Redskins Round Table: Draft edition
It's time for another edition of Redskins Round Table, where we ask some of the best Redskins writers/reporters/bloggers about our boys in burgundy and gold. Joining DC Pro Sports Report at the Round Table today are John Pappas of Warpath Confidential, Rich Tandler of Comcast Sportsnet Washington and Rick Snider of The Washington Examiner. We asked them for their thoughts about how the Redskins did in the draft and what they thought of the trade that happened and they trade that did not happen. Their answers to our questions are below in the order in which they were received.
JOHN PAPPAS - WARPATH CONFIDENTIAL
I do like the selection. While there was some question of who was the better tackle, Williams, or Russell Okung, the Redskins selected the player they thought would fit them best.
2. Is there anything else about the Redskins draft you particularly like or do not like?
I like the philosophy of getting the best player available at a position of need. Every guy they selected was at a position of need on the team.
3. What is your opinion of the Jason Campbell trade?
This was not a question of getting any real value for him, as bringing in McNabb told the world the Redskins would part with Campbell. The team did him a favor in accepting a pick in a trade that does not yet exist for him to be able to start.
4. Why was Albert Haynesworth not traded and do you think he still will be traded? If not, how will he fit in with management?
I don't think they were offered what they wanted for him (if they were ever serious about trading him). At this point I do not believe he will be traded. It is interesting how much is made of Shanahan's feelings about Haynesworth not showing up for voluntary activities, as if it comes as any surprise. He is the same player they signed last year. But the bottom line is he did what they signed him to do; create pressure on quarterbacks. No matter what, Haynesworth is never going to be that 'team first' guy. But he will show up to the mandatory activities and be effective when he plays.
5. Relative to their NFC East opponents, are the Redskins better, worse or about the same after the draft weekend?
They lacked the ammo to get significantly better. The other division teams did better because they had more to work with. But the Redskins did ok with what they had.
RICH TANDLER - COMCAST SPORTSNET WASHINGTON
1. Do you like the Trent Williams selection or not?
I would have gone with Russell Okung, a four-year starter at left tackle at Oklahoma State. He is ready to plug into an NFL left tackle spot and be effective immediately. Williams is in a learning curve, having played on the left side for just one year at Oklahoma. The Redskins don't have much time for a learning curve. But Williams does fit the scheme better and should prove to be an excellent player in the long term. I'll trust Shanahan on this one.
2. Is there anything else about the Redskins draft you particularly like or do not like?
I would have liked to have seen them take a running back at some point. At least one or two of the trio of high-mileage running backs will have to be replaced next year and it would have been good to get one in the system.
3. What is your opinion of the Jason Campbell trade?
It was the right thing to do. The Redskins probably would be better off having Campbell around as a backup for a year than getting a fourth-round pick two years from now. And Campbell would have done it without complaining because that's the kind of man he is. But he deserved a shot at a starting job and the Redskins did the right thing in accommodating that.
4. Why was Albert Haynesworth not traded and do you think he still will be traded? If not, how will he fit in with management?
If the Redskins are going to eat $31 million for 12 games, they are going to have to get a first-round pick in return. That may happen if a contender suffers an injury to a defensive tackle during training camp. Otherwise, Haynesworth and Shanahan will work under an uneasy truce.
5. Relative to their NFC East opponents, are the Redskins better, worse or about the same after the draft weekend?
Although you can't judge a draft for 3-4 years, my quick take is that over the three days of the draft the NFCE foes gained ground. But if you count McNabb as the second-round pick the Redskins broke even with the Eagles at worst and gained on Dallas and the Giants.
RICK SNIDER - WASHINGTON EXAMINER & RICK SNIDER REPORT
1. Do you like the Trent Williams selection or not?
The position choice was the right one. Whether it was Russell Okung or Williams doesn't matter much at this point. Ask again in a couple years.
2. Is there anything else about the Redskins draft you particularly like or do not like?
I don't like that they didn't get anyone else who's an impact player. I don't count trades as part of the draft grade.
3. What is your opinion of the Jason Campbell trade?
Dumb. Gave him away for a bag of balls. Should have kept Campbell as a reserve rather than dump him.
4. Why was Albert Haynesworth not traded and do you think he still will be traded? If not, how will he fit in with management?
I wouldn't have traded away a game-changer for anything less than a first-rounder. They just need to finesse Albert to get him to come around. It can happen.
5. Relative to their NFC East opponents, are the Redskins better, worse or about the same after the draft weekend?
Redskins are worse than Philadelphia and New York, about the same as Dallas as far as the draft goes so they didn't make up any ground. Still fourth in the division.
THOMAS THRELKELD - DC PRO SPORTS REPORT
1. Do you like the Trent Williams selection or not?
I liked that the Redskins drafted a tackle, clearly the team's greatest need. My preference was for Russell Okung because I thought him less likely to be a bust than any offensive player taken in the first round of the draft. I understand why they took Williams, the superior athlete, but I think work ethic, technique and length of arms are at least as important as athleticism in a left tackle and Okung was superior in those three areas.
2. Is there anything else about the Redskins draft you particularly like or do not like?
I don't like that they didn't get anyone apart from Williams who looks like a near-term starter to me, though I suppose Perry Riley could get on the field a lot. I liked getting Selvish Capers in the 7th round. He looked like a much higher pick until he was pulled apart by superior competition at the Senior Bowl. I think he can eventually give the Redskins quality depth on the offensive line, which they desperately need.
3. What is your opinion of the Jason Campbell trade?
I like it for Campbell, who needed and deserved to get out of town. The Redskins got virtually nothing for him, though. A 4th rounder in 2012? Why not 2017? Management did this to itself, though, by spending the better part of two offseasons telling anyone who would listen that they didn't want Jason Campbell on the roster. You're not likely to get many attractive offers when you do stupid things like that.
4. Why was Albert Haynesworth not traded and do you think he still will be traded? If not, how will he fit in with management?
It's just a hunch, but my guess is that Dan Snyder allowed Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen to trade Haynesworth, but told them that after he spent over $30 million in about one calendar year on the fat man, the team better get a lot back in return. In other words, at least a first round pick. They didn't get that offer so Haynesworth is back where Shanny clearly does not want him. I've never understood why Haynesworth had to go or play nose tackle, where I think his talent would be wasted. Yes, the culture of the team has to be changed, but this determination to make an example of Haynesworth seems foolish to me. Play the man at defensive end in a 3-4 defense.
5. Relative to their NFC East opponents, are the Redskins better, worse or about the same after the draft weekend?
With the caveat that any draft can only be fairly evaluated after several years, my early guess is that the Redskins fell a bit further behind after this draft. The Giants fell apart on defense last year and their first four picks were all on that side of the ball. If Jason Pierre-Paul develops his immense talent, that's a great pick for the Giants. I also like safety Chad Jones in the second round. The Eagles had 5 picks in the first 4 rounds and they used them all on defense. Trading up for Brandon Graham was an aggressive move. Still, if Kevin Kolb is good, the Eagles will be much better than the Redskins this year. If not, the Eagles will fall back quite a bit. The Cowboys were very aggressive by trading up to get Dez Bryant and they look to have, easily, the most talented roster in the division. They should be disappointed with anything less than an NFC East title and an appearance in the conference championship game.
