[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Coff

Certainly, this trade will help the Skins in the short run, but it's a myopic move, and that is what bothers me. As some have pointed out, 5th round draft picks can be hit or miss, and typically are not worth that much, but if done prudently, they should be an NFL player for a number of years, and good GM's can find great depth and dependable players in the 5th round (and by the way, it will likely be a 4th round pick). Again, I'm not suggesting that this won't help the Skins in the short run, but fellas, this is a team coming off of a 5 win season. This is a team that has had one winning season in the past 6. This is not a team on the cusp of a championship. Fool yourselves if you'd like, but the Washington Redskins are NOT contenders. The sooner you accept that, the smoother this season will be for you and the more you will be able to enjoy it. Trading mid-round (not late round draft picks, mid-round draft picks) for 34 year old aging lineman is a move for a team focused on the present, not the future, and it is this constant belief within this organization that they are just a few moves away from a championship and that in lieu of this draft picks are expendable that has resulted in a team perenially battling to get to .500. That's why I don't like the move; not simply because of the players and picks involved, but because it reflects a definitive FO philosophy that has shown consistent failure.

We don't have to ignore the short-term for the sake of our long-term future. With this trade, we still have 12 of 14 picks the next two years, including all 6 in the first 3 rounds each year. Making this one trade is not is not going to ruin our future.