(updated title): Make Your Day One Redskins Draft Selections (Rounds 1-2)

Chevis Jackson (http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/chevisjackson.html) to fall to them in the third, which is risky considering how hard it is to find a quality corner after the 2nd round.



Chevis Jackson in my mind is not fast enough to be a corner in the NFL, if he can bulk up he could probably make the transition to safety, and be a quality player.

What do you guys think about the possiblity of the Skins trading up into the early second round to possibly grab a Devin Thomas, Limas Sweed, or Malcolm Kelly? Especially considering that Limas Sweed has a good chance of falling into the early 2nd round.

Or do we reach on a Joe Jurivicious/Kevin Walter type in Jordy Nelson or hope a guy like Jerome Simpson falls to us in the third? Remember the team is probably targeting Tony Hills and Mike McGlynn with that comp selection so lineman lovers fear not. The team will find a quality lineman in the third round

i think campbell at 21 is a terrible value and only a 50/50 shot at even addressing our DL situation. maybe he's a younger phillip daniels, but that's not really what i want :/.

harvey's safer than merling, and the vikes like him more from what i've seen, so he's pretty much a lock to go 17 at the latest, though stranger things have happened.

either way, we're about 4 picks too late to get a high potential stud, and about 4-7 picks too late to have any real chance at a trade down offer (unless someone is SUPER high on a qb and needs to trade back in, but i don't see something obvious for our pick specifically, so that's probably not a great bet for us).

one of the cb's might make it though, albert might make it... both are better values than campbell. I don't really like ANY of the WRs so far, though hardy may be the one most worthy of taking a flyer on... groves is an okay pick, but he's not a DE. maybe he turns into another merriman, and if that's the case... he's better value than campbell, but i don't know him well since it's not a position of need and i like LBs better in the 2nd round. If he's like willis or lawson or merriman or... then he's a good pick. I'll look into it.

What do you guys think about the possiblity of the Skins trading up into the early second round to possibly grab a Devin Thomas, Limas Sweed, or Malcolm Kelly? Especially considering that Limas Sweed has a good chance of falling into the early 2nd round.

Or do we reach on a Joe Jurivicious/Kevin Walter type in Jordy Nelson or hope a guy like Jerome Simpson falls to us in the third? Remember the team is probably targeting Tony Hills and Mike McGlynn with that comp selection so lineman lovers fear not. The team will find a quality lineman in the third roundAvoid Thomas at all costs because he's a guy who couldn't climb his college depth chart for two seasons, then had a really good year in 07 and bolted before he had a chance to be a fluke. That's simply not first day material.

Sweed and Kelly are both good players, but if we were trading up from the 2nd round, the best deal I would offer would be the 2nd, and our 6th rounder. That's only going to move us up a few spots.

I'd rather sit tight at 51 and try to land Manningham, or just pick at a position of greater need if the value isn't good.

i think campbell at 21 is a terrible value and only a 50/50 shot at even addressing our DL situation. maybe he's a younger phillip daniels, but that's not really what i want :/.

harvey's safer than merling, and the vikes like him more from what i've seen, so he's pretty much a lock to go 17 at the latest, though stranger things have happened.

either way, we're about 4 picks too late to get a high potential stud, and about 4-7 picks too late to have any real chance at a trade down offer (unless someone is SUPER high on a qb and needs to trade back in, but i don't see something obvious for our pick specifically, so that's probably not a great bet for us).

one of the cb's might make it though, albert might make it... both are better values than campbell. I don't really like ANY of the WRs so far, though hardy may be the one most worthy of taking a flyer on... groves is an okay pick, but he's not a DE. maybe he turns into another merriman, and if that's the case... he's better value than campbell, but i don't know him well since it's not a position of need and i like LBs better in the 2nd round. If he's like willis or lawson or merriman or... then he's a good pick. I'll look into it.

The thing is that according to Vinny Cerato the front office puts a premnium on guys that the coaching staff has worked with (Fletcher, Smoot, Collins) and since Campbell had his best season with Palimero, the chances are that the front office will very comfortable drafting him. At this point I'm not arguing weather or not Campbell is a good prospect, rather I'm arguing that the chances of the front office taking Campbell on draft day are high. Right now I'd rate it at 70%.

With that said after watching film on Campbell (ie YouTube highlights) I came away impressed. The guy moves very well and seems to make good use of his long arms. He's also pretty good using rip and swim moves as well as redirecting inside when he has to. I also liked how he would lock up against offensive tackles on running plays and ride them until he got to the ball carrier. However the thing that surprised me was how quick and agile he is, which was even more shocking after seeing how stiff he looked during the combine when the defensive lineman were going through drills that tested their lateral movement.

Also Todd McShay said that sports hernias scare teams a lot, though at the same time I heard that Merling would be fully recoverd about a week before the draft. So I wonder, do the Redskins take the safe pick over the guy their familar with from a program they like. On top of that both Mayock and McShay, who spend an awful lot of time talking to team personel have Campbell going in the 1st round which tells me that Campbell is still considered a 1st round pick in many league circles.

The team has also mentioned that they like the depth at corner in the second round and the horde of corners they're bringing in for visits seems to confirm that they like the crop of 2nd round corners. On top of that they've also stated that they don't like the crop of 1st tier recievers and probably won't use a 1st round pick on one. So that leaves DL and OL as possible first round picks, and according to JLC, Blache was promised a D-Lineman early in the draft.

Ironically the selection of the other Campbell at 25 back in 2005 shows that the front office is willing to pull the trigger on guys projected to go in the early second while they're on the clock in the first.

1. Phillip Merling DE Clemson
2. Limas Sweed- I think he's going to drop all the way into the 2nd. Did not impress in the combines.

1. Phillip Merling DE Clemson
2. Limas Sweed- I think he's going to drop all the way into the 2nd. Did not impress in the combines.

There is no way in Hades, Sheol, or Gehenna that Sweed drops to us in the 2nd round!

He may fall to the 2nd, but not to us all the way at the bottom of the 2nd.

On the rise

1. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU -- The draft process is grueling for all prospects, but Dorsey's path has proven to be especially arduous. The passing of his grandmother, combined with the Jan. 7 BCS title game pushing back the beginning of his training process, prevented Dorsey from taking part in the workout portion of the combine. Speculation then began to spread regarding a possibly lingering 2006 stress fracture injury that could have sent Dorsey's draft stock free-falling.
Since then, though, many teams have cleared Dorsey medically and his solid all-around showing at LSU's pro day helped ease any concerns regarding a 2007 knee injury. Dorsey has finally come full circle and is once again in the elite tier of talent for 2008.

Draft projection: Best case is the Rams at No. 2 overall, worst case is the Chiefs at No. 5. The Falcons, who own the third pick, seemingly have the greatest interest in Dorsey at this point while the Raiders would consider him with the fourth pick as well.
[+] Enlarge (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3335993&univLogin02=stateChanged#)

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0408/nfl_i_albert_200.jpg (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3335993&univLogin02=stateChanged#) Icon SMI
Will Branden Albert be protecting his quarterback as a left tackle in the NFL?


2. Branden Albert (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12197), G/OT, Virginia -- The more film teams watch of Albert the more they seem to think he can play left tackle in the NFL. The early-entry prospect stood on his solid workout times from the combine but really made an impression on coaches and scouts with his nimble feet and natural balance during offensive line drills at Virginia's pro day.
Draft projection: I still think Albert projects better at guard in the NFL, which explains my mid-first round grade. However, a few teams reportedly view him as the second-best left tackle in this class behind Michigan's Jake Long (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12044) and there is now speculation that Albert could sneak into the top 10 overall.

3. Tyrell Johnson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11562), S, Arkansas State -- The Sun Belt's all-time career tackles leader has shot up many draft boards by answering questions regarding his speed and athleticism during the postseason process. Johnson (5-foot-11⅞, 202 pounds) turned in one of the most impressive showings among the defensive backs at the combine and built on that momentum with a 39-inch vertical leap, 10-foot-8 broad jump and smooth position-specific workout during Arkansas State's on-campus workout. In a weak safety class Johnson has value on Day 1.
Draft projection: Johnson should be among the top two safeties selected -- competing with Kenny Phillips (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12142) of Miami but ahead of Dejuan Morgan (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=12310&draftyear=2008) of N.C. State -- and most likely comes off the board in the second round.

4. Jordy Nelson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11983), WR, Kansas State -- Nelson emerged as one of the most productive pass catchers in college football last season with 1,606 yards and 11 scores on 122 receptions. While his 40-yard dash time of 4.51 doesn't do much for his cause, Nelson has shown fluid hips for his size, smooth route-running skills and reliable hands throughout the postseason. The more teams study his improvement as a senior the more infatuated they become with his pro potential.
Draft projection: It is highly unlikely that Nelson will last until Day 2.

5. Steve Slaton (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12160), RB, West Virginia -- Slaton's outstanding showing last month at West Virginia's pro day was timely to say the least. The diminutive, oft-injured back is likely to max out a versatile scat back and return man in the NFL, but excellent showings in the 40 (4.42 and 4.45), vertical jump (35 inches), short-shuttle (4.26 seconds) and three-cone drill (6.75 seconds) ease concerns about injuries costing him a step.
Draft projection: Despite a deep crop of running backs, Slaton should come off the board early on Day 2 (third or fourth round) and land with a team in search of a complementary weapon in its running game.


On the slide

1. DE Phillip Merling (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12230), Clemson -- Once considered a potential top-10 pick, Merling has seen his stock drop considerably during the draft process. The biggest issue is a recently discovered sports hernia injury which required surgery and prevents him from working out for NFL teams prior to draft weekend. As an early-entry prospect, Merling becomes an even greater risk since NFL teams are already working with limited time and data.
Draft projection: Merling is still a first-rounder but could slip to the bottom portion of the round.

2. QB Brian Brohm (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12009), Louisville -- Scouts complained that Brohm avoided some of the tougher throws they wanted see during his uninspiring on-campus workout last month. Some teams love his consistency and think he can thrive with the proper supporting cast in the NFL, while others simply think Brohm is too limited physically.
Draft projection: Likely to come off the board early in Round 2. Brohm is competing with Chad Henne (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12045) (Michigan) and Joe Flacco (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11486) (Delaware) to be second quarterback selected behind Matt Ryan (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11586) (Boston College).

3. WR Early Doucet (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11997), LSU -- Doucet's pedestrian 40 times (4.56 and 4.68) at LSU's pro day verified the lack of deep speed he shows on film.
Draft projection: Among the top eight receivers selected, likely in the early-to-mid second round.

4. OT Sam Baker (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11736), USC -- Baker battled injuries during a disappointing senior season and the pre-draft process hasn't gone any better. Baker's lack of explosiveness was exposed at the Senior Bowl and he was equally underwhelming at USC's pro day, where he looked sluggish in position-specifics drills and ran times of 5.41 and 5.54 in the 40.
Draft projection: Should be the sixth offensive lineman selected but no longer projects as a first-round pick.

5. RB Mike Hart (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12046), Michigan -- As expected, Hart has not fared well during the pre-draft process. Declining a Senior Bowl invitation surprised scouts as the week of practice and the game itself would have been a better opportunity to showcase his skills than any workout session. Most recently, Hart opted not to run a 40 at Michigan's pro day, which means he's sticking with combine results of 4.69 and 4.72. He also had a few uncharacteristic drops during receiving drills on campus.
Draft projection: Best-case scenario is late-third round, but a deep running back class does not help Hart's cause.

Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998.

Since we don't need Chad Johnson and can get a good receiver in the draft my first two selection are going to be:

1. Brandon Albert, G, UVA (Solid lineman)

2. De'cody Fagg, WR, Florida State (This guy will make all of the CJ lovers thank their lucky stars that we didn't trade for him)

Does anyone recognize the guys at the start of this video :D

NFL Video Galleries (http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d807a8258)

Anyway I guess I'll take a stab at a Redskins Mock in light of the new information given to us by JLC.

1st - Trade to Falcons for 2-6 and 3-3 (The Skin's might be the lowest bidder for Atlanta to get back into the 1st round so they can take Brian Brohm)

2-6 - Trevor Laws - DT - Notre Dame (Vinny says: "So to add some more pass rush up the middle would be something we'd look at.")

2-21 - Brandon Flowers - CB - Virginia Tech (Heard that his 40 time has him dropping to the late 2nd early 3rd) (Vinny says: "Cornerback is deep, but not at the top of the draft")

3-3 - Duane Brown - T/G - Virginia Tech (Vinny says: "We're looking for a young lineman who can play center-guard or guard-tackle. You want to develop someone.")

3-21 - Owen Schmitt - FB - West Virginia (Vinny says: "A backup fullback to Mike Sellers is also a need because the West Coast offense requires more depth at fullback")

3-33 - Marcus Monk - WR - Arkansas (Vinny says: "Receivers are strong in the second or third round.") (Don't worry I'm not crazy, apparently Monk has been working his way up draft boards lately and at this point I figure that Nelson and Simpson are both gone)

5th - Jamar Adams - S - Michigan
6th - Rudolph Hardie - DE - Howard
7th - Andrew Crummey - C/G - Maryland
7th Comp - Alvin Bowen - OLB - Iowa State
7th Comp - Kyle Wright - QB - Miami