Mel Kiper updates his draft board...

by Kevin Ewoldt on Jan 22, 2009 10:04 AM EST

Mel Kiper Jr. updated his mock draft board yesterday and has the Redskins selecting Brian Orakpo, the defensive end from Texas.

Size: 6'4 260 lbs.

Scouting reports on his Senior year, courtesy of fftoolbox.com:

10/16 Update: No defensive lineman is having a year better than Orakpo. After just six games, the defensive end has tallied 12 tackles-for-loss, eight sacks and 16 quarterback hurries. Orakpo went up against Oklahoma offensive tackle Phil Loadholt in the Red River Rivalry and absolutely dominated the big lineman. That alone nearly boosted Orakpo into the first round.

12/17 Update: Orakpo continued his dominance during his senior season and continued to rise up the draft boards. The defensive end finished the regular season with 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles-for-loss. For his efforts he garnered a plethora of postseason accolades. Being named to the AP first-team All-American squad and being the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year are both very nice, but winning the Bronco Nagurski Trophy is even better. Orakpo is well on his way to a successful career in the NFL.

Here is some video of him recording a sack in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. He's the DE on the 3-man rush at the top of the screen:

What are your thoughts if the Skins selected him as a 1st round pick instead of trading down? I'm rather confused with this pick since Jason Taylor and Andre Carter are both still Redskins at this point.

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4-3

Did Texas play a 4-3 base defense? If so, then I don’t want to draft this kid.

by artmonk4ever on Jan 22, 2009 12:11 PM EST reply actions

texas D

Texas’s base defense was a 4-3. Now that I think about it, drafting a DE in the first round makes perfect-sense to me now, after all, Vinny drafts the best player available regardless of position…so if that happens to be this kid, then I guess Kiper is right.

Lord help us.

by Kevin Ewoldt on Jan 22, 2009 12:47 PM EST reply actions

OL

We haven’t drafted an OL since Samuels. We need a nucleus to run behind and throw. A massive blocker like that fat ass from alabama. Somebody big and strong and smart on offense. Our D is tight and our DBs are phenoms!!

MattyK

by MattyK_Hail_Skins on Jan 22, 2009 12:55 PM EST reply actions

Draft Pick

Really? You people are reacting to Mel Kiper’s (or anyone else’s) mock draft? Do you people realize Vinny Cerato is STILL in charge of player personnel (that is, he squeezes in those responsibilities while not DJing on 980)?

I also love the respondent who referenced the two existing old, tired ends as a response to Kiper’s mock, as if 30-something players at any position other than kicker EVER factor into a team’s long term plan. Oh, sorry, the Redskins don’t have a long term plan. My bad.

by FireVinnyCerato on Jan 22, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Good Point on 30-something players

Not part of the plan except Kickers….

QB?
MLB?
Safety?
CB?
Any position but kickers, the players should just retire at 30 because they are no longer in anyone’s plan

by dr WNC on Jan 22, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Building for Champion

Following a proven formula of replacing pieces as the wear down is smart. Key is O-Line ( the season of our last SB, Rypien had the cleanest uniform in the NFL ) We never had a Young, Marino, Aikman, But we had the Hogs!
n the past the skins had to release some greats to maintain a competetive team. Exp: Mann, Manly, Clark, Monk, Schlerteh, etc… Our skill players are closing in on that 30 mark also, Campbell 27, Portis 27, Moss 29, At what point do you need to rplace aging vets. Last year the Steelers let a All-Pro guard go to the Jets and they still go to the SB. The owners and GM that build for now have crippled their teams.
Cerrato has not proven to be a very good personnel evaluator. 2008: 14 picks, 1 part-time starter. No impact players. 2009: 4 picks and 2010 we have already given away a pick. Bobby Bethard was able to find GEMs in the rough and built SB winners, he would have found a serviceable punter and used the Durant pick for someone who may have contributed. Cerrato is the Matt Millen for the redskins.
Miami, Atl picked a GM that made a difference, KC is on it way w/ Pioli. Lions still wont get it right. Teams like Wash, Oak, Dal, will always say “what could have been”

by Fil on Jan 24, 2009 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Kiper mocks on BPA

hey guys, 3k from TST. I’m putting together my 3rd mock draft (just to pick 15), and I stopped by to see what draft talk you guys had going on. (So you know, I have Orakpo going 9th to the Packers) Kiper bases his mock board on BPA, or best player available, not based on teams’ needs, which is why he has Malcolm Jenkins (CB, Ohio St.) going to a team that is sending two CBs to the Pro Bowl…

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Jan 27, 2009 2:57 PM EST reply actions

3k, give us a DE/OLB please

Or a punter. We can get a starting OL in 2nd or 3rd round, assuming we can nab a pick in the 2nd round somehow in a deal. I love Alex Mack from Cal. I would love to see us build the center of our line around a guy like that. But #13 is too high to get him.

by Ken Meringolo on Jan 27, 2009 5:20 PM EST reply actions