Kevin Basped, DE, Nevada
Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois
Eric Berry, DB Tennessee
Jahvid Best, RB California
Navorro Bowman, LB Penn State
Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma
Dezmon Briscoe, WR Kansas
Antonio Brown, WR Central Michigan
Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State
Bryan Bulaga, T Iowa
Morgan Burnett, DB Georgia Tech
Bruce Campbell, T Maryland
Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame
Rennie Curran, LB Georgia
Anthony Davis, T Rutgers
Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida
Jonathan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech
Dominique Franks, DB Oklahoma
Clifton Geathers, DE South Carolina
Thaddeus Gibson, DE Ohio State
Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma
Everson Griffen, DE Southern California
Rob Gronkowski, TE Arizona
Joe Haden, DB Florida
Aaron Hernandez, TE Florida
Kareem Jackson, DB Alabama
Chad Jones, DB Louisiana State
Reshad Jones, DB Georgia
Lynvall Joseph, DT East Carolina
Darius Marshall, RB Marshall
Ryan Mathews, RB Fresno State
Rolando McClain, LB Alabama
Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma
Joe McKnight, RB Southern California
Shawnbrey McNeal, RB Southern Methodist
Carlton Mitchell, WR South Florida
Joshua Moore, DB Kansas State
Derrick Morgan, DE Georgia Tech
Jerell Norton, DB Arkansas
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE South Florida
Maurkice Pouncey, C Florida
Brian Price, DT UCLA
Dennis Rogan, DB Tennessee
Jevan Snead, QB Mississippi
Amari Spievey, DB Iowa
Golden Tate, WR Notre Dame
Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech
Earl Thomas, DB Texas
Donovan Warren, DB Michigan
Damian Williams, WR Southern California
Mike Williams, WR Syracuse
Jason Worilds, DE Virginia Tech
Major Wright, DB Florida

At offensive tackle, those two players are Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and Anthony Davis of Rutgers. Okung might be the best pass blocker in the nation, using tremendous balance and footwork in conjunction with long arms and his 6′8″ frame. He also plays nasty as a run blocker, and is sound technically in that area as well. Davis came out early as a junior for this draft, and has the potential to be an extremely physical tackle at the next level. He’s 6′5″, 330 lbs, and moves well for his size. While his size and strength will be an asset, he will need to show more consistency and better technique to be an elite player in the NFL.

The quarterbacks who could draw the Redskins’ interest in the first round are Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame. Bradford is a Heisman winner, who has superior accuracy and touch.  It is believed that he very well could have been the number one pick last draft had he come out early. By staying  at Oklahoma for his senior year he may have shot himself in the foot. He injured his throwing shoulder not once, but twice last season, and his arm strength was already average. Bradford is also somewhat difficult to evaluate because Oklahoma was such a talented offense, with open receivers everywhere and great pass protection.

Clausen’s stock is rising and he could very well be the number one quarterback on most teams’ draft board when it’s all said and done. He shows great accuracy and intelligence, with sufficient mobility and arm strength. His touch on deep passes is also very impressive. Playing in Charlie Weis’ pro-style system at Notre Dame will give him a distinct advantage over Bradford, who played in a spread offense. That knowledge, along with his competitiveness, could make a good impression in interview sessions at the combine. He will not throw at the combine however, due to a foot injury. He and Bradford will hold private workouts that could determine which of them is selected first, being that they are very closely rated at the moment.

Whichever of these positions isn’t addressed in the first round will very likely be addressed in the second, because offensive tackle is the biggest need position and Shanahan has reportedly stated that he will select a quarterback at some point in the first two rounds. However, they could always select a guard, a runningback, or a defensive back in the second round. Also, if the Skins fall in love with some of the elite players in this draft, such as defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy, or Tennessee safety Eric Berry, they make take such a player if they somehow fall to pick number four.

The NFL draft is a fluid situation, and the NFL combine will shake up a lot of things. Keep an eye out for the Combine Recap in the blogs, as well as mock drafts and opinion pieces. Who knows how much will change between now and April.

I thought it might be useful to post the Trade Value Chart that Scott Wright has posted on his great draft site. This chart isn’t gospel, but it will give a good idea of what various picks are worth on draft day.

Value Chart

So, the topic is moving to the draft. The Redskins have the 4th pick. There will be several exceptionally talented players availible at that point.

At the moment, the “pros”, led by Mel Kiper, seem to be betting that the Redskins will select a quarterback. Redskins fans, on the other hand, seem to be hoping for a focus on the offensive line, and most want Okung, if he’s still there.

The thinking among fans is, the offensive line, as it currently exists, is a hazard to the career of any young, unproven quarterback. We all remember what happened to young Patrick Ramsey a few years ago… and we have all seen the incredible battering that has been absorbed by Jason Campbell… The best left tackle in the draft seems a no brainer.

On the other hand, a question my son asked me tonight has stuck in my head… “If you knew that Joe Montana was in this draft… wouldn’t you take him?” He points out that Shanahan is not going to force a new quarterback to play before he’s ready… and that he knows how to put together an offensive line, as well.

So I’m reassured… the Redskins could take the best availible quarterback, and it would not be the end of the world. Kiper’s betting on Bradford, at the moment… worse things could happen…

Hmmmm… So, let’s continue on that line of thought. The Redskins are not in a situation where they can afford to make a mistake with a pick of this weight. They must select a player who will be highly successful, and, if possible, make a strong impact on the game… as they did with the selection of Brian Orakpo.

Perhaps the most impressive defensive line talent of the decade (according to some analysts) is availible in this draft. If Suh is, by some miracle, there at #4, what do you do? “Impossible”, you say? Well, who thought that we’d have a shot at Orakpo last year? And… to paraphrase my very wise son, once again, “If you knew you had a shot at Bruce Smith, wouldn’t you take him?” Yes, I know Smith was an end… use your imagination…

I’m certain that in that case, there would be an effort to trade down… the value of this player is incredible, and may be worth quite a price… It’s very likely that a bidding war could develop. But, what if there are no takers?

I think you have to make that selection! This is a man whom, I believe, will have a huge impact on the game. I mean, imagine Albert Haynesworth with a motor. You take him.

Oh, but don’t worry… Suh won’t make it past the second pick…

Hail!

If you aren’t a Maryland fan, you may or may not have heard of this kid, so for reference, feel free to ask Cal’s Jahvid Best.

For those of those unfamiliar with this hit, here’s a youtube video that will show you what I mean: (warning: if you have a weak stomach, you may want to look away for the last 10 seconds or so)

That was the hit of the season. Man.

Our friends at redlasso also posted a clip from Fox 5 here in DC about Barnes.

The rest of the second day of the draft was fairly quiet for the ‘Skins. They drafted:

• Fifth Round, #158: Cody Glenn, LB, Nebraska
• Fifth Round, #186: Robert Henson, LB, TCU
• Sixth Round, #221: Eddie Williams, TE/FB, Idaho
• Seventh Round, #243: Marko Mitchell, WR, Nevada

-The way the draft will shake out, the Skins should be looking at one of four players at pick 13, should they stay there. Penn State DE  Aaron Maybin, Ole Miss OT Michael Oher, Tennessee DE Robert Ayers, and USC OLB Brian Cushing should go around that time and address Redskin need areas. Maybin has an explosive first step, but has bad timed speed and may be undersized to play DE in the NFL. Oher is very athletic for an OT, but lacks consistency. Ayers is a versatile defensive-end who lacks elite athleticism. Cushing is an instinctive and powerful OLB, but has questionable straight-line speed.

- Who do I want the Redskins to draft? Oher or Cushing. I don’t view Maybin or Ayers as complete DE’s. Oher has the legs to set in pass protection and drive in the run game. He also uses his arms well, although he has mediocre upper body strength for the position. That can always be worked on. Cushing will be an ideal 4-3 OLB. He will fill with good quickness and power in the run game, and may provide a spark off the edge rushing the passer. He shouldn’t have that many issues in coverage with the agility he showed at USC and at the combine.

- Look for the Redskins to address positions of need in the middle rounds that they didn’t address in the first. In the later rounds, it would not kill them to consider a kicker, as that has been a fly in the ointment here for a long time. Yes, they have two players competing for the job, but neither are any good. After striking out with Durant Brooks last year, I don’t think they’ll go after a punter.

Many would say the Redskins biggest need is at Offensive Tackle, but the highest rated Tackles could all be gone by their first pick. Jason Smith of Baylor, Eugene Monroe of Virginia, and Andre Smith of Alabama could very possibly be selected before pick #13.

The Redskins also have glaring holes at Defensive End and Outside Linebacker. H.B. Blades, who is really a MLB, has been playing SAM OLB and is the best option there at the moment. The release of DE Jason Taylor leaves the ‘Skins with only unproven players and aging veterans at DE, aside from Andre Carter.  Unfortunately, this draft offers few elite options at DE or OLB as far as 4-3 defenses are concerned.  Brian Orakpo of Texas, possibly the best DE in the draft, will be gone. As will talented Wake Forest OLB Aaron Curry. These facts suggest it may be a good idea for the Redskins to trade back.

With the exception of  LSU DE Tyson Jackson, USC OLB’s Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews, and Ole Miss OT Michael Oher, there are not many players within the Skins’ need areas worth drafting at pick #13. It is quite debatable whether those players are even worth that pick, and many scouts would argue that they are not. Jackson is very stout against the run, but lacks the pass rush ability many look for in a DE. Cushing is very strong and agile at LB, but he does not have elite straight-line speed and has injury concerns. Matthews, who played DE at USC, did well at the combine, but was a project in college and was not extremely dominant at that level. Oher is a great Offensive Tackle at times, but is inconsistent and lacks elite athleticism.

In addition, there are many suitable players for the Redskins farther back in the first round, if they were able to swing a trade. At Offensive Tackle, there are tough players like Eben Britton of Arizona, or possibly Oher, if he falls. It is also likely that one of the Cushing-Matthews combo will be there in the later half of the first round. At DE, Tennessee’s Robert Ayers is a possibility. He had a strong season, and impressed scouts in the Senior Bowl. Other options include explosive USC MLB Rey Maualuga, who could feasibly play outside, or the ‘Skins could take a WR. Injuries have plagued WR Malcolm Kelly, who was taken in the second round last year. WR Devin Thomas, also a 2nd rounder from last year, has not shown he will be a viable option at receiver either. If the skins don’t see anything they like at bigger need areas, don’t be surprised if they select former Terp speedster Darrius Heyward-Bey, versatile Florida WR Percy Harvin, or the very tough Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina.  Of course, all of this is based upon a trade actually happening.

It is quite possible USC QB Mark Sanchez will be available, which could spark a trade from someone, as draft history has shown. If a trade does not occur, look for the Redskins to take one of the aforementioned players that they feel is most deserving of a pick that high.

Jason Smith- The Baylor OT may have solidified himself as the top tackle prospect.  He did 33 reps of 225 lbs. on the bench, ten more than Eugene Monroe. Smith also measured similarly to Monroe, coming in at 6′ 5″, 309 lbs. Monroe has longer arms, but the difference is very small.

Mark Sanchez- Any time he gets to throw he is going to help himself. The USC QB showed above-average accuracy, great touch, and decent arm strength in his throwing session. It is clear he can make all the throws, and he has good measurables at the position (6′2″, 227 lbs.). The only questions about him still revolve around his lack of starting experience in college. It also didn’t hurt that Stafford chose not to throw at the combine.

Aaron Curry- Curry was already an elite prospect, so the OLB out of Wake Forest had to have a really special showing to improve his draft stock. He did. He beat all linebackers in 40-yard dash time (4.56 seconds) and the broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches).  He also tied for first in the vertical jump (37 inches). He showed amazing agility in the position-specific drills, and showed up at a ripped 254 lbs.

Clay Matthews- He performed the best out of the talented USC LB’s at the combine. He ran a better 40 than Cushing, the other highly-touted Trojan OLB , and showed fluid hips in drills. Clay was on the first-round bubble before the combine, like the next person on the list, but they have both tentatively solidified a round one selection.

Darrius Heyward-Bey- The Terp WR ran a blazing 4.3 40, leaving fellow speedsters Percy Harvin and Jeremy Maclin in the dust. Heyward-Bey also has a more prototypical build at the position than those players. He still has questionable fundamentals and college production, but his speed certainly warrants a mid or late first round selection.

The Bad:

Injuries- Players affected by injuries include Rey Maualuga, Brian Orakpo, Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin and Hakeem Nicks, just to name a few. Injuries prevented players from doing some or all of the drills, and in some cases may affect draft stock. Crabtree needs to prove he is ok at his individual workout.

Runningbacks- Knowshon Moreno ran a 4.61 forty, Beanie Wells ran a 4.59, and LeSean McCoy had to skip out after battling the flu. These are not good times at all, especially considering what an amazing RB crop there was last year. Don’t expect any RB’s to go in the top 15, maybe even the top 20.

Cornerbacks- Malcolm Jenkins from OSU was the highest ranked, but he ran a 40 in the mid 4.5’s, meaning he will probably have to be moved to safety. He also didn’t impress anyone with his agility. Vontae Davis from Illiinois was probably the most impressive, and he ran a 4.49 forty. Let’s keep in mind that last years CB class averaged 4.45.

The Ugly:

Andre Smith- He went to the combine with intent to work out, than left early because he realized he was out of shape. Oh yeah, and he didn’t tell anyone he was leaving. All this coming after a bowl-game suspension. He better really impress at his individual workout, especially with the rising stock of the other first-round OT’s.

1. Detroit (0-16) Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia- As much as I’d like to put a defender here to help aid the pathetic Lions defense, the offense is pretty bad too. So when a rare arm like Stafford’s is available to help turn the franchise around, you take it. He has tremendous arm strength, good accuracy, and a clean over-the-top release.
2. St. Louis (2-14) Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia- The Rams need a left tackle, and Monroe will win out due to questions about Andre Smith’s quickness and Jason Smith’s experience. Monroe has had injury problems in the past, but stayed healthy all last year and looks primed to go high in the draft.
3. Kansas City (2-14) Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest- The Chiefs’ 30th ranked run defense would benefit greatly from adding Curry. He combines elite tackling ability with excellent pursuit, and the strength to shed blocks. Curry translates these skills to the pass rush, leading him to break up a lot of plays in the backfield.
4. Seattle (4-12) Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech- Seattle was a surprising 28th in Total Offense last season, and they literally found themselves signing WR’s off the street to fill the injury-riddled position on the depth chart. Yes, the defense was terrible too, but Crabtree’s skillset will be too much for them to pass up.
5. Cleveland (4-12) Everette Brown, DE, Florida State- Cleveland will undoubtedly want to address the paltry 17 sacks produced by their defense, which will lead them to select Brown. His fluid athleticism and pass-rush moves make him a prime candidate to be transformed into a 3-4 OLB at the next level.
6. Cincinnati (4-11-1) Andre Smith, OT, Alabama- He’s big, he dominates DE’s, and he’s physical in the open field. Heck, he even catches touchdown passes. The Bengals could plug Andre in at Right Tackle and never look back. He is the best run blocker in the draft.
7. Oakland (5-11) Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri- Oakland needs to add as many playmakers as possible to jumpstart their offense. Maclin may be the most explosive athlete in the draft, and will be a good addition to the young nucleus of skill players they hope to groom into winners. He is extremely dangerous in the open field, both on offense and in the return game.
8. Jacksonville (5-11) Jason Smith, OT, Baylor- Smith is the most athletic OT in the draft, and could develop into the best pass blocker with time. The former TE is making his way up everybody’s draft boards, and would be a nice fixture at LT for the Jaguars.
9. Green Bay (6-10) B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College- Green Bay gave up 132 yards per game on the ground last year, and could really use a run stuffer to help lower that number. Raji is a massive DT prospect, but is also athletic enough to get upfield in a 4-3 defense.
10. San Francisco (7-9) Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State- Like Everette Brown, Maybin will most likely be turned into a 3-4 DE, and San Francisco would love to see him there at pick 10. He is a monster coming off the edge, and also has the quickness to be an effective run stopper.
11. Buffalo (7-9) Brian Cushing, OLB, USC- The Bills were 22^nd in rush defense last year, something Cushing would certainly help with from the SAM linebacker position. He has excellent speed for his size, allowing him to make big hits and effectively rush the passer.
12. Denver (8-8) Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC- Denver’s defense is equally atrocious against the run and the pass, so why not draft the future leader of the defense? Maualuga can do it all at MLB, and has excellent physicality; which is something the rest of the defense could feed off of.
13. Washington (8-8) Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas- Is this the year the ‘skins address the defensive line? If O-sack-po is there, it may very well occur. While RT may be the biggest need, Orakpo could provide immediate pass rush help. He has freakish strength for his size, which he mixes with good quickness and moves. Theoretically, he could also play SAM linebacker.
14. New Orleans (8-8) Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State- Hey, a DB is off the board! Jenkins is a very balanced corner, who produced very well at the college level. He has good quickness and recovery speed, and is excellent in run support. New Orleans would be glad to add him to their struggling pass defense.
15. Houston (8-8) Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois- The Texans are far from stacked at CB, and may snag Davis with pick 15. Davis is very physical in man-to-man coverage, and has good recovery speed and fluidity for his size.
16. San Diego (8-8) Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU- Igor Olshansky is opting out of his contract, leaving the Chargers with a hole at DE. Jackson is very stout against the run, and will transition seamlessly to a 3-4 scheme. San Diego’s situation in the backfield could result in the first RB coming off the board here.
17. New York Jets (9-7) Mark Sanchez, QB, USC- Sanchez may benefit greatly from the Scouting Combine, but his lack of experience has him going to the Favre-less Jets at pick 17. Sanchez has a big-enough arm, with good accuracy and touch, but is inconsistent at times and may need some time to develop in the NFL.
18. Chicago (9-7) Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina- The Bears lack a physical presence at the WR position, something that Nicks would definitely bring to the table. He also runs crisp routes, adjusts to the ball well, and has great hands. His separation ability is the only real question.
19. Tampa Bay (9-7) Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss- Oher is a bit inconsistent at times, but possesses all the physical tools. Tampa could stretch for a QB, or have one fall to them. However, Oher would be a great value here.
20. Detroit – from Dallas (9-7) D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt- Though undersized, Moore is a tremendous athlete with a nose for the ball. He won’t win many jump balls, but he will cover tight and bat down a lot of passes.
21. Philadelphia (9-6-1) Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State- The Eagles would benefit from a physical RB to complement and provide depth for the oft-injured Brian Westbrook. Wells is an explosive North/South runner with good agility for his size.
22. Minnesota (10-6) Percy Harvin, WR, Florida- Harvin is explosive, and can be utilized as a WR, on special teams, or as a RB on a gadget play. Tarvaris Jackson can use all the help he can get, and Harvin is sure to keep opposing defenses off balance.
23. New England (11-5) James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State- He fits the New England tradition of smart, physical LB’s. His instincts and sure tackling will help the Patriots’ average run defense from last season.
24. Atlanta (11-5) Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois- English is an undersized college DE who projects as a SAM linebacker in the NFL. Scouts believe he can make the transition successfully, and he should be able to provide a much needed spark off the edge.
25. Miami (11-5) Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland- Heyward- Bey is a dangerous vertical receiver with blazing speed. He will need to polish his route running and ball skills, but he is an absolute burner in space.
26. Baltimore (11-5) Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia- With Heyward-Bey gone, the Ravens could focus on their questions at tailback. How healthy/productive is Willis McGahee going to be? Moreno’s quickness and toughness would be an excellent complement to FB Le’Ron McClain.
27. Indianapolis (12-4) Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss- Jerry is the most disruptive 4-3 DT in the draft, something that would greatly benefit the Colts’ run defense. I could also see them in the mix for a RB here.
28. Philadelphia – from Carolina (12-4) Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State- The first TE comes off the board. Philly could reach for a OT here, but Pettigrew provides great value at this pick. He is an excellent blocker who makes the tough catch in traffic.
29. New York Giants (12-4) Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia- The Giants could use an infusion of athleticism at OLB, so Sintim sounds good here. He has good bulk and speed, with sound tackling technique. His effort is somewhat inconsistent at times, which is a concern.
30. Tennessee (13-3) Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest- Smith is a solid cover corner, and would add some secondary depth to a pretty stacked defense. WR Kenny Britt is also a possibility here, but Smith is more deserving of a first round pick.
31. Arizona (9-7) Eben Britton, OT, Arizona- They could use an upgrade at LT, and perhaps Kurt Warner would come back if someone protected his blind side better. Britton, who already plays in Arizona, has very good footwork and quickness as a pass blocker.
32. Pittsburgh (12-4) Alex Mack, C, California- Mack is the best interior lineman in the draft. He has great awareness, quickness, and strength for a Center.