National Football League

Redskins draft Alabama guard Arie Kouandjio in 4th round

Published May. 2, 2015 1:20 p.m. ET

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ASHBURN, Va. (AP) The offensive line was an area of concern for the Washington Redskins when they finished last in the NFC East last year for the sixth time in seven seasons. So they took Alabama guard Arie Kouandjio in the fourth round of the NFL draft on Saturday after using the fifth overall pick on Thursday to select Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Kouandjio, a graduate of DeMatha High School, just seven miles from FedEx Field, started the past two seasons for the Crimson Tide after undergoing multiple knee surgeries early in his college career. Kouandjio's older brother, Cyrus, is a tackle for the Buffalo Bills.

Veteran Redskins guards Shawn Lauvao and Chris Chester struggled in 2014. Backups Josh LeRibeus and Spencer Long have very little experience.

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