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Matthew Paras

mparas@washingtontimes.com

Matthew Paras was a digital sports writer for the Washington Times.

Articles by Matthew Paras

Images of Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis are shown on stage after he was chosen by the Washington Football Team with the 19th pick in the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Jamin Davis rocketed up draft boards. Washington fell in love early.

When Washington's front office started to hold early draft meetings back in February, Jamin Davis' name came up. General manager Martin Mayhew admitted to the group he had yet to dive into the Kentucky linebacker, but the scouts in the room couldn't stop raving about him

May 2, 2021
BYU wide receiver Dax Milne (5) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Houston, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Washington rounds out draft class with three players in seventh round

The Washington Football Team rounded out its 2021 draft class Saturday with three picks in the seventh round, selecting Baylor defensive end William Bradley-King at No. 240, Penn State defensive end Shaka Toney at No. 246 and BYU wide receiver Dax Milne at No. 258.

May 1, 2021
East Carolina's C.J. Johnson, right, runs the ball after a catch with Cincinnati's Darrick Forrest (5) pursuing during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Washington adds to secondary with Darrick Forrest in fifth round

The Washington Football Team added another piece to its secondary Saturday, drafting Cincinnati safety Darrick Forrest in the fifth round with the 163rd overall pick. Forrest, who was captain for the Bearcats, is the second defensive back Washington has taken in the draft.

May 1, 2021
North Carolina wide receiver Dyami Brown participates in the school's Pro Day football workout for NFL scouts in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, March 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) **FILE**

Dyami Brown goes to Washington at No. 82

Washington used the 82nd pick of the draft Friday to select the explosive North Carolina wide receiver, grabbing the 6-foot wideout who averaged more than 20 yards per catch over his last two seasons in college. Brown, like McLaurin, is known for his ability to burn opposing defenses -- clocking in with a 4.4 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

April 30, 2021
Texas offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi (52) prepares to block against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Texas, in this Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, file photo. The Kansas City Chiefs already have spent the offseason rebuilding an offensive line ravaged by injuries and then dominated by Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl. But there is still work to be done, and the next opportunity to provide some help up front for quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File) **FILE**

Washington takes tackle Samuel Cosmi at No. 51

Washington drafted Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi with the 51st overall pick Friday -- using its selection on a 6-foot-6, 314-pound giant who was an accomplished starter for the Longhorns. Cosmi, 22, earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2019 and started eight games for Texas last season before opting out.

April 30, 2021
Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura (8) dunks against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) **FILE**

Wizards in firm control of last play-in spot with 10 games left

With 10 games left, the Wizards (28-34) hold a two-game lead over the Toronto Raptors (26-36) and Chicago Bulls (26-36) for the last spot in the NBA's upcoming play-in tournament. That puts Washington in control of the race, especially given that the Wizards have the easiest remaining schedule of the Bulls, Raptors, and even the Indiana Pacers, the team a game-and-a-half in front of them for ninth.

April 29, 2021
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against Ohio State during the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. About the only certainty in the confounding 2021 NFL draft is Trevor Lawrence going to the Jaguars with the first overall pick Thursday night in Cleveland. This year's NFL draft is like none other because teams weren't able to meet face-to-face with the pool of prospects outside the lucky few who got to play in the Senior Bowl after a season that was marked by opt outs and cancellations. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) **FILE**

NFL Mock Draft 2021: Historic quarterback run, Washington takes linebacker

The NFL draft is back and so is the spectacle. A year after conducting the three-day event remotely, the league will broadcast the draft Thursday live from Cleveland -- putting on a production that will resemble more of what fans were accustomed to before the pandemic. Prospects can once again bear-hug a fully vaccinated Commissioner Roger Goodell.

April 28, 2021
In this Jan. 4, 2016 file photo, Miami Dolphins executive vice president of football operations, Mike Tannenbaum, gestures as he speaks to members of the media at Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla. The Miami Dolphins believe they have the answers that will solve their draft woes of recent years. They’re giving prospects the questions, using a new IQ exam that tests a prospect's reaction to specific formations and plays. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) **FILE**

Should Washington trade up for QB? Former GM weighs in

When the NFL draft begins on Thursday, Washington coach Ron Rivera and his front office will be in a similar spot that Mike Tannebaum and the Jets were in more than a decade ago. The team holds a pick just past the middle of the first round -- No. 19 -- and Washington is in the search for a long-term answer at the most important position in sports.

April 27, 2021
Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins, center, is mobbed by offensive guard Ereck Flowers (77) and offensive tackle Morgan Moses (76) after kicking the eventual game-winning field goal in the final seconds of the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 19-16. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) ** FILE **

Washington brings back Ereck Flowers in trade with Dolphins

Washington acquired guard Ereck Flowers on Tuesday from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a swap of late-round picks, a source with knowledge of the situation said. Flowers, 27, started 16 games for Washington in 2019. The former first-rounder played well and earned a three-year, $30 million contract from the Dolphins last offseason.

April 27, 2021
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones passes against Ohio State during the second half of an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans, in this Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, file photo. Jones is a likely first round pick in the NFL Draft, April 29-May 1, 2021, in Cleveland.(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) **FILE**

NFL draft intrigue starts with quarterbacks, 49ers

The NFL draft begins Thursday at 8 p.m., but the real intrigue should start roughly 30 minutes later. That's when the San Francisco 49ers are expected to be on the clock with the third pick and that's when the real drama unfolds.

April 26, 2021
Washington Wizards' Jerry Stackhouse, center, is restrained by teammate Michael Jordan after being called for a first-quarter foul as Los Angeles Lakers' Samaki Walker stands at right Friday, Nov. 8, 2002, in Washington. (AP Photo/Ken Lambert) **FILE**

Bradley Beal, Wizards barely remember Michael Jordan in District

Bradley Beal only has one memory from when Michael Jordan played for the Washington Wizards. Beal recalled watching the all-time great's vicious two-handed block on forward Ron Mercer to help seal a win over Jordan's former team, the Chicago Bulls.

April 26, 2021