Smoke Signals: Redskins Draft Edition
The NFL preseason schedule will be released today around 3 PM. We'll have the details as soon as they're available. If things go to form, expect games against the Steelers, Ravens and Panthers. Those are the teams that involve the least amount of travel.
Dan Snyder would like a perennial Pro Bowl player with Washington's top 10 pick. How did this guy ever fail as an NFL general manager?! Read it.
Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen will work out for the Redskins on April 15. Clausen is widely expected to be the second college passer taken in the draft, though if the Redskins take him at 4, I'm going to freak out on all of you. That's a promise. Read it.
Rich Tandler lists the pros and cons of Jimmy Clausen. Read it.
Might the Redskins select Tennessee safety Eric Berry with the 4th overall pick? Lord I hope not. Don't get me wrong -- Berry is a terrific player and easily the best defensive back in this draft. But how many safeties are the Redskins going to draft in the top 6? They've already taken Sean Taylor and Laron Landry and have very little to show for that. [Granted, the reason Taylor hasn't helped the team much are extraordinary and tragic, but you take my point.] Remember when the Lions sunk into the depths of Hell after taking one wide receiver after another in the first round? That's what I'm talking about. Read it. P.S. Berry will be at Redskins Park tonight to meet with the team. Read it.
Might Ravens LT Jared Gaither be a Washington Redskin soon? Jason LaCanfora of The NFL Network speculated [and that's really what it was] that Baltimore might trade Gaither to the Redskins and move last year's first round pick, RT Michael Oher, over to left tackle.
Gaither, a restricted free agent, carries a tender that calls for first- and third-round picks for a team wanted to sign Gaither to an offer sheet. But the Ravens can choose to take less than that and LaCanfora believes that they might accept as little as a second-round pick for Gaither’s rights.
The Redskins hold the fifth pick of the second round. They also happen to be in desperate need of a quality left offensive tackle.
Gaither fills the bill. The Ravens tabbed him in the fifth round of the supplemental draft in 2007. In 2008 he was the starter at left tackle for a team that played for the AFC title. Last year he started 11 games at left tackle, missing two games with a neck injury and three more with an injured foot.
I smell a rat. Firstly, LaCanfora is a reporter I respect, but I don't see the basis for this rumor/report. Secondly, what NFL team trades a quality starting left tackle for a 2nd round pick? Those guys are gold and the asking price for them is correspondingly high. Trading a 2nd round pick for Gaither would allow the Redskins to use their first round pick on a quarterback [though I don't see how the team could trade up for Sam Bradford without that second round pick], but I just can't believe Baltimore would let Gaither go for that price.
Despite much speculation there is no place for DE Andre Carter in the new 3-4 defense, Head Coach Mike Shanahan says Carter will play for Washington in 2010 and play well. Read it.
Hogs Haven suggests bypassing Bradford in the first round and taking Colt McCoy in the 2nd round. I probably would go offensive line again in the second round, but I vastly prefer McCoy in the 2nd to trading the first AND the second AND more beyond that to take Bradford first overall. Read it.
Tweet of the Day: RealRedskins
Biggest shock since news that Ricky Martin is gay. RT @ProFootballTalk: Report: McNabb doesn't want to play for the Raiders
