Redskins Draft Analysis Thread

[KI Skins Fan]

I thought it might be interesting to hear from some fellow Redskins fans on their overall analysis and/or opinions concerning our draft. I'll get it started with my observations and comments.

Overall, I think we had a very good draft. The Skins seemed to come into this draft with a plan that included:

1. Targeting needs without straying to far from their draft value board.
2. Acquiring more picks to add depth to the team and to increase competition for roster spots.
3. Keeping their future picks.

I think they accomplished these goals, for the most part.

I think it was evident that the Skins wanted a pass rusher to play opposite Brian Orakpo as much as any other need. They got that player in Kerrigan and they did it the right way by trading down to get him about where he should have been drafted rather than giving away the store to get a higher rated pass rusher, like Von Miller.

We needed a run stopper in a big way. I think the Skins may have decided to pick Jenkins where they did because they rated him as the second best run stopper behind Phil Taylor and they weren't sure what they might do with their second 2nd Round pick, so they didn't want to take the chance of leaving that need unfilled.

I think the Skins may have made a mistake in the second round that cost them one of my favorite players in the draft, Stephan Wisniewski. I gathered that the Skins intended to draft Wis because SmootSmack posted that the Skins would go C next right before he had to sign off. Then, in his post draft news conference, Shanny was asked about not picking and OL high and he said that sometimes things happen in the draft such as another team picking the player you want right in front of you. I think that may have actually happened when Oakland picked Wis at #48 while we had the #49 pick.

The mistake was not trading up in front of Oakland to get Stephan because of his uncle Steve being a coach and a former OL great with the Raiders. Bruce Allen should have known the way they think in Oakland. Damn!

Picking Leonard Hankerson at #79 was a brilliant move! I think he'll be a very good NFL receiver for many years.

Helu was also a great pick. Whenever I saw him play in college, watching him run in an offense that is similar to the Skins' offense, in his one-cut-and-go style, I felt that he was a back that Shanny would like. I think he'll do well here.

If we could have gotten Wis, we could have folded our tent right after we got Helu, as far as I'm concerned, and we would have had a near perfect draft: OLB Kerrigan, DL Jenkins, C/G Wisniewski, WR Hankerson, RB Helu. Wow!

Honestly, I don't know much about the other players we picked, except one, but I'm hoping some of them can help us. The one exception is Chris Neild. I saw him play a number of times and I came away very impressed. I think Chris may turn out to be a good NFL player at NT. He was a very effective run-stopper in college and he is relentless. If Neild can help with the rotation at NT and we can move Jenkins to RDE, then we should have a much improved run defense.

Draft Grade: B.