Redskins Draft Needs

Now that it is virtually certain that the Redskins will take Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III with their second round draft pick, the question remains what needs will they try to fulfill in the later rounds.  

The Skins used free agency to sign wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan and they used the franchise tag to retain tight end Fred Davis.  So there are less needs for those positions.  Instead they need to shore up the offensive line.  

Filling Holes on the Offensive Line

Options at tackle in the third-round range figure to include Oklahoma’s Donald Stephenson, California’s Mitchell Schwartz, Iowa State’s Kelechi Osemele and Jeff Allen of Illinois.

Another lineman on the Redskins’ radar seems to be Virginia Tech’s Jaymes Brooks, a mid- to late-round prospect who played guard in the Hokies’ zone-blocking scheme but is believed to have the ability also to play center. 

Picking up Safeties and Cornerbacks

On the defensive side of the ball, the Skins need to be stronger at the safety and cornerback positions.  The team, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, has had contact with Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas, a projected mid-round player. Thomas last season intercepted six passes, which ranked sixth nationally.

Other safeties expected to be available in the third through fifth rounds include Antonio Allen of South Carolina, Michigan State’s Trenton Robinson, Aaron Henry of Wisconsin and Janzen Jackson of McNeese State.

Talented corners are likely to be available for the Redskins, who have a third-round pick, two fourth-rounders, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh. But the question for a team that also has needs at other positions is how long can they afford to wait before taking one.

One third- or fourth-round option could be Arizona State’s Omar Bolden. He established himself as one of college football’s top corners in 2010 after he earned all-Pacific-12 Conference first-team honors. He missed last season with a torn ACL.

Bolden, fully recovered, clocked a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at his school’s pro day last month and possesses the talent of a higher-round pick. But because of his injury history, he isn’t expected to hear his name called until the middle of the draft.

Oklahoma’s Jamell Fleming, Furman’s Ryan Steed, West Virginia’s Keith Tandy, Iowa State’s Leonard Johnson and Texas A&M’s Coryell Judie also lead a group of cornerbacks projected for selection in the middle rounds.

It should be an exciting draft and hopefully these changes can help end the Redskins woeful record under coach Mike Shanahan.