Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan knew well before this week’s NFL draft that they would be unequipped to fill many of the needs of the Washington Redskins. Leading up to the 2010 NFL draft the Redskins front office made moves to lessen the impact of being the team with the lowest number of draft picks in the current year draft and brought in players that can help them “remake” the 4-12 Washington Redskins of 2009.
In the month leading up to the NFL’s yearly meeting at Radio City Music Hall, the Allen Shanahan team signed veterans that can help the Redskins be competitive as they install new schemes on both sides of the line of scrimmage, these veterans include quarterback Rex Grossman, defensive lineman Greg Peterson, punter Josh Bidwell, cornerback Phillip Buchanon and running back Willie Parker.
In a move no one saw coming, the Redskins acquired a veteran quarterback that not only is a upgrade over Jason Campbell but a signal caller that is fully aware of the ins and outs of all of the Redskins divisional rivals, when they traded for Donovan McNabb just before the start of the teams first mini- camp. Running back Ryan Torain, defensive tackle Howard Green, and wide receivers Roydell Williams and Marques Hagans were added to the Redskins roster after being invited and participating in the mini-camp. The next day the Redskins obtained defensive lineman Adam Carriker simply by swapping places in the draft order in rounds five and seven with the St. Louis Rams.
As the draft approached Shanahan and Allen had less than the inherited empty coffers they had started with. With the NFL’s new format the Redskins would select within the first hour of the draft before sitting out the rest of the evening and all of the next day. They made their final three picks on the last day. With the fourth pick in the draft the Redskins decided not to draft Russell Okung and selected the athletic offensive tackle from Oklahoma Trent Williams. Williams ( 6’5” 315 lbs) which gives the team the agile athlete needed to play left tackle in their zone-based blocking scheme, but he may be better fit as a right tackle. Williams is an intense run blocker and has started at both tackle spots and center during his collegiate career.
On Saturday the Redskins selected LSU linebacker Perry Riley, taking him over offensive tackle Bruce Campbell from Maryland with their fourth round pick. Riley (6’1” 239 lbs) has adequate size and athleticism and could be the versatile player needed at one of the inside linebacker spots in the Redskins new 3-4 scheme. In the sixth round, tight end Dennis Morris was selected with the 174th pick. Morris (6’2” 265 lbs) He's a blocking tight end that will be the lead blocker in the zone running scheme as he makes the switch to full back.
The seventh round was the Redskins most active round of the 2010 Draft. UCLA wide receiver Terrence Austin can potentially earn a roster spot if he shines as a slot receiver or returner in training camp after being selected with the 219th pick. With pick numbers 229 and 231 they re-addressed the offensive line by selecting New Mexico center Erik Cook and West Virginia offensive tackle Selvish Caspers.
For their first time out Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan did ok. You can’t call it a great draft because that’s something the Redskins just pull off. When fans review and rate the Washington Redskins 2010 NFL draft haul some will insist on including Donovan McNabb as the teams second round pick at #37 and Jeremy Jarmon as the team’s third rounder pick #68/69. I would have to push to have the Carriker deal included. As stated earlier the Redskins went into the draft with only four picks yet they drafted three offensive linemen, a TE, a linebacker and a wide receiver.
By moving down 28 spots in the fifth round, from pick # 135 to pick #163 and up three in the seventh round from pick #211 to pick #208, the Redskins acquired Carriker and on Saturday they doubled up both picks involved in the swap. The 208th pick was later traded to the New England Patriots for pick # 229 and #231. The #163 was traded in a deal with the Miami Dolphins that allowed the Redskins to re-acquire the sixth round pick (#174) given up in the Jason Taylor trade by the Redskins previous management team, and a seventh round pick (#219).
Selecting players that should be able to help right away, trading picks, not coming up on the short end of the deal and getting future picks for a player everyone knew you would cut if no takers, this just isn’t something that happens in Redskins war rooms.
ARTICLE TOOLS 
