Mock Draft: Washington Redskins

The Redskins have holes to fill at multiple positions, but the most glaring needs are at DE,OL,WR, & DB.

Defensive End:

The Skins have had a glaring weakness at the Defensive End position since the end of the first Gibbs era and last Championship winning season. The team has found ways of generating a pass rush over the years by finding and utilizing the talents of more of its back seven players such as Ken Harvey.

Is it any coincidence that the team has basically wandered through the desert on defense for years and neglected what was a framework of so many playoff title runs? The Redskins had book ends along the line in Mann and Manley that could generate pressure with a run stuffing tackle named Butz that could also gain pressure. The team had an excellent cover corner and now HOF corner in Green. Sprinkle in some great role players and character players that understood the game and team concept of winning as they were platooned and substituted to give the team the best chance to win and you had a great defense.

Fans can look no further than the NFC East Rival NY Giants Defense that stymied the Pats high octane offensive machine by applying pressure from the front four. Since the Redskins last title the team has mainly relied on its back seven and consequently had many highs and low as its weaknesses have been exploited by better offenses. Understanding that in all sports that teams want the most talented players to handle the ball the same could be said for defense in the NFL. The End position has the opportunity to stop the ball and take the ball away from the opposition on more plays than any other position. It begins and ends up front.

Potential Candidates:

There are five touted DE's in this year's draft: Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, Derek Harvey, Philip Merling, and Calais Campbell. It's possible that one of these five could be available when the Redskins pick, but in this mock draft all five are off the board. It's reported on CBS DE's that Calais Campbell's 40 time is slow and stock may be slipping. The first two in the list above are certainly expected to be gone in the top ten.

A DE would certainly help a team that suffered a huge loss in Taylor's position and both Rogers and McIntosh's injuries. Carter is undersized and should play exclusively on passing downs to remain fresh with Daniels (when healthy) and Evans playing on non obvious passing downs with Carter and Wilson coming in as specialists. The rotation would keep the players fresh and allow the premiere pass rushers on the team more of a free reign.

Wide Receiver:

The team lacks a big strong go over the middle receiver to enable Moss and Randel El to do what they do best and make plays down the field. This year's crop of receivers lacks the elite receiver like Calvin Johnson. Receivers take time to develop and usually it's three years before the good ones shine. Drafting a receiver is a flashy and often risky pick when players are asked to step in and produce immediately when the success rate is often low. The two starting receivers were plucked in free agency from other teams. This should say something about filling the position.

Potential Candidates:

The top listed receivers that could be available include Limas Sweed, DeSean Jackson, and Malcolm Kelly. It will be hard for the Skins to go against the sexy and flashy historical propensity to make a splash in every facet of player personnel moves and go with a position that can play now and in the future.

Defensive Backs:

The Redskins could use another cover corner since Springs is getting older and has had some injuries the past couple of seasons. Rogers may not be ready to start the season and is a better zone corner than cover corner. The loss of Taylor also hurts the Skins. Drafting a safety to replace Taylor ultimately doesn't help improve the team as a whole because there isn't another Taylor available in the draft.

Potential Candidates:

Kenny Phillips (S, Miami) and Brandon Flowers (CB, Va Tech) may both be available when the Skins pick. The top corners will most likely already be off the board as they are in this mock draft.

Inside Line Backer:

With Fletcher approaching his mid 30's, Rocky recovering from surgery, and the most under rated LB in the NFL Washington suffering some nagging injuries, the Redskins need to bolster their LB position.

Potential Candidate:

Jerod Mayo would be an excellent addition to the defense as he can play both the inside and middle line backer positions. His combination of speed and strength would provide a coach's dream with regard to schemes as it relates to Mayo's versatility.

Offensive Line:

It's been well documented in articles in the area that the offensive line is thirty and over. Recently the line has had several injuries freak or otherwise. Redskin's fans need look no further than the days before Jansen and Samuels when Elewonibi and Pourdanish were starting OL.

Kendall filled in nicely to replace Dockery with more steady play, but the line could use a younger more athletic player along the line. For much of the 80's the offensive line was the trademark of play in Washington. Ensuring that the line doesn't fall apart all at once is a primary area of concern. Adding some solid young depth would be welcomed.

Potential Candidates:

Most of the top tackles will be off the board as they are in our mock draft, but a player who is on the rise (as reported on many web sites) and highly touted is Brenden Albert a Guard from UVA. He also has the versatility to play tackle in the NFL in some minds. He would be an ideal replacement for Kendall and push back the veteran to create better depth at the position. Samuels has broken in countless players at guard. It would be wise for the Skins to move Thomas, possibly the best run pulling lineman, next to Samuels to create a better balance along the line for running plays and Albert next to Jansen. Filling the rest of the line with other drafted and undrafted rookies, free agents, and current players would create better depth at the position with Heyer being the only real lock.

Solidifying the offensive line for future years is essential to defining and creating a successful and winning team. It's the gaping holes for a RB and wall in front of the QB that allow an offense to run smoothly. It's not the glamorous and flashy pick, but it's difficult to win if no one does the dirty work necessary for a team to win. It's these players that allow the skill players to shine.

21st Pick: Brenden Albert, OG Virginia.

The pick really came down to Mayo and Albert. Ideally if the Skins would be able to procure three linemen (two on one side of the ball and one on the other side of the ball) and either a WR or CB with their four picks in the first three rounds they would fills some glaring needs. It wouldn't be a surprise to this blogger if the Skins traded up in the second round using the compensatory draft pick or even draft a QB in the first few rounds. There's a lot of speculation about what the Skins will do, but can anyone really predict what Dan Snyder will do?

Dallas is now on the clock.