ESPN Insider: Kellen Winslow likely a Redskin

[Shane]

http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/story?id=1760323


Chargers might take Manning, after all

By Scouts, Inc.
For ESPN Insider
Monday, March 15
Updated: March 15
5:04 PM ET

In our opinion, Miami-Ohio QB Ben Roethlisberger is the best all-around quarterback prospect in this year's draft class, but as it stands right now he is starting to look like the odd man out among the top 10 picks. If Roethlisberger does, indeed, fall out of the top 10, the Steelers (No. 11) and Bills (No. 13) are the next two teams with a strong interest.

The Tim Couch situation will be an interesting one to monitor between now and the draft, because from what we've been told the Cowboys -- even after trading for Drew Henson -- Steelers and Ravens (as a backup) are the three teams that have shown the most interest in trading with the Browns for Couch. If the Steelers do not trade for Couch, they could get lucky and have Roethlisberger fall to them.

# The Giants are the team right now we are hearing the most about in terms of trading into the top two picks. If they trade up to No. 1 with the Chargers, it will be to take Ole Miss QB Eli Manning. However, we're now hearing that Chargers' coach Marty Schottenheimer is warming to the idea of drafting Manning with the top pick and making him the starter from Day 1, which could buy Schottenheimer and his coaching staff more time.

If the Chargers do keep their No. 1 pick and draft Manning, the odds are good the Giants will give the Raiders a later round pick to flip-flop spots in order to secure Iowa OT Robert Gallery. If that scenario plays out, the Cardinals likely would draft Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald with the third pick, which would still allow the Raiders to draft either Mike Williams (USC) or Roy Williams (Texas) at No. 4 overall.

Depending on how Mike Williams runs, there's a strong possibility the Raiders could take Roy over Mike, because Roy is the fastest of the top three receivers, and we all know how much Al Davis emphasizes speed in personnel evaluation.

While there have been several reports about the Redskins' strong interest in trading out of the No. 5 pick, we are now hearing they're leaning heavily towards keeping that pick and drafting Miami TE Kellen Winslow Jr. There are obvious concerns about Winslow's attitude, but with such a veteran-heavy team and with coach Joe Gibbs' relationship with Kellen Winslow Sr. dating back to their days with the Chargers, the Redskins feel they have the right supporting cast in place to make it work.

With the additions of RB Clinton Portis and QB Marc Brunell to go along with WRs Lavernues Coles and Rod Gardner and an offensive line anchored by bookend tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen, the addition of an explosive receiving threat in the middle would make the Redskins' offense frightening.

Pro Timing Day Updates
# Mike Williams' private workout is tentatively set for April 6, which was frustrating to several NFL teams expecting him to work out with USC at its scheduled pro timing day, March 24. We also were told by a team drafting in the top five that they were unimpressed recently when they phoned Williams and did not receive a response for three days.

# As expected, RB Maurice Clarett did not work out with Ohio State on March 12. He is scheduled to have his own individual workout for NFL teams April 5.

# March 10: Oklahoma had more than 100 NFL officials at its pro-timing day, and DT Tommie Harris (6-3, 292) did not disappoint, running a 4.78 as his best time in the 40-yard dash. Harris is clearly on the rise and should go no later than No. 8 to the Falcons. & DC Derrick Strait weighed in at 198 pounds and ran a decent 4.52, solidifying his spot late in the first or early in the second round. & OLB Teddy Lehman weighed in at 237 pounds and ran a 4.54 in the 40, which should secure him a spot in the second round. & DS Brandon Everage continues to struggle with a shoulder injury and was not able to participate in any of the workout.

Nebraska DE Trevor Johnson continues to improve his draft value. After working out at the combine, Johnson decided to do another full workout at Nebraska's pro timing day and it panned out when he ran a 4.69 in the 40. & NFL officials present wanted to see Jamal Lord work out as a defensive back, but since there were no DB coaches present, he worked out as a linebacker. Regardless, Lord's 4.44 in the 40 should help him get drafted on day two as defensive back, running back and/or return specialist prospect.

March 11: Oregon DT Junior Siavaii has had a roller coaster of a draft process. His recent workout could not have gone any better. At 6-4 3/8, 340 pounds, Siavaii ran a 5.12 in the 40 and looked impressive in his agility workouts. At one point, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil turned to the crowd of NFL coaches and personnel officials and said, "could you imagine that load bearing down on you?"

But it's what has occurred off-the-field that has hurt his draft value. Siavaii reportedly has a history of becoming overly aggressive when he drinks, and he allegedly shoved a woman after she bumped into him. Siavaii was charged with assaulting the woman, but the situation was relatively unpublicized until several NFL personnel officials happened to meet the woman herself. She was waiting their table and was more than willing to give them her side of the story.

# Oregon WR Sammie Parker may have run his way into the first day of the draft by running 4.34 and 4.37 on his two 40-yard dash attempts.

# Oregon State RB Steven Jackson (6-2, 231) struggled more than people thought he would when it came to catching the football at his individual workout, but he is more than proven in that area, and he did everything else well. He ran 4.55 and 4.56 in his two 40s, and he also ran the short shuttle in 4.09 and the three-cone drill in 7.03. Jackson's workout should have solidified him as the top overall back in this class.

# WR James Newson, on the other hand, continued to hurt his draft value with 4.84 and 4.88 in his two 40-yard sprints. Newson originally was considered a late-second or third-round prospect but likely will slip to the second day of the draft as a result of his ridiculously poor 40 times.

# Washington WR Reggie Williams ran the 40 five times, ranging from 4.48 to 4.64.

March 12: Michigan RB Chris Perry may have solidified his position late in the first round with an impressive workout that included a 4.56 40-yard dash. DC Jeremy LeSeuer tweaked a hamstring while running the 40 at the combine and did not work out. He does, however, have another workout scheduled for March 31.

# WR Michael Jenkins and DE Will Smith (6-2½, 267) stole the show at Ohio State's workout. Ohio State is notorious for having one of the fastest tracks in the country, but Jenkins' 4.38 in the 40 is impressive on any surface. Smith's 4.58 in the 40 should solidify him as a top-15 pick, and his 30 reps on the bench won't hurt either. & DT Tim Anderson (6-3 1/8, 307) had a solid workout with a 5.01 40 time, as did DS Will Allen (6-½, 202), who ran a 4.57 in the 40. Conversely, DC Chris Gamble's 40 times (4.50 and 4.55) were disappointing. He had a strong workout in terms of agility and position drills, but his below average 40 time on a fast surface could cost him on draft day.

[AnonEmouse]

So to recap, there have been rumours that a) we'll be trading out of the 5th pick, b) drafting Kellen Winslow or c) drafting Sean Taylor.

That clears it up a lot doesn't it?!

[Defensewins]

Let the rumor games begin. The Redskins in an attempt to gauge the worth of the #5 pick, probably are resorting to the rumor game. This in order to scare a team that is high on a certain player to inquire about trading up. There will be many more rumors right up to the moment the Redskins make their selection or trade the #5 pick.

[ChounsMan]

Rumors, are what they are... rumors...

This is just part of the game.

[cpayne5]

I would love to have a frightening offense...

[Redskins8588]

I doubt that the chargers are going to take a QB with there pick, I only belive this because they just traded there top reciever to the Fins. I look for them to pick a WR.

[NFLNetwork]

NO!! Taylor is the SURE guy!! Plus, more importantly, I question if Greg Wiliiams would've come to DC is he knew champ would be traded. Gibbs owes Williams at least one star guy this offseason since they lost out on Kearse.

[Daseal]

I'd take either one, I'm having trouble picking favorites atm.

[azskinsfan2]

The staff is just trying to keep other teams wondering what the heck we're up to. We really can't go wrong with Winslow or Taylor. I still think we could trade down a few picks and still get Winslow and maybe another pick to add to it. All this is part of the fre draft head games!!!!

[offiss]

Nobody really know's what were doing which is good, do everything you can to force a team to trade with you, if you let them know or you have a really glaring weakness they can gauge thier pick, but right now we can go in to many different direction's, some team is going to panic and trade up with us but it may not be until we are on the clock.

[beg8878]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I'd take either one, I'm having trouble picking favorites atm.

Couldn't agree more....I will be happy with either one and it is nice knowing that we can get one of them if we want.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

Originally Posted by NFLNetwork

NO!! Taylor is the SURE guy!! Plus, more importantly, I question if Greg Wiliiams would've come to DC is he knew champ would be traded. Gibbs owes Williams at least one star guy this offseason since they lost out on Kearse.

before Williams signed on, there was already a very good chance Champ wasn't gonna be on the team next year, and he didn't have big name cornerbacks when he started in Buffalo so why would he feel he needs them this time?

I keep on changing my mind on who I'd rather draft cuz a "frightening offense" sounds pretty awesome, but w/o champ and an in division foe picking up a highly talented WR makes me kinda want to draft Taylor. either way we r stronger on one side of the ball.

[offiss]

It's a pretty interesting scenerio with gibb's relationship with winslow senior, I had forgotten they were together in san diego, perhap's gibb's is envisioning the same kind of role for jr. that he used in san diego with sr., it will be interesting how that tie play's out.

[Ghost]

They're so weak on the DL ... still ... I don't see how they can justify drafting a safety or TE unless they have a plan to sign some people after June 1.

[AnonEmouse]

If we build the secondary and LB's this year, with a half decent line, we should be OK. If we concentrate on the line and are weak in the secondary, then we'll get toasted.

I can see 1 or 2 pick up's post 1st June, so maybe we'll be fine, but we must draft either Winslow or Taylor IMHO (Taylor please), cuz I think we need a young impact player.