Quarterback Sam Bradford would be the perfect choice for the Redskins. Except that the risk might be too high. Bradford, coming off shoulder surgery, is expected to be the first quarterback taken. Washington needs one.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay loves him.
“He has everything you look for in a quarterback,” McShay said, “from the intelligence to competitiveness to leadership to accuracy. Those are the most important traits.”
But hold on.
“If you miss on him it can set you back five, six, seven years,” McShay said. “Washington seems the best fit for him, but something tells me they’ll go in a different direction. They can’t afford with the first pick of a new regime to make a mistake. Bradford has enough red flags that they may pass.”
Bradford played in a spread offense, which typically does not produce quality NFL starters. But that’s less a concern than his shoulder, which cost him 12 games.
The good news for Washington is that Dr. James Andrews, the Redskins’ team doctor, operated on Bradford.
If Bradford is not fully healthy, then McShay looks for the Redskins to select a tackle. The top tackle is Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung. McShay’s choice? Rutgers’ Anthony Davis. He might be a reach at No. 4, but his strengths match what coach Mike Shanahan likes.
“He would fit what they look to do in terms of athleticism and getting out and moving,” McShay said. “There’s a real good chance he’s a top-10 pick… But there are some questions about his maturity and injuries and different things.”
His take on Okung, widely considered the best tackle in the draft?
“Okung is physical at times, but not always,” McShay said.
And if the Redskins waited to draft a tackle in the second round, the two names he mentioned: USC’s Charles Brown and the University of Massachusetts’ Vladimar Ducasse, who has struggled this week at the Senior Bowl.
“Charles did not have the best season this year, but he certainly shows enough footwork and quickness,” McShay said. “But he has to get stronger and more physical. He’s an early second-round pick. He would fit well with what they want to do offensively with athletic linemen.”
Ducasse, who is from Haiti, speaks English as a second language and played against inferior talent in college.
“He had a lot working against him [this week],” McShay said. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a second-round pick.”
By the way, the draft is just under three months away. This is just Part 1 of endless speculation. Enjoy.
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