When looking for a reason not to like Mike Shanahan, his ability as a talent evaluator is often the one area most scrutinized.
They say while Shanahan the coach may have had success in 14 seasons with the Denver Broncos, Shanahan the talent evaluator — considered to have final say on player selection in Denver and Washington — falls short.
But if former Redskins vice president Vinny Cerrato had been as successful as Shanahan was in Denver in evaluating and drafting players, he would still have a job at Redskins Park and we would all be singing his praises.
Let’s take 2008, Shanahan’s final season in Denver: Ryan Clady, Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Broncos; Eddie Royal, wide receiver/kick returner for Denver; Kory Lichtensteiger, starting offensive guard for the Redskins; cornerback Jack Williams, cut after Shanahan left and is now a starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions; running back Ryan Torain, the Redskins top rusher this season, currently injured; defensive tackle Carlton Powell, ruptured Achilles, spent year on Broncos and Browns practice squad, and played in the United Football League; running back Spencer Larsen, currently on the Broncos roster; safety Josh Barrett, two years on Denver’s roster before being waived this season and is now with New England.
Their final selection that year turned out to be the hottest running back in the NFL — Peyton Hillis, who was traded by Josh McDaniels to Cleveland after Shanahan left.
Denver had four picks in the 2007 draft, and all four are still on NFL rosters — linebacker Jarvis Moss, defensive end Tim Crowder, offensive tackle Ryan Harris and defensive tackle Marcus Thomas.
Then comes the great 2006 draft which produced three players that have made Pro Bowls (quarterback Jay Cutler, wide receiver Brandon Marshall and linebacker Elvis Dumervil) and two more current NFL starters (tight end Tony Scheffler and offensive guard Chris Kuper).
The 2005 crop included cornerback Darrent Williams, first-team All-Rookie selection who was shot and killed on Jan. 1, 2007; cornerback Karl Paymah, currently starting for the Texans; Domonique Foxworth, cornerback/safety who signed a four-year deal with the Ravens in 2009 and is out this year with torn knee ligaments; center Chris Myers, currently starting for the Texans; and, of course, the infamous running back Maurice Clarett. Enough said there.
The Redskins should hope they do as well over the next four years.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN 980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
