Keeping Our Future Draft Picks And Drafting Wisely

What the Redskins have done over the course of last three days is IMO the way you go about building your football team.

I think the evidence presented by the success of winning organizations demonstrates it has to be done this way. If you want to be an annual contender, you’ve got to build through the draft. There is no other way. So in order to do this, you have two choices. You can either hit on nearly all of your draft picks each year (a practical impossibility) or you can stockpile lots of picks each season. It makes intuitive sense that the Packers and Patriots would have so many successful picks when you see them reel in nine and 10 player classes just about every year. Picking four and five times each year like the Redskins do just doesn’t cut it. Couple this draft with our core group of players and two more drafts like this one, we could be well on our way to being a consistent contender. The makings of the last three days is a good start.

What the Redskins have done over the course of last three days is IMO the way you go about building your football team.

I think the evidence presented by the success of winning organizations demonstrates it has to be done this way. If you want to be an annual contender, you’ve got to build through the draft. There is no other way. So in order to do this, you have two choices. You can either hit on nearly all of your draft picks each year (a practical impossibility) or you can stockpile lots of picks each season. It makes intuitive sense that the Packers and Patriots would have so many successful picks when you see them reel in nine and 10 player classes just about every year. Picking four and five times each year like the Redskins do just doesn’t cut it. Couple this draft with our core group of players and two more drafts like this one, we could be well on our way to being a consistent contender. The makings of the last three days is a good start.



:food-smil

I can't handle it, man! I'm jonesing! Let's trade next year's #1 for Marc Bulger!

2011 NFL draft: Ryan Mallett and the Patriots were among the losers on Day 2 - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=6451752)

They did a good job this year. Much better than last year. Praise the Lord that Jacksonville committed to Garrard those many years ago.

Washington (from Jacksonville) Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue
What he brings: Kerrigan lacks elite size and athleticism, but when you put on the film he shows the instincts to find the ball and make plays. He'll play outside linebacker for the Redskins and will be at his best moving forward rather than playing in reverse. He has above-average first-step quickness and a wide array of pass-rush moves to provide an immediate upgrade to the pass rush opposite Redskins OLB Brian Orakpo.
Video analysis: Todd McShay Video
How he fits: He should fit nicely in Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense. The Redskins have really needed a bookend for their best pass-rusher, Brian Orakpo, who will now see less double teams. Right now, the other starter, Lorenzo Alexander, is probably a better run stopper than pass rusher and even though Kerrigan is not an elite edge rusher, he is a try-hard guy who will greatly improve the pressure this unit tries to create.



Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011)Jarvis Jenkins (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27222)DT (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/32/draftyear/2011)Clemson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2131/draftyear/2011) What he brings: Jenkins has excellent size and his greatest strength is defending the run, where he gets good hand placement and can shed blocks, but he needs a more violent punch. He flashes as a pass rusher but still needs development in the area. He could eventually become a pressure guy who hurries quarterbacks but does not bring them to the ground.
How he fits: As we know, NT is critical in the 3-4 defense, which was a disaster in 2010. Albert Haynesworth (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3543) will likely be gone, Ma'ake Kemoeatu (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4254) has never really recovered from an injury and that leaves backup Anthony Bryant (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8592) as a potential starter. Coordinator Jim Haslett can play a lot of different fronts and Jenkins can play on the nose, over the guard or even shaded, and with a group of DEs that are pedestrian at best, he could also settle at that position. The Redskins are quietly really strengthening their front seven.


Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (from Miami)Leonard Hankerson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27045)WR (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/1/draftyear/2011)Miami (FL) (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2289/draftyear/2011) What he brings: Hankerson stood out at the Senior Bowl and has good size and hands. He has excellent top-end speed to stretch the field, and although he's not the most explosive short-to-intermediate route-runner, he is fluid for his size and can use his frame to shield the ball.
How he fits: It is amazing that the Redskins could get through the 2010 season with what they had at the WR position. Their only go-to guy is Santana Moss (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2564) out of the slot, but he is small and might leave in free agency, and after that the cupboard is really thin. This unit might need two receivers and much-needed size. Hankerson will give them a great work ethic and a big target, and while he might not have elite speed, he certainly is an upgrade.


Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (from Houston)Roy Helu (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27043)RB (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/9/draftyear/2011)Nebraska (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2319/draftyear/2011) What he brings: Helu has a good combination of size and top-end speed, and he is a determined runner who can catch the ball as well. However, he lacks elite lateral quickness.
How he fits: Mike Shanahan's zone-blocking, one-cut offense he needs a quality back and in 2010 he had a bunch of retreads but he couldn?t find a guy that he could count on. Ryan Torain (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11362) isn't bad but he?s not elite and there is virtually no one behind him. Helu has excellent size and straight-line speed and he will fit this offense well as Torain's backup.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (from Miami)Dejon Gomes (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26163)S (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/93/draftyear/2011)Nebraska (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2319/draftyear/2011) Gomes is a SS-type player who excels against the run with good angles and technique as a tackler. He will have some limitations on the backend due to lack of fluidity and top-end speed.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (from New Orleans)Niles Paul (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26090)WR (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/1/draftyear/2011)Nebraska (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2319/draftyear/2011) Paul is a big, physical WR with a RB's build who can contribute as a receiver after the catch and bring added value on special teams a returner. However, he is a bit tight as a route-runner and is a bit inconsistent catching the ball outside of his frame.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011)Evan Royster (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27252)RB (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/9/draftyear/2011)Penn State (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2350/draftyear/2011) Royster is an efficient runner with some upside on passing downs but he doesn?t have the power or speed to develop into a team?s primary ball carrier.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (from Houston)Aldrick Robinson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26435)WR (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/1/draftyear/2011)Southern Methodist (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2405/draftyear/2011) Robinson has very good ball skills and enough speed to contribute as a sub-package slot receiver in the NFL. He must, however, get bigger and stronger while also finding ways to contribute on special teams.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011)Brandyn Thompson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26171)CB (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/92/draftyear/2011)Boise State (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2088/draftyear/2011) Thompson lacks elite size and top-end speed, however, he has good ball skills, short-area quickness and aggression in run support.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (from Miami)Maurice Hurt (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26323)OG (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/47/draftyear/2011)Florida (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2172/draftyear/2011) Hurt is a limited athlete whose best fit will be at OG position at the next level. He has enough strength and tools to potentially add depth to an interior offensive line as a reserve.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (from Indianapolis)Markus White (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27056)DE (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/31/draftyear/2011)Florida State (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2174/draftyear/2011) White is still developing at this point but has enough tools to potentially develop into an adequate reserve as an OLB in the Redskins' 3-4 scheme.

Washington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/team/was/year/2011) (Compensatory)Christopher Neild (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26170)DT (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/position/_/id/32/draftyear/2011)West Virginia (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/school/_/id/2476/draftyear/2011) Neild has the tools and skill set to add depth to the Redskins' 3-4 scheme.

So what future picks did we acquire?

well we have oakland's 4th next year, plus our full compliment I believe. Really couldn't do too much more but clearly the FO is showing a willingness to gain picks.

I think the fact that we got 12 young bodies, even assuming only 6-8 end up staying, makes our future drafts even more better, and more ripe for picking up for future picks.

2011 NFL draft: Ryan Mallett and the Patriots were among the losers on Day 2 - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=6451752)

And the band played on.....they have two 1st rounders next year along with Cleveland whose stockpiling to join the Luck sweepstakes.

So what future picks did we acquire?

Not enough firepower in this draft to propell us into 2012 but, we do have a 4th rounder coming from the Raiders for Soup. If Shanahan and Allen can wheel and deal next years draft like they did this one, they'll turn that Soup pick into suasage.