It may have been a good draft by previous standards, but the Washington Redskins didn’t outpace any of the 2009 NFC playoff teams.
Washington got a needed offensive tackle, but Trent Williams merely replaces the retired Chris Samuels. It’s a long-term tradeoff. The Redskins found a reserve inside linebacker in the fourth round and some offensive linemen in the seventh, but that won’t improve the team much immediately.
Comparably, Philadelphia and Arizona loaded up on talent, especially defensive pass rushers. Dallas found a needed playmaking receiver. The New York Giants bolstered their defense. Green Bay found several players. Minnesota and New Orleans were passable even though both picked at the back-end of rounds.
With only scrub free agents still available, Washington’s offseason rebuilding largely centers on aging quarterback Donovan McNabb and his rookie blind-side protector. Not exactly the way to jump up from 4-12 against the NFL’s eighth toughest schedule.
The draft wasn’t expected to save this team, not with four picks to start (Washington turned it into six with three seventh-rounders). The Redskins largely did as well as they could. But without second- and third-rounders, there was no hope of a talent infusion.
Maybe next year Washington truly will be able to start building in the draft like Seattle and Detroit. Seattle added impact players: offensive tackle Russell Okung, safety Earl Thomas and receiver Golden Tate. Detroit got pass rusher Ndamukong Suh and running back Jahvid Best, whom Maryland fans remember after he rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries in California’s 52-13 rout last fall.
NFC East rivals separated a little more from Washington. Dallas picked up a needed receiver in Dez Bryant and linebacker Sean Lee, though the Cowboys didn’t snag a left tackle, another position of need, despite a first round filled with them. Philadelphia and New York both drafted pass rushers. The Eagles took free safety Nathaniel Daniel with Washington’s pick for McNabb and finished with a gaudy 13 players. Surely they’ve bolstered their depth. Meanwhile, New York went more for reserves, but it was a good long-term draft.
NFC division winners Arizona, Minnesota and New Orleans and wild card Green Bay found contributors. Defensive tackle Dan Williams in particular will help Arizona. Meanwhile, San Francisco looms as a playoff contender. The 49ers took two offensive linemen in the first round and safety Taylor Mays in the second. San Francisco could surpass Arizona in the West.
Essentially, the rich got a little richer and the Redskins’ return to redemption became a little harder.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
