Updated Redskins Mock Draft 2013

2nd Round - Phillip Thomas - Strong Safety - Fresno State - 6'2" - 210 lbs. - I've changed my mind about taking Phillip Thomas in the 3rd. We want a playmaking Safety and that is exactly what Phillip Thomas is. He can be our starting Strong Safety for 2013 and that will allow us to release Meriweather who has been plagued by injury. I used to believe that Thomas would slip to the time that we pick in the 3rd round but I just don't see that happening anymore. Thomas is a talent that we simply cannot pass up. He hauled in 8 interceptions his Senior year and returned 3 of them for touchdowns. We need that kind of playmaking ability on defense. I also believe that the Redskins will pick up a Free Safety in Free Agency so whoever they pick up there can be paired up with Thomas. That would be a very dangerous Safety tandem. People will knock Thomas and say that he only played well because he plays in a small conference but I don't listen to that. If you can play football, then you can play football. Remember Alfred Morris? People knocked him all over the place because he came from a small conference and guess what? He finished 2nd in the league in rushing only behind Adrian Peterson. Not only do we want Thomas, he wants us! Thomas has been a Redskins fan since he was playing Nintendo 64 at 6 years old. He always played as the Redskins and imagined that he was actually on the team. Well, this April during the Draft, he could be hearing his name called in the 2nd Round by the Washington Redskins.

3rd Round - Blidi Wreh-Wilson - Cornerback - Connecticut - 6'1" - 192 lbs. - Since I believe that we will pick a Safety in the 2nd round then it makes sense to pick up a Corner in the 3rd. Wreh-Wilson could very well be a starter in this league and with a year or two of development could be a very great player. He will also have a good coach in Raheem Morris. He has good size for a corner and can cover pretty well. We already have Richard Crawford who has shown his stuff this season with an interception and a game winning punt-return. We also have Chase Minnifield coming back off of injured reserve and he was lighting it up in practice camp before he got injured. Why not add to that depth at corner? We want to build as much talent as possible underneath Wilson and Hall so we can have adequate replacements after they leave. If we do end up cutting Hall then Wreh-Wilson, Crawford, or Minnifield could all be starters if we needed them to be. He can also be a leader on this team because he is a good character guy and was voted a team captain at Connecticut.

4th Round - Jonathan Cyprien - Free Safety - Florida International - 6'0" - 209 lbs. - The Redskins better hope that everyone else passes on Cyprien by the time they pick in the 4th because this will be a steal. I used to have us taking a Linebacker at this spot in the draft but we can bring a lot of talent to our secondary with this pick and the other two previous picks. Cyprien plays at a school in the Sun Belt Conference and could fall under the radar for other teams. He has pretty good size and is a hard hitting Safety from what I have seen and is not afraid to get physical. Kind of like a LaRon Landry 2.0. If the Redskins end up not getting a legitimate starting Safety in Free Agency then Jonathan Cyprien and Phillip Thomas could also make for a very good Safety tandem. They are both good, young, talented players. Hopefully the Redskins see it my way and focus on the secondary with their first couple of picks.

5th Round - Jelani Jenkins - Inside Linebacker - Florida - 6'0" - 230 lbs. - The Redskins need to find some depth at the Inside Linebacker position. With Fletcher most likely leaving after 2013, it makes sense to build as much talent underneath him as possible. Started two games at the beginning of his Senior season at Inside Linebacker but then injured his thumb forcing him to miss 3 of the next 4 games. Despite the injury, Jenkins still managed to get 29 tackles for the season. Jenkins has also managed to stay consistent with sacks and interceptions throughout his college years. He's gotten 2 sacks and 1 interception every year since his Sophomore season. Jenkins seems like he can be a pretty good player in the NFL and he could slip to us in the 5th round.

5th Round - Sio Moore - Outside Linebacker - Connecticut - 6'1" - 240 lbs. - Like I said, the Redskins need as much depth at Linebacker as possible. Sio Moore is a good prospect with good size and if Jackson leaves, can be a nice backup for Orakpo. It's very possible that Moore is gone before the 5th. It wouldn't surprise me if he is gone by then. However, if he is still available then the Redskins have to take him. I think the 5th Round is the round where they should focus on filling in the depth at Linebacker, obviously. It wont happen in the early rounds, and the later rounds is a possibility but it is more of a reach. It is possible that we see a Linebacker taken in the 6th or 7th but the 5th round seems like a better bet for talent right now.

6th Round - Brandon Kaufman - Wide Receiver - Eastern Washington - 6'4" - 214 lbs. - I just came across this guy and he could be another 6th Round gem for us in 2013. At first, all I really noticed was his size. Then I took a look at some of his game film and I was really impressed with his play. Then I took a look at his stats and they were very, very impressive. I don't know if anyone else has heard about this guy but he should be someone that the Redskins consider drafting. I might even go as far to say that we draft him in the 5th Round because this guy is great and he could fall under the radar for many teams. In 2012, Kaufman hauled in 93 receptions for 1,850 yards. That is 19.9 yards a catch. He also scored 16 touchdowns in his Senior season. I don't care if he is from a small school. Like I said before, if you can play football, then you can play football. While I was watching some of his film I noticed that he isn't afraid to go after the ball and make the catch. Not only does he have incredible size but he has good speed to create separation from the defender. Having this guy on the team could help out a great deal.

7th Round - Manase Foketi - Right Tackle - West Texas A&M - 6'5" - 320 lbs. - This pick could really go anywhere. I believe that the Redskins will select a Right Tackle some time during this draft. They could take a chance on a guy from a small school like they did last year with Tom Compton. Foketi has good size and we can groom him just like we have with Compton. We may not even have to draft a Right Tackle because they might address that position in Free Agency. I don't see the Redskins drafting a Right Tackle in the early rounds either so this pick makes sense. It doesn't really have to be Foketi. They will draft whoever they feel is the best Right Tackle on the board. It is almost impossible to predict who a team will draft in the 7th round. This is just my best guess.

So there you have it. My updated Redskins Mock Draft. Let me know what you think!

Offensive Linemen that are probably on the Redskins' Draft Boards

Let me start off by saying that I think it is unlikely that the Redskins do pick a Right Tackle in the early rounds of the draft unless they absolutely fall in a love with one of their prospects. However, if there is nobody else available worthy of a 2nd round pick (which I think there will be) then the Redskins could pick a Right Tackle. It all depends on who else is available by the time they pick in the 2nd round. There are some very nice looking prospects at Right Tackle in the 2nd this year and I can't say I would be upset if they did end up picking up a Right Tackle. After what happened to RG3 this year the Redskins are going to do everything in their power to help protect their franchise Quarterback. The only position on the O-Line that could use an upgrade is Right Tackle so maybe they will address that where we don't expect it. Lets take a look at some of the guys that have a chance to be on the team next year.

Lane Johnson - Oklahoma - 6'6" - 303 lbs. - In Johnson's Senior year he played 11 games starting at Left Tackle but in his Junior year he started 12 of 13 games at Right Tackle. So he can play either position. Obviously we would be using our other Oklahoma star Trent Williams to start at Left Tackle. Johnson hasn't always played on the Offensive Line. He actually played Tight End at the beginning of his Sophomore season and then was switched to Defensive End. He even played Quarterback at Kilgore College before transferring to Oklahoma. He seems like a pretty versatile player just like our very own one-man-gang Lorenzo Alexander. Johnson would be a nice pick-up and could really help protect RG3.

Oday Aboushi - Virginia - 6'6" - 310 lbs. - Aboushi has great size and could be a great addition to the Offensive Line. I have a feeling that he could come right in and play at a high level. He wouldn't have to travel far to play with the Washington Redskins either. Aboushi was an early selection to go to the Senior Bowl which means he is playing at the highest level at his position. I wouldn't mind having a guy like this on our team. He also played defense in High School and recorded 70 tackles and 7 sacks. So if needed in an emergency, he could play on defense. I have even seen some people have the Redskins taking Aboushi in the 2nd round. It isn't likely but they just might do it. It wouldn't be the first time the Redskins have done something we weren't expecting. Remember when we drafted Kirk Cousins?

Ricky Wagner - Wisconsin - 6'6" - 320 lbs. - Another prospect with good size and talent. In his Junior season Wagner started every game at Left Tackle but he is listed as a Right Tackle. He can play either Left Tackle or Right Tackle but we will be using him as a Right Tackle if we draft him. I think he is another guy that can come in and contribute right away.

In my opinion there will be guys at other positions available when we draft. We will most likely be looking for Cornerbacks and Safeties. We are lucky because the pool goes pretty deep for defensive backs this year. If all of them are taken, however, then we just might end up drafting a Right Tackle in the 2nd round.

Cornerbacks Who Will Be Available in the 2nd Round

Jordan Poyer - Oregon State - 5'11" - 190 lbs. - Poyer is probably my favorite Cornerback prospect going into the draft. He is a playmaker and is a big utility player. He can play as a return man and he can light it up on defense. He has pretty decent size and can start in the NFL right away. Lets take a look at his stats. In his Senior year at Oregon State he made 51 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also made 7 pass deflections and 7 interceptions. He didn't play as a return man much during his Senior year but before that when he returned kick he averaged around 25 yards which is pretty good. We probably wouldn't be using him as a return man if we drafted him. Crawford is set to be the guy returning punts and Niles Paul has done a pretty good job of returning kicks. Poyer is also majoring in elementary education and that makes me think that he is a guy with pretty good character. There is definitely a ton of upside in drafting Jordan Poyer with our 2nd round pick if he is still available.

David Amerson - North Carolina State - 6'2" - 193 lbs. - Amerson is one heck of a prospect. If he was selected by the Redskins in the 2nd round I don't think you would hear a complaint anywhere. The guy has tremendous size so he is able to go up and snatch the ball out of the air, making him a good matchup for any big receiver. If you don't believe me when I say he can go up and get the ball, then check out his stats from 2011. To start off he made 59 tackles which is a good amount. He also made 1.5 tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery but his number of interceptions in 2011 is what really impressed me. In 2011 Amerson hauled in 13 interception for the season. That is averaging 1 interception every single game. If you have a guy on your team that can create that many turnovers then you have struck gold. Due to his size and performance, Amerson could very well be gone before the Redskins pick in the 2nd round but if he is still there, then it would be an amazing pick-up for the Skins.

Desmond Trufant - Washington - 6'0" - 185 lbs. - Trufant doesn't impress me as much as Poyer and Amerson but he could still end up being a guy that the Redskins pursue in the 2nd round. His stats don't impress me all that much and neither does his game film. He has stayed consistent with interceptions throughout his college career, however, logging at least 1 interception each year. Aside from that in his Senior year he made 36 tackles which isn't too impressive either, 1 sack, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble and recovery, and 9 passes deflected. He can probably be a pretty good corner with some work. He has two cousins, Isaiah Trufant and Marcus Trufant who also play in the NFL. Like I said, I don't think he has as much star talent as Poyer and Amerson, but to be honest this could be the only guy that falls to the Redskins. Then I think the decision would be, "do we draft Trufant or should we draft the Safety Phillip Thomas?". If it comes down to this I have a firm belief that they will go with Thomas over Trufant. Drafting Trufant wouldn't really be an instant upgrade and that is what we are looking for in this draft.

If the Redskins do plan to draft a corner with their 2nd round pick then this is definitely the year to do so. I think Poyer, Amerson, and Trufant could all come in and instantly contribute. Plus, if they plan on drafting a corner early on then they can think about cutting Hall and using his contract money to sign a different secondary play like a Free Safety or a Right Tackle or maybe even both if they play their cards right. I think 2013 will be a great year for the Redskins. I know they will be bringing in a lot of talent through this Draft. Who is your favorite prospect at Cornerback going into this Draft?

Will London Fletcher be Back Next Year?

 A question that has been on a lot of peoples mind since the start of the offseason is "will London Fletcher be back next season?". Will Fletcher want to play just one last season as a Washington Redskin? I think so. I don't think he was completely satisfied with the way the season ended even though the Redskins went on a 7-game winning streak at the end.

The way the last game went just didn't seem like the last game for him. There were emotions everywhere and Fletcher still looked like he was fired up especially after breaking up the Williams/Sherman "fight". That same fiery attitude will probably carry into the 2013 season where Fletcher will finish his career.

I think London Fletcher will feel a lot more content finishing next year rather than this year too. I believe 2012 was just the start of something great in Washington. It was the start of the RG3 era and everyone was just getting used to everything. Now everybody knows what we are working with and we know for sure what we can do. I mean just go through some of the teams that we've beaten this season. We have beaten the Saints, Buccaneers, Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, Vikings, Ravens, and more. The Redskins are a good team and they know it, the whole NFL knows it. Mark my words, London Fletcher will return for an even bigger 2013 season for the Washington Redskins.

Sebastian Vollmer, Anyone?

So, rumor has it that Sebastian Vollmer could be on his way to Washington. It's nothing legitimate but I have heard and read that there are a lot of Redskins fans that would be excited about him coming to Washington. Sebastian Vollmer is the starting Right Tackle for the New England Patriots and is credited with protecting Tom Brady. That is a pretty huge job, Tom Brady is thought to be the best Quarterback in the league by some. He is an unrestricted Free Agent this offseason and could be on his way out of New England due to some back problems. He is listed at 6'8", 320 lbs. so he is just about as big as our current Right Tackle Tyler Polumbus but with a greater skillset. He is also 28 with 4 years of experience in the NFL so he has plenty of years left in him. However he isn't even making over 1 Million a year in New England. We could offer him a deal that includes around 2.5-3 Million a year for 3 years. It might have to be more than that since New England could still be interested in keeping him. It's not like he is downgrading teams either. The Redskins are on the rise and the Patriots are slowly but surely going into a slump. If he likes the way the Redskins performed in 2012 and thinks there is opportunity here then I think he would make the decision to come here. We would have to offer a good amount of money though and it would have to be played carefully because Right Tackle isn't the only position they have to address in Free Agency. This would be a great investment for the Redskins. What does everyone else think? Do you think the Redskins should pursue Sebastian Vollmer? Is there another Right Tackle in Free Agency better suited for the job?

Big Decisions the Redskins Must Make this Offseason

Keep or Cut DeAngelo Hall? - There has been a lot of talk about DeAngelo Hall these past few years. There are big question marks around him whether its about his play or his character. Lets evaluate his play first. I will defend any one of my Redskins players no matter what. DeAngelo Hall is definitely not a bad player. His contract just does not match up with his level of play. He is due 7.5 Million dollars and I can almost guarantee that he will not be getting that much from us next season. Hall had an okay season in 2012. He started to tighten up during our 7-game winning streak. He had 4 interceptions, 68 tackles, and even got the first sack of his career I believe. It would be good for the Redskins to keep Hall for a reduced price. Hall even stated that he is willing to re-work his schedule to be able to stay on the team. Maybe they will re-work his deal somewhere around 3 Million. That would save us about 4.5 Million dollars and that would be a pretty big sum of money considering the cap hit we are taking this offseason. Sure, D-Hall has some character issues but we are just going to have to live with it because one day I think Hall will show us we made the right decision by keeping him. He can create turnovers and is a physical corner so I don't see the problem in keeping him and re-working his deal. On the other hand we could just cut him and save 7.5 Million dollars. Would it be worth it? I think it would only be worth it if we put that money towards another secondary player.

Should We Pursue Rob Jackson? - Rob Jackson took Brian Orakpo's place after he tore a pectoral muscle in week 2. He would be the starter for the rest of the season and boy, did he fill in nicely. He even did some things that I don't think Brian Orakpo could have done. He only had 26 solo tackles but he had 4.5 sacks, 6 passes deflected, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 touchdown. I don't know about anyone else but he is the kind of guy that I would want to have on my team. He is a Free Agent now and the Redskins have to decide if they want to re-sign him or not. He will definitely want more money than he is getting now. I think Jackson wants to start and he will definitely not be starting at Right Outside Linebacker if he comes back, that is Orakpo's job. What if we tried to convert him to a Middle Linebacker though? He could lose some weight and then after Fletcher leaves we could have a legitimate Middle Linebacker ready to take his place. I guess it is a possibility. I just don't want to see a talent like Rob Jackson walk away like that.

Should We Re-sign Fred Davis? - I would love to see the Redskins re-sign Davis and his suspension in 2011 and injury in 2012 should lower his price. He is a great Tight End and I think he can bounce back from all his problems in previous years. We should just go ahead and sign him to a long term deal. Sure, Logan Paulsen performed nicely in Davis' absence but he doesn't play at the same level of Davis. I do, however, think that the Redskins should also re-sign Paulsen. Having two Tight Ends who can catch, run, and block pretty well is great. You cant let talent like Fred Davis just walk away. If we let Davis go we cant just draft another great Tight End. Before Davis went down earlier this season he had 24 receptions for 325 yards and he was RG3's favorite guy to throw to. I don't see the Redskins letting him walk.

Fresno State Star Strong Safety Phillip Thomas Wants to be Drafted by the Redskins

Phillip Thomas played Strong Safety for Fresno State and judging by his stats and game film has been very successful at his position. Growing up as a kid, Thomas liked the Washington Redskins. He wanted to play as them all the time when he played his Nintendo 64. He would even imagine himself on the team while he was playing. I think that he will be available come the time to pick for the Redskins. If he is still available then I have to believe the Skins will pick him up. Thomas seems to be very excited about the idea of coming to Washington and playing for us. Let me tell you why I think it's very possible that Thomas will be on this team next year. In his Senior year he totaled 84 tackles and 12 of them were for a loss. He also had 4 sacks, 8 interceptions, 3 touchdowns, and 4 forced fumbles. It seems to me like this guy can do it all. If you don't believe the stats then you can go right on Youtube and watch him play. Given all of this AND he wants to play for us? He can have an awesome career here in Washington. Will he be a 2nd Round pick or a 3rd Round pick? If he does fall to the 3rd Round, will the Redskins trade up to get him. He could just slip all the way to the time we pick in the 3rd Round. I don't know how it will happen but I do know for sure that the Redskins will have struck gold if they drafted Phillip Thomas.

Wide Receiver Prospects the Redskins are Looking at in the Early Rounds

 

Terrance Williams - Baylor - 6'1" - 190 lbs. - Terrance Williams is the most exciting prospect going into the draft for me right now. He was Robert Griffin III's go to guy at Baylor and he would continue that trend here in Washington. The question is, will he fall to the Redskins? He is a first round talent and could very likely go in the first round long before the Redskins pick which will be late in the second round. Williams is not listed as the number one Wide Receiver in the draft, that title belongs to Keenan Allen. However, Williams could turn out to be a huge playmaker on offense. He has decent size and could play opposite of Pierre Garcon. Plus, he already has that chemistry with RG3 from playing with him at Baylor. Here's another fun fact. In 2012 Williams caught 97 balls for 1,832 yards averaging 18.9 yards per reception. If he falls to the Redskins, you better believe they are going to snatch him right up.

 

 

Robert Woods - USC - 6'1" - 184 lbs. - Woods could also be another great addition to the team. He had a productive Sophomore year with 111 receptions for 1,292 yards. Let's be honest too, it would be pretty cool to have Robert throwing Robert the ball. Woods also seems like a good character guy. He spent 5 days in Haiti with 15 of his other teammates building homes for people and helping the locals. He sounds like the kind of guy that you would like to be around. Would the Redskins spend their 2nd round pick on him if he were to fall to them? Maybe. It all depends on who else is available. Robert Woods probably isn't the first guy on their list but he is a talented player who could turn into RG3's go to guy in the future. You can expect that, if most of the talented defensive backs are gone and aren't worth a 2nd round pick and Woods is available, then they will probably be willing to draft him with their 2nd round pick.

 

 

DeAndre Hopkins - Clemson - 6'1" - 200 lbs. - Another great prospect for the Redskins. He is expected to go just a little higher than what the Redskins are hoping for. With all of the guys that are expected to go high in the 2nd, you have to wonder that at least one of them will fall to us. I don't think any of them will disappoint either. Hopkins also had impressive stats in 2012 with 82 receptions for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is the kind of productive receiver that teams look for and there just seems to be a lot of them in this draft. Like I said, one or more of them will probably fall to the Redskins in the draft. The only question is, will they be willing to spend a 2nd round pick on a receiver over a defensive back?

 

 

Justin Hunter - Tennessee - 6'4" - 205 lbs. - I can see Justin Hunter being an elite receiver when he comes into the NFL. He definitely has the size to become one. He has dealt with some injuries in his college career but I don't think that takes anything away from his talent. If he were to fall to the Redskins I don't see why they wouldn't take him. He would easily be the biggest receiver in the whole receiving group. Pierre Garcon is only about 6'0" so Hunter would compliment him well. Can Hunter stay healthy though? If yes, he can be a huge contributor on offense. If no, he can be another Jammal Brown situation at a lower scale. The guy definitely has talent though. In 2012 he caught 73 passes for 1,083 yards and 9 touchdowns. He is another productive receiver who I would love to have on the team.

 

 

Aaron Dobson - Marshall - 6'2" - 205 lbs. - Dobson could end up being taken late in the 2nd or early in the 3rd. Dobson has not been as productive as the receivers previously mentioned. He does have elite size though. In his 2012 season he caught 57 passes for 679 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is more of a reach but he can be developed into a nice receiver. It may not be as likely for the Redskins to select him with a 2nd round pick but if he falls in the 3rd then it could be a possibility.

 

 

Quinton Patton - Louisiana Tech - 6'2" - 195 lbs. - Another interesting prospect is Quinton Patton. He is a productive wide receiver with very good size. With all of the other well known wide receivers that play in big conferences, I believe that Patton could drop to the middle of the 3rd round. It is also very possible that he goes as early as the late second also. In 2011 he caught 74 passes for 1,135 yards. Any receiver with over 1,000 yards and a decent amount of catches is good in my book. He could possibly fall to the Redskins in the 3rd round and if he does then I cant help to think that they will draft him at that point.

 

 

Da'Rick Rogers - Tennessee Tech - 6'3" - 215 lbs. - Da'Rick Rogers was kicked off of the Tennessee football team for failed drug tests. He could be a possibility with the Redskins 3rd round pick. He has enough talent to be a first round pick. I think this would be a good pick in the 3rd round. I don't think drugs would be much of a problem for the Redskins locker room. There is just too much of a positive attitude in there to not be able to overcome something like that. Trent Williams apologized for his drug violation in 2011 and looks to be a bigger, better person. I think the same thing can happen for Da'Rick Rogers. Before he was suspended by Tennessee he caught 67 passes for 1,040 yards and 9 touchdowns. That's good production for a projected 3rd round pick.

 

 

Cordarelle Patterson - Tennessee - 6'3" - 205 lbs. - Last but not least is Cordarelle Patterson. That's right, another Tennessee product. They sure are cranking out some good receivers this year. Patterson is no exception. He has great speed, great size, and can catch the ball. What more can you ask from a receiver? In 2012 he caught 46 passes for 778 yards and 5 touchdowns. He may not be as productive as some of the other receivers listed but he would definitely be a great 3rd round pick for the Redskins and would be another great weapon for RG3.

 

I would be happy with the Redskins drafting any of the Receivers listed. My favorite prospect by far is Terrance Williams. I just think it would be awesome if the Redskins could reunite RG3 with his former go-to guy. The Redskins may not take any of these guys. Whatever they decide to do and whoever they pick will benefit the team in some way in 2013.



Looking at all Possible Redskins Free Agent Targets at the Defensive Back Position

Jairus Byrd - Free Safety - 26 - Unrestricted Free Agent - 2012 Total Cap Hit: $1,070,000 - Judging by the way Byrd has been playing throughout his rookie contract he will be looking for a pay raise. The Bills have not been doing very well as of late and since he is an unrestricted free agent he could be looking to go somewhere else. The 10-6 Redskins could be appealing to the young Safety. They are on the rise and made an appearance in the playoffs. They need help at Safety and Byrd could be the guy to give them all the help they need. He is the kind of ballhawk that we need in the secondary. In 2012 he hauled in 5 interceptions, made 76 tackles, and recovered 2 fumbles. He has 4 years of experience under his belt and is only 26. That age fits the profile of Mike Shanahan's draft strategy. He likes to draft guys that haven't quite reached their prime yet but have a lot of potential. Kind of like what he did with Pierre Garcon. The Redskins will probably be going after Byrd this offseason.

 

 

 

Louis Delmas - Free Safety - 25 - Unrestricted Free Agent - 2012 Total Cap Hit: $1,747,000 - Delmas is another very intriguing prospect that I think Mike Shanahan will seriously consider. He had a knee injury going on for most of the 2012 season. This could drop his value a little bit but by the way he plays he will probably be asking for a lot. Detroit is another team that really didn't perform well in 2012 and Delmas could be looking for a change of scenery. He seems like that kind of fiery defensive back you would like to have on your team. He plays with emotion and has good instincts. He is still very young at the age of 25 and has a lot of potential. I definitely would not mind having Delmas on our team. Like Byrd, Delmas also has 4 years of experience in the NFL with him. His stats fell in 2012 due to injury but he still managed to bring in 1 interception and made 38 tackles. However, in his rookie campaign he made 90 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery. One of those interceptions he returned for a touchdown and he also returned the fumble recovery for a touchdown. It's one thing if you have a guy that can create turnovers and give your offense the ball back. It's even better if he can score without even making the offense come onto the field. If the Redskins decide to sign Delmas or Byrd, expect a long term deal in both scenarios.

 

 

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Cornerback - 26 - Unrestricted Free Agent - 2012 Total Cap Hit: $3,123,750 - DRC is just flat out a beast. He has been playing in the same division as the Redskins for 2 years now so we have gotten a good look at his talent. Of course, in 2012 we didn't see much of anything aside from RG3. DRC knows the Eagles defense pretty well at this point and it would be a huge mistake for Philly to let him go but with Chip Kelly running the show as the Head Coach he could be considering letting him go. If he does then I couldn't see why the Redskins wouldn't offer him a long term deal to play corner. They would be able to release Hall to save 7.5 Million dollars too. So whatever we offer DRC doesn't have the full potential to kill us in cap room. In a perfect world, what if we were able to pull off the signing of DRC and a trade for Darrelle Revis? Our secondary would be seemingly unstoppable. I would love to at least have DRC on the roster. In 2012 he had 51 tackles, and 3 interceptions, and that was on a 4-12 Eagles team. The whole teams morale was lowered which affected the players individual play. If he could play alongside a pumped up Redskins defense in 2013 it could really pay off well.

 

These three guys will probably be top priority for the Redskins this offseason. My favorite prospect out of all of them is probably, well, who am I kidding? I like all of these guys and I hope at least one of them lands on the roster for the 2013 season. We will most likely only be able to afford one of them if we want to keep some money for other depth Free Agent signings. They will all be looking for big bucks and we just don't have a whole lot to spend with the $18 Million dollar cap penalty. Whoever we get should be able to contribute in big ways in 2013.

 

Darrelle Revis to Washington?

So has anyone heard about the possibility of the Jets getting rid of their best player? They are going to be shopping Revis around this offseason to see if they can get something from him. Most of you probably know about the horrific season the Jets had and I guess that are looking to change the whole roster. Might as well start with getting rid of your best player right? Well I read up on it and Revis is coming off of an ACL injury. This could lower his value just a tad but when healthy, Revis is arguably the best corner in the league. His contract next year is worth 6 million and Washington's own DeAngleo Hall's contract is worth 7.5 million. Hall doesn't play at the level of Revis and he is about two years older. Cutting Hall and trading for Revis would make sense financially but it seems that we just don't have enough draft picks to trade away. We don't even have a first round pick until 2015. Lets just look at this a couple of different ways. It isn't impossible for the Redskins to acquire Revis through a trade. Everyone knows about the Quarterback situation in New York. Mark Sanchez had the worst season of his life and Tebow-Mania is most likely going to be packing his bags to leave this offseason. All potential starting talent at Quarterback is gone at that point. The Redskins have 2 starting caliber Quarterbacks. What if (and this is a huge what if) we were to offer Kirk Cousins and a 2nd round pick or a combination of lower round picks? The Redskins front office is no stranger to dealing picks and players like that. How much of an impact could Revis make on this team? If we play our cards right we could maybe even pull off a deal that included trading Kirk Cousins and some picks for Revis and Tebow. Is it really that bad of an idea? We would need someone to be Griffin's back-up and Tebow really isn't a bad Quarterback, he just needs to be used correctly. Tebow can also be mobile and in my opinion would be a reliable back-up. Plus, Tebow is another guy with great character and could bring a lot of positive emotion to the team with him. He is another leader who took the Denver Broncos to the Divisional round of the playoffs in 2011 and won the Heisman in college. I would not be surprised if one of these trades were to happen and I can't say I would be upset with them either. It would be one heck of a trade.

Reviewing and Grading the Redskins' 2012 Draft Picks

The Redskins' 2012 Draft Class played a huge part in the teams success this year. I know RG3 is probably the first thing that rings in your head when you think about this draft class but lets take some time to evaluate the rest of the talent that we acquired through this draft.

1st Round - Robert Griffin III - Quarterback- Do I even really have to say it? RG3 was the player behind it all. He brought confidence and emotion to Washington. He brought versatility to the offense with his dual threat Quarterback abilities. RG3 is known for his ability to scramble outside the pocket but he can also stand tall in the pocket and make great throws. It all changed after the Ravens game when his leg almost bent completely in half due to a nasty hit from Haloti Ngata (however you spell it). This injury happened outside the pocket so the offensive line cannot be blamed. Luckily, the injury only turned out to be a grade 1 knee sprain and RG3 only needed to wear a brace for the closing weeks of the regular season and the post season. His playing performance decreased significantly after that injury though. He just wasn't the same player with that knee brace on and he could not run the same. It got a whole lot worse during the Wildcard round of the playoffs. RG3 slipped on the turf after a botched snap and his leg bent in an awkward position. The Redskins nation later found out that he tore his LCL, ACL, and a had a minor medial meniscus tear. RG3 had to undergo total knee reconstruction. We as Redskins fans are just left hoping for the best now but I believe he will be back by the start of next season. Aside from the injuries there were a lot of bright moments during the season for RG3. In his first game against the Eagles he threw for a perfect QB rating. He torched a lot of teams this season and I expect him to do it again next season.
Final Grade: A+

3rd Round - Josh LeRibeus - Guard - LeRibeus really didn't see too much playing time this season. It kind of surprises me that they didn't use him too often. The Redskins had to start LeRibeus for the Wildcard round of the playoffs against the Seahawks because Lichtensteiger suffered an ankle injury. LeRibeus filled in nicely and it was only his first start against a great defense. He played very well and I can see him being the starter at Left Guard for the future. In fact, he could be starting as soon as next year.
Final Grade: B

4th Round - Kirk Cousins - Quarterback - When Washington selected Kirk Cousins everyone was asking the same question. Why would the Redskins draft another Quarterback in the 4th Round if they already sold the farm for RG3? That question was answered in Weeks 14 and 15. Cousins had to come in after RG3 got injured late in the Ravens game. He was within scoring range. He tossed a couple passes and then hit Pierre Garcon in the corner of the end zone for 6 points. The Redskins were still down by 2 points so they were going to have to go for the 2 point conversion to tie the game up and take it into overtime. Kyle Shanahan called for a designed QB run that the Ravens were not expecting and Cousins ran it in for the 2 point conversion, tying the game. The Redskins went on to win that game in overtime. Cousins also started the game in Cleveland. He broke RG3's single game passing record with 329 yards passing with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Not a bad day for the back-up. Here's the thing. Cousins is a starting-caliber Quarterback. He will be starting for a team at some point in his career. I don't think he is going to be a back-up for long and if he shows more great play next year like he did the past year, he could be gone as soon as the 2013 offseason. However, for right now I like him staying with our team. RG3 needs to show that he can avoid big hits before we trade Captain Kirk. When the time comes to trade Cousins though, I think he can fetch a first round pick or two 2nd rounders.
Final Grade: A

4th Round - Keenan Robinson - Middle Linebacker - I liked Keenan Robinson coming to the Redskins. When I saw his gameplay I knew that he could be a great player for this team. It is a shame that he got injured mid-season and was placed on injured reserve. I think this pick marks the beginning of the search for a player to replace London Fletcher when he decides to retire. Don't get me wrong, I think it will be very hard to truly replace London but Keenan is learning and he seems like he has a lot of potential. He is also learning from the best. He could be the starter for the future if he performs well next season and can avoid big injuries. Like I said, he is a good player and I wouldn't mind if he started for us when Fletcher leaves.
Final Grade: B-

 

 

5th Round - Adam Gettis - Guard - I don't really know how I feel about this pick. Adam Gettis didn't see any playing time aside from preseason. He will not be a starter any time soon in my opinion. He is backing up Chris Chester and he will be our starter for the next couple of years. I think Shanahan just brought him on the roster for depth. I cant really say anything bad or good about him. Hopefully I get to see more of him next season.

Final Grade: C

 



 

6th Round - Alfred Morris - Running Back - We all know how this one is going to go. I don't think many people expected Alfred Morris to have the amazing season that he did. After the draft I went back and watched gameplay videos of all the players that we drafted. I saw that Morris was a very hard runner and didn't go down easily. People knocked him though because they said he was from an easy conference. I didn't believe that talk though. I knew Morris would be a great runner for us. I didn't know that he would rush for over 1,600 yards in a season, trailing only Adrian Peterson. Alfred Morris was a gem that I am so glad we found. He will be our guy at Running Back for a long time. He is also a player with very good character. He has a positive attitude and never stops working. That is what makes him great in my opinion. We may not have achieved all that we did this season if it weren't for Morris.  

Final Grade: A+

 

6th Round - Tom Compton - Tackle - We haven't seen much from Tom Compton this season but I have a feeling he will play a bigger role next season. He spent almost all year on the practice squad then was bumped up to the 53-man roster towards the end of the year. With Tyler Polumbus expected to be replaced for the starting Right Tackle job, Compton could be the guy. Mike Shanahan expressed his confidence in Compton and said that "he will be with us for a long time". Compton will be cheap and he could another 6th round gem for us. After a year of grooming I think Compton could be ready to start. He may not play at a higher caliber than Polumbus in 2013 but he definitely has a higher ceiling of potential. Oh yeah, did I mention that he can squat 700 pounds?
Final Grade: C+

7th Round - Richard Crawford - Cornerback - Richard Crawford showed a lot of promise this season. I think he could be a starter in the NFL. In his rookie year he hauled in an interception and set up an overtime game winning field goal with an incredible punt return against the Baltimore Ravens (shown above). Sure he got beat some of the time but you can expect that from a rookie 7th round pick. The way he played this year with limited time you would think he was a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Like I said, I think he could be a starter and hopefully he starts for us some time in the near future. A lot of people are calling for DeAngelo Hall to be cut and 2013 is Josh Wilson's last contract year. Richard Crawford could be getting his chance as soon as 2014, maybe even 2013 if the Redskins decide to release Hall and Wilson for cap room. I don't see that happening because the Cornerback squad would be very inexperienced if that were to happen but crazier things have happened.
Final Grade: B

7th Round - Jordan Bernstine - Cornerback - Didn't get to see much from Bernstine this season. He was injured very early in the season. I don't know what will happen to him next year. It all depends what Mike Shanahan sees in him. He needs to prove that he can stay on the field long enough to be a contributor. If he can play well in preseason in 2013 then you can expect to see him on the 53-man roster next year. If not, he probably will not make the cut. I am not one to give a bad grade due to injury so he will remain an average pick for me. Hopefully he can come back next season and show what he's got.
Final Grade: C

As you can see, the Redskins had a whole lot of picks this past year and a lot of them turned out to be great. As of right now the Redskins have 7 picks in the 2013 draft. Not as many as last year but still a good amount of picks to be able to fill some holes. The way the Redskins front office is, don't be surprised if we see some trades going on before the draft hits!

 

 

 

 

 

My thought on Tyrann Mathieu "The Honey Badger" speaking with the Redskins

It is hard to weigh the pros and cons when you talk about a player like Tyrann Mathieu. He was kicked off the LSU football team due to multiple violations of LSU's substance abuse policy. Apparently he was doing marijuana. I still do not know how I truly feel about this guy going to my team. He seems like a good player but is he really worth the risk? The Redskins already have Richard Crawford and Chase Minnifield who already have a years experience. Crawford played well this season with limited time. He logged 1 interception and set up a game winning field goal in overtime with a incredible punt return against the Baltimore Ravens. From what I head Minnifield was also lighting it up in practice camp and could also be another big contributor. We still have DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson as our starters. Hall could very well be on his way out this year because he is due 7.5 Million dollars in 2013. He stated that he would be willing to re-work his contract to stay in Washington, but that just might not be enough. I say the lowest round we should take Mathieu in is the 6th, maybe even the 7th. Off the field issues aren't the only thing knocking the Honey Badger. His size is also questionable at 5'9" 170 lbs. I don't think he would be a starter if we brought him in. He could serve as a kick/punt returner and could play as a nickel cornerback. But do we really need him for that purpose? Lets just say that we release DeAngelo Hall. Our Cornerback position would look like Jordan Poyer/David Amerson, Josh Wilson, Chase Minnifield, Richard Crawford, and then there would be Tyrann Mathieu. That is pretty good depth if you ask me. That squad is mostly made up of really young guys who have a lot of potential. The way I see it is having Mathieu as a return man. I think he could also play a pretty big role as a corner. He is about the same size as Josh Wilson and Wilson has done pretty solid this year. I think if Mathieu is available in the 6th or 7th Round then the Redskins will have to pull the trigger.

Washington Redskins 2013 Mock Offseason

 

There has been a lot of talk about the Redskins this past season. They have made some noise in the NFL that's for sure. However there are still some holes to fill in their roster and in this article I will give all the details on what I think will be happening this offseason. Who will be added to the roster this year and who will be cut? Lets start with who will be released.

• Brandon Banks - A likely candidate for this list. Brandon Banks was exciting when the Redskins first acquired him. He was able to make some big time plays but he just isn't the same anymore. He really didn't contribute too much in the 2012 season and I can imagine that Washington will bring in someone else to play a similar role in Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme. Richard Crawford has already proved to be a solid punt return man.

• Kory Lichtensteiger - I know a lot of people will disagree with me on this but Lichtensteiger will cost a good amount of money to re-sign. Josh LeRibeus stepped up nicely in the final games of the season and the offense didn't seem to lose a step with him on the field. Letting Lichtensteiger walk should free up some much needed cap room for other Free Agent signings.

• Chris Cooley - I hate to say it but I think Chris Cooley will be gone by next year. There is just too much talent at the Tight End position. Fred Davis will likely be back. Logan Paulsen proved to be a very solid Tight End and Niles Paul contributed as a kick return man. I just don't see it happening.

• Chris Wilson - I barely saw him on the field this year. I guess the Shanahans are just using him for Special Teams. He will probably cost more to re-sign and can easily be replaced for a cheaper price.

• Madieu Williams - I think everybody saw this one coming. Williams cannot be a starter at Free Safety for this team and we won't be willing to pay him more to be a back up. I think he is just a one and done in D.C.

• Tanard Jackson - Could have been a great player for this team but I don't think he will be back after multiple drug violations. I just cant see him keeping his act together to stay on this team.

• Jordan Black - Black mainly just played a back up role this year for us. He actually already retired but we brought him back to play as an outside Tackle on the O-Line. I think he did pretty well but he is old and should be replaced. There is no point in re-signing him this offseason.

• Cedric Griffin - I think Griffin is another one and done in Washington. He never really lit it up this year and will never be a starter for us. I believe the Redskins will target a Cornerback with their first pick in the 2nd round of the Draft anyways.

• Bryan Kehl - Kehl was brought back on this squad somewhere midseason and he mainly contributes on Special Teams. He is an experienced Linebacker but I just don't see him being re-signed. He didn't impress me during preseason. He had a lot of dropped interceptions (three dropped interceptions I believe), and a lot of penalties.

Now that we have gotten rid of some players, here are the players with expiring contracts that I think will be back next year.

• Darrel Young - Young was a linebacker in college and we transformed him into an outstanding fullback. He is not afraid to get physical and he will knock someone's head off to pave the way for Alfred Morris. We cant let a talent like this get away from us. Did I mention that he can run, catch, and throw (he is the emergency Quarterback in case all of our other Quarterbacks are down)?

• Rex Grossman - Unless Mike Shanahan wants to go back to his two Quarterback setup I can see him re-signing Grossman. Think about it. We have a Super Bowl Quarterback who is third on our depth chart. That is some pretty good depth at the Quarterback position. Re-signing him to another 1 year or even a 2 year contract seems like a good idea right now.

• Tyler Polumbus - A lot of people may not have suspected to see him on this list but Tyler Polumbus wont really break the bank and can compete with others for the starting Right Tackle position in 2013. We already have Tom Compton who was a 6th round pick in 2012 who could be a potential starter. Mike Shanahan seems to have a lot of confidence in him. Having Polumbus as a back up would provide good depth for the Right Tackle position. However having him as a starter wont hurt us that much either.

• Logan Paulsen - Paulsen has proved himself after Fred Davis went down and has earned himself a spot on this team. We cannot let him walk. He is just too talented of a player. His blocking is solid and he has reliable hands. Having two good Tight Ends can be great for a team. Which leads me to my next re-signing.

• Fred Davis - Before Davis went down in the middle of the season he was on track for a 1,000 yard season. He was the top receiver and was a nice security blanket for RG3. I think we need him on this team. He has great hands and can get open. He did get suspended for a drug violation in 2011 but that is all behind him now. We need to do what is best for the team and I think having Davis on this team would give RG3 a huge offensive weapon for years to come. Fred Davis is still young at the age of 27.

• Lorenzo Alexander - Otherwise known as the One Man Gang. This guy has a lot of skill and can play almost any position. He is our Special Teams Ace and can go in on defense and play Middle Linebacker. He is just an all around great player on the field and I think we should work out a long term deal for him. 

• Chris Baker - Baker did a good job filling in for Barry Cofield when necessary and I didn't see anything wrong with his play this year. If the guy is playing well as a back up for a cheap price then why replace him? The only other option is Chris Neild and he is coming off of an injury. Chris Baker is the best option we have for a back up Nose Tackle.

• Rob Jackson - I would love to see the Redskins re-sign Jackson. He can cover well and he made some incredible turnovers this season. You always want a guy who can create turnovers on your team. But he will probably demand a lot more money than what he is getting now. He will not start at Right Outside Linebacker as long as Orakpo is healthy. Maybe they could move him in to the Middle Linebacker position if Fletcher makes an unexpected retirement?

• Sav Rocca - The Punter's contract is up and I think it would be a great idea despite his age to bring him back. Rocca is a great Punter who plays a huge part on Special Teams. He boots the ball the whole length of the field and the hang time is great also so it allows the rest of the kicking team to get down the field and force a fair catch. He should be signed to a 2 year deal worth around 2-3 Million. 

• Nick Sundberg - The Long Snapper has done well this year. Haven't really seen anything wrong with his game. So the way I look at it is, why not?

Free Agent Signings:

• Jairus Byrd - I think we could make one or two big Free Agency signings this offseason if we play our cards right. We could restructure a few contracts here and there or cut a few players or both. But I think the number one guy the Redskins should be looking at right now is Jairus Byrd. He could be our starting Free Safety and turn the whole defense around. He definitely will not be cheap to acquire but if we are able to strike a deal with him it would be great for the team. He is an unrestricted free agent and I think he will want out of Buffalo unless they offer him a huge deal. Otherwise, he will see that the Redskins are one of the hottest teams on the rise in the NFL right now looking for a Free Safety and he would probably seriously consider coming here.
• Sebastian Vollmer - A lot of people have been talking about Sebastian Vollmer and how he could end up on the Redskins roster next year. He is the starting Right Tackle for the New England Patriots. The guy's job is to protect Tom Brady. That is a pretty important job if you ask me. But by next year it could be possible that he is protecting Robert Griffin III instead. I like the idea of it. Vollmer is experienced and is only 29 years old so he still has some good years in him. He could compete with Tyler Polumbus and Tom Compton for the starting job. Compete probably isn't the best word to describe the situation though. If we sign Vollmer it is unlikely that he will lose the starting job to anyone else unless he gets injured.

 

2013 NFL Draft: 

• 2nd Round - Jordan Poyer - Cornerback - Oregon State - Poyer is a very talented Corner and I think we would get the best results picking a Corner in the 2nd round. He has logged 13 interceptions in his college career and I believe he can be our number one corner if DeAngelo Hall gets cut. Poyer has decent size at 5'11" and can make plays. He also seems like another player with good character. He would fit right in with the rest of the team. If Poyer is gone by the time that we pick (I think we have the 53rd pick) then we could draft David Amerson out of North Carolina State. Amerson has good size at 6'2" and also has 13 interceptions under his belt I believe. Either of these guys would be great picks for this team. A lot of people may be saying that we should draft a Safety in the 2nd but the truth is that there are barely any good Safeties worthy of a 2nd Round Pick at that point in my opinion. I think we can pick up a good safety in the 3rd Round.
• 3rd Round - Phillip Thomas - Strong Safety - Fresno State - The Redskins obviously need some help in the secondary. Why not take a Safety in the 3rd Round? This pick would provide depth at Strong Safety. Brandon Meriweather will most likely be back next year and he would need a good back up if he goes down. After 2013 is over, Thomas could definitely step in as a starter. He has good size, good stats, and good film. Could turn into our Strong Safety solution for the future. If we aren't able to get Thomas then we could go for Bacarri Rambo out of Georgia. Rambo was normally thought of as a first round talent but was suspended because of a drug violation. Another prospect is Robert Lester out of Alabama. However, I do hope we are able to acquire Phillip Thomas in front of the other two prospects. It is very possible that Thomas is gone by the time we pick in the 3rd.
• 4th Round - Michael Mauti - Middle Linebacker - Penn State - This may not seem like the smartest pick at first. But London Fletcher will most likely be gone by the end of the 2013 season because that would be the end of his contract. Washington needs to try and find a replacement at Middle Linebacker for the future. Michael Mauti could be the MLB for the future. He could compete with Keenan Robinson for the starting position after Fletcher leaves. I like Robinson and I would be happy with him starting for us. However, I can say the same for Mauti. His father was actually a Wide Receiver in the NFL and played for the Washington Redskins. Is it destiny? Maybe. This would be a great pick because Mauti is a very talented player and he made 96 total tackles, hauled in 3 interceptions, forced 3 fumbles, and got 2.5 sacks. May not be much of a pass rusher but looking at his stats makes it seem like he can cover pretty well. He would be a great addition to this team.
• 5th Round - D.J. Swearinger - Free Safety - South Carolina - Swearinger could be gone by the time we pick in the 5th but if he is still on the board we should go for him. If the Jairus Byrd deal does not work out and we cannot find someone else I would be totally happy with him starting for us. I can see that he plays with a lot of emotion and is a great player. Sure, he would be a bit of a project but he can really turn into a big contributor for the team. If the Jairus Byrd deal does work out then that just gives us more great depth at the Free Safety position.
• 5th Round - Marquess Wilson - Wide Receiver - Washington State - Wilson would be a great addition to the Wide Receiving squad. The only reason he could possibly drop this far would be because of some off the field issues but with the rest of the players on the roster setting a good example I think that issue can be easily resolved or at least somewhat resolved. Wilson is a very productive Wide Receiver with great size. He could make Washington's Wide Receiving group that much more dangerous.
• 6th Round - Chris Thompson - Running Back - Florida State - I think Mike Shanahan will keep his trend going with this pick. He likes to pick running backs in the late rounds. Chris Thompson could be another great success story even though Alfred Morris is set to be our guy for the future. With the season that Morris had he just cannot be replaced but Thompson could compliment him. Thompson is a little small at 5'8" but I think he can overcome that. It shouldn't keep him from being a big contributor on offense and could even play a Brandon Banks type role.
• 7th Round - Lerentee McCray - Outside Linebacker - Florida - I think this last pick will mainly just be used for depth and I think we could use more depth at the outside linebacker position. We need someone to back either Orakpo or Kerrigan up next season because I don't think Jackson will be back unless we give him good pay. If Jackson does come back then great but we still need to fill that other LOLB back up position. It would be better than keeping Bryan Kehl. Plus maybe McCray could turn out to be another gem for the Redskins. He hasn't had too much playing time at the University of Florida. Maybe if we gave him more playing time he could really show his stripes. I can see the Redskins taking whatever Linebacker they see as best in the 7th though. It seems like a good depth pick.

I could go into detail with what other positions need to be filled for depth through Free Agency but lets be honest, that isn't exactly the most exciting part. The offseason doesn't always go as planned though. So it wouldn't surprise me if all my picks are wrong but it is very possible that some of them are right. Either way I absolutely cannot wait for the 2013 season to begin! Since this is my very first post, please let me know what you think of my writing! Thank you and Hail to the Redskins!