Redskins Select LB/Safety Su’a Cravens with 53rd Pick

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The Redskins took care of a position of immediate need in the second round of Friday’s NFL Draft.

Redskins Select Su’a Cravens with 53rd Pick

The team drafted USC hybrid linebacker/safety Su’a Cravens with the 53rd pick. Cravens said afterward the team already has a role in mind for him, “They said they see me as a dime linebacker. So, I’m going to come in and give it my all.”

Cravens is happy about his potential role in the Redskins defense, “I like that you can be a playmaker. You can be in open space. You can come fit down and get ready to protect against the run and then also be in space and cover and show your athleticism. So, it gives me the chance to use my instincts and just be in the right position to make plays.”

Cravens (6-1, 225 lbs) says after facing major questions about his future NFL position during the pre-draft process, he’s ready to move forward with his role, “Probably every question at the combine was, ‘What position do you want to play?’ Half of it was safety, half of it was Will linebacker,” said Cravens. “Not too many teams spoke to me about the dime linebacker position. So the fact that Washington called me – which I wasn’t expecting – and told me that’s what they wanted me to play, I feel like it’s a spot where I can fit right in the defense.”

As it turns out, Cravens is already acquainted with defensive coordinator Joe Barry, “Joe recruited me when I was in high school,” said Cravens. “He left before I got to SC, but me and him had built a relationship before he had left, and he knows my family inside and out. So I got a real good feel from him when I met with Washington at the combine. But, like I said, I hadn’t heard from him since the combine, besides pro day, but every team was there at pro day, so it came as a surprise when Washington called.”

Cravens is a special talent; his skill set will allow him to play multiple positions all over the field…giving the Redskins a major weapon in their secondary. He says he models his game after Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon,  “He plays a lot bigger than what he is, and he makes plays in open space, and he’s very physical when it comes to the point of attack. I think I do a lot of the same things he does.”

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden likes what he sees in Cravens and can’t wait to get him out on the field, “Yeah, there’s not a lot of things that he can’t do. He’s a playmaker. When you’re talking about defensive football nowadays, you want to get people who can do multiple things and be versatile in what they do and figure out ways to get the ball back for your offense. He’s one of the top guys at his position. He’s got position flex. He’s a ball hawk. He’s a turnover machine, and he’s a great player. He’d be effective on special teams, obviously. He can play in the box at linebacker; there’s a thought he might be able to play some safety. Once we get him in the building, we will figure out a way to get him on the field.”