Suspect architect

Gibbs said he’s pleased with the front office. There doesn’t appear to be any movement in the organization to hire a legitimate general manager.

But the Redskins’ moves under Gibbs have not yet paid dividends, which helps explain his 18-21 regular-season mark since returning.

Trades

Cornerback Champ Bailey made it clear he wouldn’t re-sign with Washington, so getting Clinton Portis in return has benefited the Redskins.

But toooften overlooked is the second-round pick the Redskins also surrendered. In the end, Washington traded Portis for Bailey, considered the NFL’s top cover cornerback and a front-runner for AFC Defensive Player of the Year, and a second-round pick that turned into running back Tatum Bell, the AFC’s rushing leader.

The Redskins also traded a third-round pick to Jacksonville in 2004 for Mark Brunell when it was widely assumed the Jaguars would release him.

And there’s the equivalent of a third-round pick to Atlanta for running back T.J. Duckett, an expensive insurance policy and free agent after the season.

Trading Laveranues Coles for Santana Moss has worked out, as has trading up to draft Chris Cooley.

Free agent moves

Some signings have certainly paid off: Marcus Washington, Cornelius Griffin, Shawn Springs, Phillip Daniels and Antwaan Randle El.

But Andre Carter and Adam Archuleta have not. And one player is missed badly: middle linebacker Antonio Pierce. The Redskins botched their opportunity to re-sign a player who wanted to stay. Now he’s playing at close to a Pro Bowl level in New York.

Had the Redskins re-signed Pierce, they could have left Lemar Marshall on the weakside where he’s better suited as an alternative to LaVar Arrington in case he couldn’t play or, as it turned out, left via free agency.

Also, safety Ryan Clark was cheaper than Archuleta and widely respected among his teammates.

Draft

The Redskins have traded away 11 draft choices under Gibbs. They have selected 16 players, with nine still on the roster. Of those nine, only three — Sean Taylor, Chris Cooley and Carlos Rogers — are considered full-time starters.

Gibbs supports vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato. But in the six drafts under Cerrato’s guidance, the Redskins have selected 31 players after the first round and of that group, only Cooley is a full-time starter; just eight remain on the roster, including four from this past draft.

The Redskins entered the season as the NFL’s oldest team and have 13 starters age 29 and older. With few young alternatives, save for quarterback Jason Campbell and linebacker Rocky McIntosh, the Redskins again will have to fill starting jobs via free agency or trades, leaving them in this same cycle.

What might have been

If the current regime kept the gaggle of draft picks traded away, what might the Redskins look like? Here is a look at the picks Washington dealt (year, round) and who was available when they were used.

» 2004 second: safety Bob Sanders (Colts, starter); safety Madieu Williams (Bengals, starter).

» 2004 third: tackle Max Starks (Pittsburgh, starter); tackle Sean Locklear (Seattle, starter), quarterback Matt Schaub (Atlanta, backup).

» 2004 fourth: cornerback Nathan Vasher (Bears, starter); cornerback Jason David (Colts, starter); wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (Jets, starter).

» 2004 fifth: running back Michael Turner (Chargers, backup).

» 2004 sixth: cornerback Dexter Wynn (Eagles, backup)

» 2004 seventh: wide receiver Patrick Crayton (Cowboys, backup)

» 2005 second: safety Josh Bullocks (Saints, starter); linebacker Lofa Tatupu (Seahawks, starter)

» 2005 third: cornerback Dominique Foxworth (Broncos, starter), defensive end Chris Canty (Cowboys, starter)

» 2006 first: center Nick Mangold (Jets, starter), guard Davin Joseph (Bucs, starter), tackle Marcus McNeill (Chargers, starter)

» 2006 third: tight end Dave Thomas (Patriots, backup), linebacker James Anderson (Panthers, backup)

» 2006 fourth: defensive tackle Barry Cofield (Giants, starter)