Is trading down worth giving up the chance to take a future Pro-Bowler

Alright heres the deal. Many scouts out there are thinking that a guy like Okoye could be the next Warren Sapp, and personally I agree with them. However if we trade down past the 7 spot then theres very little chance that we end up with Amobi.

Now I know it would be great to trade down and get some more picks, but the question you have to ask yourself is, it is worth it to give up the chance to draft one of the 8 elite prospects in the draft for the chance to pick up 2 or 3 possible starters?

Lets look at the facts this draft is a little short on talent and not only does a guy like Okoye come along around once every 5 years but the chance to be in position to take a guy like that can come once in, well it depends on how bad you are but even then it can take years.

So why take quanity over quality?
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End necessary reading, begin supporting rant

Personaly if this draft is as lacksadaisy on talent as the so called experts say it is then maybe we picked a hell of a year to give up most of our picks (which is probably why the scouting department wasn't so attached to giving away next years second in the first place during the Rocky McIntosh ordeal).

And for those of you that got mad that the Redskins traded away their 2nd and 3rd round pick consider this, if we had those picks we'd be using them to move up and take Calvin Johnson. I'm not saying it was smart but think of it as taking crack out of the hands of a recovering crack addict.

Well, I would say no, because I believe there is a big dropoff between Okoye and then next best thing.

Ask any coach in the NFL, and they will tell you that there are only 2 or 3 if that "Elite players" on any NFL team. With that said it is the quality of the rest of the guys on the roster that make the difference in the Win column.

My point is that I would take 2 potential starters over a possible "Elite" any day of the week.

Ask any coach in the NFL, and they will tell you that there are only 2 or 3 if that "Elite players" on any NFL team. With that said it is the quality of the rest of the guys on the roster that make the difference in the Win column.

My point is that I would take 2 potential starters over a possible "Elite" any day of the week.Well with a waiver wire full of competant players, the NFL is definately a league where quality trumps quantity. So you never pass up a chance to land an elite player at a critical or need position, I agree with you.

You just have to be very careful to not overvalue a guy just because everyone else thinks hes something special.

The Skins have a very good college scouting department. I think we will be taking Okoye.

Of course the flip side is that the way teams scout prospects today, the elite guys have a good chance of slipping down the board.

Here's my list of "elite" prospects from this years draft:

Amobi Okoye
LaRon Landry
Joe Thomas
Levi Brown
Brady Quinn

I think this is a really good year for top end offensive tackles. Two guys I would consider "elite" and one really good guy in Joe Staley. I'd give em all top 10 grades because LTs are so damn important.

Well with a waiver wire full of competant players, the NFL is definately a league where quality trumps quantity. So you never pass up a chance to land an elite player at a critical or need position, I agree with you.

You just have to be very careful to not overvalue a guy just because everyone else thinks hes something special.

The Skins have a very good college scouting department. I think we will be taking Okoye.

I don't disagree with us taking Okoye if we are stuck at six. If the opportunity arises for us to move back, I guarentee that the FO will jump on it.

Personaly if this draft is as lacksadaisy on talent as the so called experts say it is then maybe we picked a hell of a year to give up most of our picks (which is probably why the scouting department wasn't so attached to giving away next years second in the first place during the Rocky McIntosh ordeal).


You give them too much credit for foresight. Its impossible to know a year in advance what the draft will look like. Guys have stellar senior campaigns (or flop), there are injuries, juniors come out, etc. etc. etc. The guy you love is a perfect example. Okoye was set up to be a second round pick prior to his work at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine. I say you probably want to stay in the top 10, but if Miami comes strong in a move to get Quinn (and that would require them giving up a 2nd, and I'd rather have their 1st [#40] than their 2nd [#60] but that would be highway robbery) then I say make the move. I think Okoye could very well slip past Atlanta and you get him anyway, and if not then you take someone like Carriker (who I like more than Anderson, but what do I know). The draft is a total crap shoot so you need more chances to roll the dice. If you can pick up a 2nd then do it. You have just as much chance of picking a Pro Bowler at 9 as you do at 6 (in 2005 Demarcus Ware went #11 and Shawn Merriman #12. Just before them Pacman, Troy Williamson, Antrel Rolle, Carlos Rogers, and Mike Williams went 6-10).

Of course the flip side is that the way teams scout prospects today, the elite guys have a good chance of slipping down the board.

Here's my list of "elite" prospects from this years draft:

Amobi Okoye
LaRon Landry
Joe Thomas
Levi Brown
Brady Quinn

I think this is a really good year for top end offensive tackles. Two guys I would consider "elite" and one really good guy in Joe Staley. I'd give em all top 10 grades because LTs are so damn important.

You know in college I directed a short film in which Levi Brown played the villain? I have to get it on youtube to show you guys. He is a large human being.

You know in college I directed a short film in which Levi Brown played the villain? I have to get it on youtube to show you guys. He is a large human being.

That would be awesome.

You give them too much credit for foresight. Its impossible to know a year in advance what the draft will look like. Guys have stellar senior campaigns (or flop), there are injuries, juniors come out, etc. etc. etc. The guy you love is a perfect example. Okoye was set up to be a second round pick prior to his work at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine. I say you probably want to stay in the top 10, but if Miami comes strong in a move to get Quinn (and that would require them giving up a 2nd, and I'd rather have their 1st [#40] than their 2nd [#60] but that would be highway robbery) then I say make the move. I think Okoye could very well slip past Atlanta and you get him anyway, and if not then you take someone like Carriker (who I like more than Anderson, but what do I know). The draft is a total crap shoot so you need more chances to roll the dice. If you can pick up a 2nd then do it. You have just as much chance of picking a Pro Bowler at 9 as you do at 6 (in 2005 Demarcus Ware went #11 and Shawn Merriman #12. Just before them Pacman, Troy Williamson, Antrel Rolle, Carlos Rogers, and Mike Williams went 6-10).

Great post. Most of us think Okoye would be the best pick because the analysts think so (including me). However, I am aware that most great players out-perform their draft value. It is totally possible that the best D-Lineman from this draft comes deeper than #6.