We know the impact that London Fletcher has had, both on and off the field, over the last couple season with the Redskins. He, however is not immortal, and the Redskins will eventually need to draft his replacement. With all the talk of the new 3-4 scheme coming to D.C., the Skins may look to fill that need sooner rather than later, by using a later round pick in the 2010 draft on a larger 3-4 compatible linebacker. Both Fletcher and McIntosh lack the ideal size that is prefered for the 3-4. We do have some linebackers on the roster that could fit the bill, but most of them are unproven at this point in their careers.
A perfect scenerio in this years draft would have us addressing our most pressing needs early with our first two picks, and using the later rounds to fill in some gaps we have. Below are some middle linebackers who could be targets for the Redskins in the later rounds of the draft.
Brandon Spikes - 6'3" 250 Florida
Spikes stock was a high as it was going to get after his 2008 junior season in Gainsville. Many NFL scouts were surprised at his decision to return for his senior season, and it seems it had some meritt. His production declined, and his draft status took a serious hit. It got worse for Spikes at the 2010 combine, as he didn't perform very well further hurting his stock. At his recent Florida Pro Day, he posted 40 times above 5.0, which could have cost him millions of NFL dollars. Point is, the kid can play football. If he remains on the board in the 4th round, the Redskins could pull the trigger.
Micha Johnson - 6'2" 258 Kentucky
Johnson was on of the most sought-after prospects coming out of high school. He surprised many by selecting Kentucky. He did not get the national exposure of some of the other linebacker prospects in this class, but he certainly has the skill set required to be successful in the NFL. Johnson has excellent size and instincts for the position, and would be a nice fit for the 3-4. He reminds me of second year Vilkings linebacker Jasper Brinkley, who also played in the SEC under Steve Spurrier at South Carolina.
Dakoda Watson - 6' 2" 240 Florida State
Although listed as an outside linebacker, Watson may be better suited to play inside in the 3-4. He is a fierce hitter, with good range and instincts. He does lack some cover skills which may be a concern to some GM's, but his overall athleticism isn't something to be overlooked.
Pat Angerer - 6'0" 235 Iowa
Angerer comes form an excellent coaching staff at the University of Iowa. He is a hard-nosed player, who is a better athlete than most give him credit for. He could also be an excellent special teams player.
Roddrick Muckelroy - 6' 2" 246 Texas
Muckelroy didn't become a full-time starter until his senior season, but he made the most of his opportunity starting 13/13 games, and posting 112 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 FF, and 1 FR. He is not the most dynamic linebacker you will find, but he is very coachable, and has the tools to be successful.