Redskins GM explains decision to draft Brandon Scherff over Leonard Williams

The Washington Redskins' decision to take offensive lineman Brandon Scherff over Leonard Williams – regarded by some as the best player in this year's draft – was a curious one. 

But as general manager Scot McCloughan explained Monday, Washington just felt as though Scherff was a better fit. 

"The thing about Leonard (Williams) – very good football player," McCloughan said, according to Conor Orr to NFL.com. "I was hoping to be able to move back there and it didn't happen. Everyone was talking about trading up, trading up to our spot but it was all for (Dante) Fowler. Once Fowler went, then all the talk went off the board. Leonard is a good football player. 

"If for some reason Brandon (Scherff) would have been gone, he probably would have been your one seed. ... Going into this thing I knew we needed some help up front on the offensive side and it was too good of a bang for the buck to not get Brandon there."

As Orr notes, it's also interesting to hear that there were teams pushing to get into the top five for a player other than Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota. Many people thought the Jets lucked out by landing Williams at No. 6, but the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected Fowler with the No. 3 pick, may have been even luckier.