02/28/09 – Senior Writer Scott Lilliston, Drafttek.com
Oops, they did it again! While no one will mistake Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, or his right-hand man Vinny Cerrato, for Britney Spears, Danny and Vinny hopped into the free agent pool like two fat kids trying to see who could make the biggest splash. With the signings of DT Albert Haynesworth, CB Deangelo Hall an OG Derrick Dockery on free agency’s opening day, it’s safe to say that they both win the cannonball contest and managed to get Aunt Sally’s plate of potato chips wet. (Hey! She should have been standing there!)
The Skins surprised me, actually, with being able to keep Deangelo Hall. I know he’s a local guy but, heck, the guy went all the way to Oakland to get paid, there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t have gone elsewhere for a few more green fun-tickets. Turns out the Skins decided to overpay him for half a season’s body of work. They do see him as a player with a lot of potential at a position of need after jettisoning the oft-injured Shawn Springs so the need to sign him can be argued. They also used the potential signing of DT Albert Haynesworth to keep Hall in the fold.
The Hall deal could explode on the Skins, though, and the deal itself certainly didn’t make teams trying to sign, say Dominique Foxworth, happy as it upped the ante on what free agent corners are now expecting. The question is, can Washington’s new cast wreak as much havoc when the games begin as Vinny and Danny are in the free agent pool.
Earlier in the year, Drafttek.com received many e-mails from fans wondering how the highest positional team need could be set at linebacker. A study of how the Redskins have historically addressed certain positions, particularly the positions Cerrato has been successful in drafting, leads to the truth. You want to know the future? Sometimes you have to look to the past.
Historically, Cerrato has not really had much success drafting skill position players. He has been succesful at finding defensive backs, linebackers, tight ends and the occasional QB here and there in the draft. He believes in the “best player available” mantra and mostly because he doesn’t want to be caught reaching for a first round player that turns out to be a bust. Last year he knew he needed a wide receiver and, in fashion, he moved the Skins down and selected a few, three to be exact, pass catchers. His thought? Throw a handful of players at the position and one of them has to stick.
The Skins have historically done this in the trenches as well, only they get the handful of players through free agency and mid to late-round draft picks. There’s no shock that the Redskins boast one of the oldest offensive lines in the league. Dockery will help them get younger and is an upgrade over Pete Kendall. Will they draft an offensive lineman with the #13 pick overall? Don’t count on it.
I know what you o-line proponents are thinking…”but what if Alabama Offensive Tackle Andre Smith falls to #13?” Harken back to Cerrato’s philosophy. Smith’s issues off the field may hurt him, but Cerrato will be looking at other players. (I’ll throw out a scenario later that might make the Smith pick happen.) Mind you I’m not telling you this will be the right move. The tape on Smith shows him to be an absolute mauler, but I foresee that the Skins will stay true to form and try to find another offensive lineman with their 3rd round pick. Perhaps a Duke Robinson or someone similar makes it to them there. The one thing that is clear in this draft is that it is chock full of offensive line prospects.
The Haynesworth signing ensures that the Skins won’t be going with a defensive tackle in the 2009 draft and I think they see the injury to Jason Taylor from last year as a reason to give him a second try to see what he can do when he’s healthy. They really want to see what he can do next to Haynesworth.
So…where does that leave us boys and girls? You got it…the linebacking corp. Marcus Washington is gone and H.B. Blades is not the answer at the Will backer spot. London Fletcher is an animal but is aging and may only have a year or two left. Sam backer, Rocky McIntosh came off a serious knee injury in 2007 to play fairly well in 2008. He should remain there. There is talk of the Skins diving back into the free agent pool (this time Cerrato will do a “flying squirrel” to see if he can get Uncle Harolds tupee wet) and pick up LB Angelo Crowell from the Bills. This seems unlikely however as the Bills have trimmed their roster and have room to sign him if they want him.
Prediction time…where the rubber meets the road. I think Snyder and the V-man have 3 prospects in mind at the #13 spot. Word out of the Senior Bowl was that Cerrato was highly enamored with USC MLB, Rey Maualuga. At the scouting combine, he apparently was smitten with UT DE/OLB, Brian Orakpo and I think Cerrato would take the much maligned Andre Smith if he falls AND Maualuga and Orakpo are gone. If all three are gone, look for the braintrust in DC to try to trade back and land a guy like James Laurinaitis or Brian Cushing. Welcome to the offseason guys and gals…try not to get wet.
Like this article? Hate it? Send comments to slilliston@drafttek.com or Redskins@drafttek.com. Don’t forget to check out the online draft simulator to see how your own mock draft might shake out!
Rocky plays the Weakside LB, not the SAM. Washington played SAM, and he’s gone. If you’re going to write an article about the Skins’ players, at least know what position they play.
And for Drafttek to have ILB as a higher priority than SAM is just ridiculous. London Fletcher may be old, but at least we HAVE a starter at MLB. Who is the starter at SAM???? There is no one on the roster right now to be a legit full time starter. SAM should be the highest LB priority.
Comment by Kevin — February 28, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
Wheres the what if scenario for the redskins trading back, its a no brainer that the detroit lions would be a great trade partner
if they go QB then OT
Comment by Michael Sheridan — March 3, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
Interesting article and hey …minor opps on the LB issue. I will note that at 13 none of the players you mention will be available. Those three are the best by far MLB, DE/OLB and the 2nd best OT. Besides 2 QBs, 1 WR and a HB or CB. Those will be the next players likely taken. I imagine all may be gone by pick 10. So I agree history says the skins go OL with their 3rd pick and use the number one on an impact Defensive player. And 2 impact players are the run stuffing DE Jarron Gilbert who has some pass rushing ability in the mold of a younger Phillip Daniels and also the Strong side LB to replace Washington. Clint Sintim is simply put a harder hitting Washington clone if ever there was one. But Clint may be gone in the late 1st round and certainly by the very early 2nd so the Skins must use any late pick they trade down for in round one on Clint and hope they can couple whatever else they get in trade with a 2nd or 3rd in the 2010 draft and move up to land Gilbert. If so they have two solid YOUNG play makers in the mold of Daniels and Washington and a bright future for Washington’s D. Then the Skin’s will focus hard on QB. The best QB may be Zorn’s pick from last year’s draft. Colt Brennan who thinks quickly on his feet ..reads better than Campbell and has almost as strong an arm. A real sleeper pick in the mold of Brady. Behind him they have a insurance in Collins who performed well in the past. Campbell needs a strong 2009 to get resigned.
Comment by Capt Phil Martin — March 3, 2009 @ 10:29 pm