Post NFL Draft Review

Well, for Redskins' fans, this NFL draft was a very different experience as we watched the Redskins brain trust take a very different approach.  The Redskins' brain trust traded back in the draft multiple times to obtain additional picks in the later rounds in order to fill a long list of needs on the roster. The team needed an infusion of both depth and youth at almost every position and Mike Shanahan and company did accomplish several of the team's goals.

Surprisingly, Shanahan and Bruce Allen focused on the defense early, which struggled mightily last year with the switch to a 3-4 defense.  While first round pick Ryan Kerrigan is not generally considered an elite level player, he should be a very good player for the team and an excellent fit in the 3-4 defense at Outside Linebacker and, possibly, Defensive End in certain situations.  With London Flether getting close to retirement and Rocky McIntosh set to be a free agent, the Redskins needed to add help at Linebacker and this was a solid move.

Another glaring need was depth on the Defensive Line and the Redskins helped address that need by selecting Jarvis Jenkins.  Some analysts consider Jenkins a bit of a reach in the 2nd round, but the team believes he has potential and flexibility playing defensive end and some defensive tackle.

Once again, the Redskins also continued their tradition of drafting Wide Receivers beginning with Leonard Hankerson, a good size wideout with potential, in the 3rd round.  But that was not enough for Mike Shanahan so he added Niles Paul in the 5th round and Aldrick Robinson in the 6th round.  This may mark the end of the road for Wide Receiver, and former 2nd round pick, Malcolm Kelly, who has been a huge disappointment to put it politely.

With Clinton Portis gone and Ryan Torain still an injury risk, the Redskins also needed to add depth to the running back corps.  After all the excitement last preseason when the Redskins had 3 aging veterans in Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willy Parker on the roster, the Redskins went with the youth movement this year and drafted Running Back Roy Helu in the 4th round and Evan Royster in the 6th round.  Helu is thought to be a good fit in coach Shanahan's  running scheme, but Royster is most likely an emergency back and special team's player.

The team also added more help to the defensive side of ball by selecting Safety Dejon Gomes, Cornerback Brandyn Thompson, Defensive End Markus White, and Defensive Tackle Christopher Neild.  Shanahan also selected Offensive Guard Maurice Hurt to round out the draft.

It was a welcome change to see the Redskins trade down in the draft and accumulate picks in the later rounds.  One of the questions now is, did they use those additional picks wisely?  Several of the later round picks, like Dejon Gomes, were considered reaches and some of them may have a difficult time making the team.  It is clear that this is a team in transition and there is no way to fill all of the team's needs in one draft so Mike Shanahan and company chose to focus on improving the team's defense and it appears they have accomplished that.

Of course, it would not be Dan Snyder's Redskins if there wasn't some type of controversy.  As every Redskins' fan knows all to well, the team's biggest need is at Quarterback and that position was completely ignored.  Most fans thought the team would use their 1st round pick, or at least, their 2nd round pick on a Quarterback and it did not happen.

QB Blaine Gabbert was available when the Redskins selected their 1st round pick at number 10, but the team passed on him along with everyone else.  If Mike Shanahan did not think Gabbert or any of the other available Quarterbacks were potential franchise Quarterbacks, it is understandable that they did not draft one in the 1st round.  However, what does not make sense is that they did not draft any Quarterback at all even for developmental purposes.  While the Redskins need a starting Quarterback, the team should also be looking for a young backup Quarterback they can develop over time.  Surely, one of the many Quarterbacks selected in this year's draft could have fit the bill.

After painfully watching Shanahan ignore the Quarterback and Offensive Line positions, where the team needs help at both Guard and Center, we can't help but think Shanahan is planning a run at next year's projected #1 draft pick, Quarterback Andrew Luck.  Unfortunately, that could mean a brutal season for the team in 2011.  They have some pieces in place on the defense now.  Perhaps, they will focus on the offense when the free agent period begins.  We can only hope.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog