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2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The best part of the Redskins draft was my top rated defensive end, Orakpo, falling to them in round.  However, "word on the street" is that they may be moving him to outside linebacker.  Why?  After Orakpo the Redskins draft didn't excite me and neither did their group of college street free agents.

Late note - the Redskins added Jarmon Jeremy is the supplemental draft.  He has the potential to be a solid all around defensive end, but will not be a "put it in the bank" double-digit sacker.

DRAFT PICKS

Orakpo was my number one defensive end in the draft.  He is strong, fast, quick and athletic.  He is also big enough to be a three-down end.  Why the Redskins want to move him to linebacker in their 3-4 defense confounds me.  Yes, he is athletic enough to cover tight ends, but why would you want to use him in that role.  Let him be a dominate force at end.

Barnes is a nice player and was fine value in round three.  He has good size and speed and tremendous quickness and athleticism.  He will develop into a good starting cornerback.  While I cannot fault this selection, I would have gone with defensive tackle Roy Miller, even with the signing of Haynesworth and resigning of Griffin.  Miller would have provided good depth and a future star to plug in next to Haynesworth.

Glenn and Henson were reaches.  I wouldn't be surprised if both are cut.  If they make the team they will be nothing more than special teams players.  The Redskins would have been better off drafting running back Javon Ringer in round five as Portis' eventual replacement and looking at linebackers Follett and/or Beckwith in the later rounds of the draft.

If the Redskins selected Miller in round three, my selection would have been cornerback Lankster or Mickens here.  Keeping Barnes in round three (which was fine), I liked David Johnson as a blocker and Camerron Morrash better as a receiver at this spot.  Williams is another player who might not make the team.

What does drafting Mitchell say about the Redskins faith in Kelly?  That maybe he doesn't have the speed to get on the field consistently.  Mitchell has good height and NFL speed, but questionable hands.  As a receiver, Tiquan Underwood would have been my pick.  However, this could have been the spot for middle linebacker Beckwith, an underrated prospect who did not get drafted. 

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Burley has quickness and athleticism but needs work.  He is a candidate for the Redskins' development squad.

Daniel had a rough post-season, but is worth a look in camp.  I like Colt Brennan as a young quarterback much better than Daniel so he's playing for a spot on Washington's development squad.

Holmes could surprise in camp.  He has plus cover skills for a safety so could have value in nickel and dime defenses as well as being a plus on special teams.

Walker is better against the run than the pass.  If he can keep his quickness as he adds weight he could develop into a reliable backup.

Edwin Williams is a fundamentally sound football player who did not work out well.  His play in preseason games will determine if he sticks around on the development squad.

Jaison Williams is a similar athlete with a build similar to Marko Mitchell.  As a second big target in camp, is this further evidence of the Redskins concern regarding Kelly's playing speed?

The Redskins brought in a lot of players but outside of Thomas, they valued their players more than me.  Needless to say I would have gone in many different directions.  In fact, I don't see a lot of difference in some of their college street free agents from some of their later draft picks, and they didn't have a great college street free agent signing period.  While my analysis will look bad initially since many will make the team, in a few years Redskin fans will see the missed opportunities and that this was not a particularly good draft.

DRAFT PICKS

Thomas was my top rated receiver, although not my favorite.  His production and workout proved to show the least downside in relation top his upside, but I project he will not be the best receiver to come out of this draft.  He will be a solid player, however.  Thomas has good size, hands and speed.  He is more fast than quick but will give some needed size to the Redskins receiving corps.

Fred Davis started the draft process as a potential first round pick and ended up getting a third round grade from me.  He looks a little stiff as a receiver and didn't put up anywhere near the workout numbers I expected from him.   As a tight end, I like Cottam much better.  My pick would have been defensive end Campbell or possibly Groves as a pass rush specialist.  Then I would have grabbed Cottam with my next selection in round two.

Kelly is a real risk.  He looks good on tape but has the size/numbers ratio of many of the big receivers who have not panned out in the NFL.  As mentioned earlier I would have gone Cottam here after grabbing a defensive end earlier.  If I wanted another receiver here, I would have gone Hawkins, who will be a star while Kelly at best will be functional.

Rinehart has a chance, a good chance, to be a solid, versatile backup lineman.  Selecting him in round three was too high.  If the Redskins wanted him, he would have, most likely, been available a round later and that is where I would have grabbed him.  If I was the Redskins GM I would have come away with Campbell or Groves, Cottam and Hawkins with picks 48, 51 and 96.

Tryon is an undersized corner who is strong and fast, but not particularly quick.  He is a special teams type who could fill in if an injury hit.  I had Scandrick, Wilhite and Bowman all rated more highly than Tryon.

Brooks was my top rated punter and was a nice selection by Washington.

Kareem Moore is a tough kid who will be a good special teams player.  However, Josh Barrett was available and is a player who I believe will be a very good starting strong safety in a couple of years.

Colt Brennan is worth a shot, I guess.  At one point he was viewed as a possible top quarterback prospect, but showed poor arm strength.  He will need time, but could develop into a solid backup.  Then again, it wouldn't surprise me if Canada is in his future.

Jackson did not have a particularly productive college career.  While the Skins need an end, I'm not sure Jackson will even make the team.

Based on some of Washington's other picks, Horton was golden.  Horton was productive in college and has the ability to be a quality sub and solid special teams player.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Clark looks the part and has had good moments, but may not have the foot speed to transition well to the NFL.  Maybe a year of work on the practice squad will help. 

Crummy is a smart football player.  Coming off a broken leg, Crummy could be stashed on the injured list next year.  He has a shot to be a solid backup and was a good signing by the Redskins.

Gatewood will get a look as a pass rushing defensive end.  I actually like his chances a little more than Jackson's chances.  He is very quick for his his size.

Richardson is a physical corner who could give Tryon a run for his money for a roster spot.

Smith got his share of sacks at Oregon State, but his workout numbers put into question his ability to transfer those skills to the NFL.  He should get a good look in camp, however.

B-

2005 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

The Redskins had a solid draft.  Rogers is as good as Rolle and  Jones.  In fact, he could end up the best corner in the draft, although I believe Rolle will capture that honor.  Rogers is fast, quick, a very good athlete, and has excellent cover skills. While I had a second round grade on Campbell, he has tremendous potential.  He has it all, a great arm, a good athlete, and is a smart player.  However, I like Ramsey.  This could be a Brees-Rivers situation.  White was a reach in round four.  His best asset as a fullback is his running.  That doesn't translate well to h-back. McCune may have been the steal of the draft.  He is fast, strong, instinctive, and  coachable.  If not this year, he will be a starter next year, and not just an adequate starter, a top starter.  McCune was a great pick.  Newberry is a former fullback who shows good potential as a weak-side linebacker, but is currently behind Arrington and Holdman.  He will have to be a special teams standout to stick.  Broughton is an interesting prospect.  He is more of a traditional Gibbs runner than Portis.  He has good (not great) speed, and is very strong.  Look for him to beat out Rock Cartwright as the Redskins' number three running back.

In terms of  college street free agent signings, no one jumps out but guards Jon Alston, and Adrian Gonzalez have a chance because of the lack of experienced depth at that position

C-

2004 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

D+

2003 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

Thye

GRADE : A

Ramsey is the best QB on the Redskins roster.  He should become the starter before the year is over and may end up having the bets year of all rookie QBs.  Needless to say, excellent pick.  Betts helped himself in the offseason.  He played well in the Senior Bowl showing he could catch as well as run and posted sub-4.5 forty times in private workouts.  Should be a more than capable back-up to Davis who could push him in a couple of years (could be similar situation to the Jets with martin and Jordan).  Bauman was another great pick.  This team has two excellent starting CBs (Bailey and Smoot).  Bauman does not have the size to start full-time but is a talented, cocky smaller corner who could, in his own right, be the equivalent of a shut down corner for quick slot receivers.  Bauman is a limited player but is on the right team and should be a major contributor.  Russell was a flat out steal in round three.  he could end up being this draft's Chris Chambers.  Great pick and perfect system in which to showcase his skills.  Lott was another good pick, although at a position of strength for the Redskins.  He has a better upside than many of the corners drafted ahead of him .  He was moved between safety and corner in college and that hindered his development.  But he has the skills to become a quality CB in the NFL.  TE Royal is another player who could surprise.  TE is not a position featured in the new Redskin offense.  But Royal has the size and hands to make the occasional catches that could come his way.  OT Coleman has third round talent but poor technique.  Technique can be taught.  Cartwright is an undersized fullback who can catch the ball and has good speed.

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