What I am really enjoying about this Redskins draft is the way the Redskins are doing their business - the Bruce Allen + Mike Shanahan method - of trading back picks to fill in the multiple holes both on offense and on defense. I am so used to the Vinny Cerrato + Dan Snyder method of picking players on where they are at and becoming busts - because they don't try as hard - the Shanahan system will force these players to earn their spot instead of players with guaranteed money playing half-as-hard for the team. From eight 2011 picks to now 12, the Redskins are moving against what they normally do during the draft and instead trying something new.
1st Round Pick (#16 overall)
OLB Ryan Kerrigan
A great pick-up by the Redskins, who trade their #10 overall pick to the Jaguars for the #16 pick and #49th overall pick. They: a) Did NOT go after fast-falling quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who did not fit their system and b) Solidified a horrible defense with a great pass-rusher. Think the white version of Orakpo.
I am so glad the Redskins did not draft a QB in the first three rounds - like four of the top 12 teams in the draft were doing on Thursday night. The common Redskins/NFL fan would be like: "WTF? Why aren't the Redskins drafting someone like Ryan Mallet or Collin Kaepernick? Are they stupid? Let's fire Shanahan and Snyder and Allen. They can't be resorting back to Rex Grossman again, can they?"
My answer, along with the Redskins coaching/managerial staff, is this: We already have two decent quarterbacks in Rex Grossman and John Beck. None of the passed 2011 QB's seem franchise-worthy and fit our West Coast Offense/Zone Scheme. Don't forget, we traded a player to the Ravens to get Beck, who was a 2nd round pick by the Dolphins. He has talent, and possibly enough to be our temporary franchise quarterback for the future. Just take a look at this video:
2nd Round Pick (#49 overall)
DE/DT Jarvis Jenkins
Using the Jaguars 2nd round pick, the 'Skins picked up a solid defensive line player in Jenkins - ESPN980 has said that two other teams behind the Redskins' pick would have picked up JJ had they not grabbed him. He's Haynesworth without the heavy baggage and complaints. He is great on run defense, but weak on the pass rush. I'm glad they chose him and NOT his teammate defensive end DeQuan Bowers, who has a history of leg problems.
NOTE: The Redskins traded their own second-round, third-round, fourth-round and fifth-round picks for later picks in the draft.
3rd Round Pick (#79 overall) - from Miami
WR Leonard Hankerson
This pick was probably the best and safest pick the Redskins have made in the draft. One of their biggest holes on offense over the past decade was the lack of a big-time tall wide receiver. We tried that with the 2008 draft debacle with both Malcolm Kelly (likely to be released by the team) and Devin Thomas (now with the NY Giants). If Moss returns to the team - a BIG if, since he is a free agent this season - we could go far, with Moss, Armstrong, Cooley and Hankerson as our receivers.
4th Round Pick (#105 overall) - from Houston
RB Roy Helu Jr.
The Redskins traded up a couple of spots ahead in the fourth round to nab Helu. He's most likely the backup to starting running back Ryan Torain and has more of a Darren Sproles/Noel Devine kind-of-feel. He's small, quick and elusive and fits perfectly for the Shanahan zone-running system. The downsides are that he's not Clinton Portis in terms of pass-protection (no one can PP [pass-protect] like CP; and he's not a durable, strong runner that gains yards-after-contact (YAC)).
5th Round Pick (#146 overall) - from Miami
S Dejon Gomes
I don't know much about Gomes, other than that he fills a backup/possible starting position at safety and possible cornerback, and it's the second consecutive Cornhusker pick.
From ESPN Insider: "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."
5th Round Pick (#155 overall) - from New Orleans
WR Niles Paul
The pick of Paul makes it three straight Nebraska Cornhuskers chosen in a row and the second WR picked in the draft. I really thought the Redskins would go offensive line here, since their big-play threat was filled by Hankerson's pick yesterday. Don't get me wrong - Niles may be just as good of a player, but the Redskins really need to fill their weak offensive line sooner rather than later. The good part about Niles is that he is great in pass/run blocking - a plus for any team's offense and special teams.
From ESPN Insider: "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."
To Be Continued...
