In the next few weeks, there will be some more extensive looks at the draft class, but consider this a first-glance reaction at the draft as a whole. You can check out ESPN's analysis of each pick here, but most of the descriptions, especially of the lesser known late-rounders, is short and lacking. Here's the same type of thing from NFL.com... same problems/positives as the ESPN page. Also, make sure to check out Skin Patrol's FanShots of the newest Redskins... some of those video clips will make you very impressed.
Anyway, on to the reaction. Just based on looking through it all, I'll give it a solid B/B+ grade. According to the Redskins Insider, here's what the team got:
That's all folks.They took 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 OL, 1 CB, 2 safeties, 1 DL, 1 punter and 1 QB in all.
Looking at the list, you can see that the team got help in a number of different areas. The 2 WRs (Thomas and Kelly), Davis and Rinehart should all compete for a job right away. The CB (Justin Tryon, with more stuff here) should get some PT early, especially with the Rogers injury. (P.S. Check out the Q&A on Tryon's NFL.com page... about his favorite team growing up.)
So you've got a few offensive guys and a defensive guy that should get a looksee. Then you have the punter, Durant Brooks. I don't see how you draft the best punter in the draft and then not keep him. Frost should be worried. I think this might be an interesting position battle to watch. I am, obviously, pulling for Brooks. But hey, a punter's a punter, right?
So you've got the 2 WRs, the TE, the CB and the P as all pushing for PT early, with the possibility of the OL getting in the action. (The team would obviously love for him to be able to sit and get some time to watch, but you can't always get what you want. The philosopher Jagger taught me that.) I can see the first S (Moore) getting PT on Special Teams. The other S might do the same, but it is always tough to tell. Jackson, the DE, should get every opportunity to take a backup spot away from some veteran.
That leaves the discussion with Brennan. He is obviously a project, but that's kinda what the 3rd QB is supposed to be. He will get the "system QB" thing until he does something in the NFL... but the run-and-shoot seems to be not the worst system to translate to the WC. Before you call me crazy (and laugh until a little pee comes out), hear me out on this: both systems rely on quick, timing-based routes. Both systems get the ball out of the QBs hands quickly so that the weapons on the outside can get it quickly and can make something happen. Both require the QB to read the defense quickly.
Yes, Brennan will have to learn how to take snaps under center, and the transition from college to the pros is always tough for a QB. But for a project QB, it might be well worth the pick. Besides, if any 3rd QB the team could put out there actually got into any games, it doesn't bode well for the long-term success of the team anyway. I'm gonna give Zorn the benefit of the doubt on this one... he is supposed to know a thing or two about QBs.
So what could they have done better? In short, I have no idea... nor does anyone who will actually talk about it. No one was there, in the war room, wheeling and dealing. No one knows who was where on the proverbial "big board" (although JaLaCa found out the number 1 guy was Dorsey) and no one know what they viewed as the biggest areas of strength coming back from last season... and thus, the biggest areas of need. With Zorn, the offense needed some new parts because of the change in systems and with Blanche, the defense should be very much the same. Using that as a basis, it is pretty obvious that the team should focus on the offensive side.
I like adding a punter, but I dunno if I'd draft one. I like adding a WR, but I dunno if I'd add 2 with the first 3 picks. Ditto the TE in the second round. Don't get me wrong... I like all those players, but I'm not sure I would have gone the same direction. I like a lot of the late round picks and I like the flier on Brennan. He will either be a long-term project that could help the team (via future playing time and/or a trade) or he will be shown the door with little cost on the team. Low risk/high reward type of thing.
Also, the Redskins Insider has a run down on the positions for the undrafted FAs:
The Skins have agreed to terms with 13 undrafted free agents, Cerrato said, and the team will announce that after the players are officially signed - they agreed with 4 OL, 2 DL, 1 CB, 1 QB, 1 WR, 2 S, 2 LBs.
I'm looking forward to figuring all this out. There will be some busts... the NFL is like that. It'll be interesting to see how this team comes together. But for now, that's all I've got. As always, hit up the comments. Likes, dislikes, questions, concerns?
Deuce of Davenport, Constitutional Vol. "Post NFL Draft Linkage"