -- a difficult combination to discover. But they need to add more playmakers to their offense, which would pair well with holdovers such as tight end Jordan Reed and third-down back Chris Thompson.

          They need a starting left guard. Defensively, the Redskins want another interior pass-rusher and must figure out what they're doing at inside linebacker -- will they re-sign Zach Brown? If not, that's on the list as well. After trading cornerback Kendall Fuller, they could use more depth at this spot (the same is true at safety).

          Three players the Redskins should focus on at combine:

          Vita Vea, DL, Washington: The Redskins want to boost their interior pass rush, so any lineman they draft at 13 must be a three-down player. Vea has drawn comparisons to longtime defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (Alabama's Da'Ron Payne is another to watch; Virginia Tech's Tim Settle could rise after the combine, too, but for now is projected as a late-first, early second-round target). Vea would give the Redskins another young interior building block, along with last year's first-round pick Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis. The Redskins' line, and defense, suffered when Allen was lost for the season after five games in 2017.

          Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia: Last year, the Redskins were interested in Haason Reddick, a player with similar skills as Smith -- a little smaller but fast. Any interest in Smith depends on if the Redskins retain Brown. They have not always invested a lot at inside linebacker and if they increase the talent along the front they might feel they can go in a less expensive direction -- in free agency and the draft. Smith's potential to impact the passing game will be key.

          Derrius Guice, RB, LSU: If the Redskins trade back, or select one in the second round, they will have plenty of options, including Guice, USC's Ronald Jones II and Georgia's Sony Michel among others. So this really isn't about focusing on Guice as it is the position. The Redskins will try to upgrade running back, but doing so means finding someone who can provide big plays as a full-time back. The big question: Which back can impact both the running and passing games?