Devin Thomas

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I just realized I only partially answered GOSkins' question in that long response.

Basically, had we not traded down, it would have depended on the available players at that #51 selection. If for some reason, there had been a run on receivers, and teams left Devin Thomas on the board, I would have said, "OK, if we want a top WR prospect in this draft, this is pretty much the only option." In that case the potential reward of the Number One WR they expect Thomas to become overshadows the enormous risk that comes with drafting a prospect like him, and the selection is justified.

But otherwise, no, probably still a poor selection.

Thanks for the response. But I guess I don't really understand why you say the skins expect him to be the Number One WR (at some point). For example, if we had picked Randle El in the second round I would think we would have made a good pick. He is clearly not a number one receiver, but he is solid as a number 2 and good as a 3. If Deven Thomas can be a solid (or hopefully dangerous) number two, I'd be really happy.

Also, I think we can both agree the WR class this year was pretty weak. I don't really see any "sure things". Maybe that's why the skins decided to gamble on a one year wonder. I think they picked three receivers in the second and hoped to hit one right based on shear volume!

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

Thanks for the response. But I guess I don't really understand why you say the skins expect him to be the Number One WR (at some point). For example, if we had picked Randle El in the second round I would think we would have made a good pick. He is clearly not a number one receiver, but he is solid as a number 2 and good as a 3. If Deven Thomas can be a solid (or hopefully dangerous) number two, I'd be really happy.

Also, I think we can both agree the WR class this year was pretty weak. I don't really see any "sure things". Maybe that's why the skins decided to gamble on a one year wonder. I think they picked three receivers in the second and hoped to hit one right based on shear volume!

Those are both very good points.

I do think that if ARE didn't have very good special teams value, we would say that the Steelers reached on his selection. He hasn't justified a 2nd round pick with his receiving skills. I think if you are addressing WR in the first two rounds, you are doing so with the idea that they guy you are taking should develop into a No. 1 WR. It seems like the Redskins (ideally) want Kelly and Thomas to be co No. 1 WRs, sort of like Housh and CJ in Cinci, or Boldin and Fitz in Arizona. I think they'll be happy if they get a No. 1 and a No. 2 out of those picks, but would probably be disappointed if neither Kelly or Thomas becomes a No. 1 WR.

There was definately not a sure thing in the WR class, but IMO, that only makes the logic of grabbing two WRs in the 2nd round more flawed.

Fred Davis, for example, was a very solid selection at least as a receiving TE. The argument against Davis was that we didn't need to spend a high pick on a TE, but let's face it: our depth behind Cooley was a guy (Yoder) who was out of the league in 2006 when we grabbed him...and though he's been a nice role player, even making Yoder a spot starter would have been stretching us thin.

So I like the Davis pick, even though I wouldn't have picked him there if I was in Vinny shoes. I'm just trying to show how even if I think we had more pressing needs elsewhere, I can get on board with a selection if the logic behind it makes sense. To me, the logic behind taking Thomas was much weaker: we needed a WR, but we didn't take the best one available, IMO. The Skins will say that they had him highly ranked with a bunch of other guys they liked, but I would have hoped they took anyone else over him. I'm not convinced that too many other teams would have taken him on day one.