Powe A Draft Sleeper

ESPN.com draft analyst Steve Muench highlighted some mid-round linemen that "could develop into valuable contributors in the right situation." Our own Jerrell Powe was listed among three sleepers on the defensive side, saying:

Powe doesn't project as a productive interior pass rusher and he tends to wear down over the course of a game, so the team that drafts him will have to limit his role or improve his conditioning. Powe also needs to play with better pad level and improve his ability to get off blocks, but he has the quick first step, low center of gravity (6-foot-2) and bulk (320 pounds) teams covet at nose tackle. He rarely gives ground in one-on-one situations and can anchor against double teams when he stays low.

The Washington Redskins have to improve a run defense that finished 26th in the league in yards per game, and even if Albert Haynesworth remains in Washington he can't be counted on at nose tackle after the way he played in 2010. Drafting Powe in the fifth round would bring some youth and competition to a group that will likely be bolstered with free-agent signings as well.