NFL Draft: 2018 Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 02: Derwin James #3 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after a play against the Alabama Crimson Tide during their game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Whatever the Washington Redskins do this offseason is entirely predicated on the situation with quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Cousins, who is on his third franchise tag, won’t be heading for a reunion with Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers in 2018, not after the Niners traded for Jimmy Garoppolo. On one hand, that’s great news for Washington. On the other, inking Cousins to a lucrative free-agent deal could still be the goal of many other quarterback-needy teams with some open cap space.

Let’s assume Cousins stays, though, and the Redskins use this pick to address a serious need — safety.

Strong safety D.J. Swearinger hasn’t been good this season, and a player like Florida State’s Derwin James would provide a substantial upgrade and long-term back-end piece to Washington’s secondary.