Updated: Redskins Trade for Vikings DE Erasmus James

[Drift Reality]

There are three reasons this trade will work:

1. Our team culture - Gibbs was a stabilizing influence during his tenure here. He managed to create a veteran-driven culture of accountability on this team and it showed when we brought in a guy like Fred Smoot, who incidentally floundered in Minnesota, and he managed to turn his career around because he was suddenly in a culture that wouldn't tolerate any BS and this allowed him to simply focus on Football.

2. Our coaching staff - Greg Blache has gained a reputation as being a guy who can get the most out of his talent. Look at what he has done in terms of developing younger guys who were really no-names (Wilson, Evans, Montgomery, Golston) and resurrecting a guy like Andre Carter's career. In James, Blache will get a guy who is more physically talented than anyone he currently has (other than Carter).

3. Lack of expectations - Coming into the Redskins James is literally valued at a 7th round pick. He was close to being cut by an NFL team only two years after he was heralded as a future star. The expectations are low and that will take a lot of pressure of James. He is not expected to contribute right-away and that will allow him to learn from Blache and the other veterans on this line and build himself into a contributor.

Ultimately, I think that provided he stays healthy, James can honestly be a solid contributor to this defense.

[J. Spanky]

Originally Posted by Drift Reality

3. Lack of expectations - Coming into the Redskins James is literally valued at a 7th round pick. He was close to being cut by an NFL team only two years after he was heralded as a future star. The expectations are low and that will take a lot of pressure of James. He is not expected to contribute right-away and that will allow him to learn from Blache and the other veterans on this line and build himself into a contributor.

that's a point that i've been considering as well. being that his surgery wasn't that long ago, (assuming he makes the roster) i'd like to see this kid put on the PUP list and then see where he's at midway through the season, both physically and in the system.

there's no question the kid has talent, we need to let that knee heal up to maximize it.