No worries

[Zen-like Todd]

Has anyone noticed that this isn't really a first round where we feel the need to move up and grab someone? Let's just ASSUME we want someone on the defensive line, or a WR. We pick 18th. Before we pick, the following positions will be raided<br /><br />2 QBs<br />1/2 Safeties (depends where Ed Reed goes)<br />2 CBs (at least)<br />2/3 OTs (the third would be Pearson)<br />2 TEs<br />Mebbe 1 RB<br /><br />Ok, so best case (which isnt really a stretch, and leaving out the RB), that would be 11 players. Now, let's look at how many defensive lineman there are who we'd be happy taking in the first round.<br /><br />DE - Julius Peppers, Dennis Johnson, Kalimba Edwards<br />DT - Ryan Sims, John Henderson, Albert Haynesworth, Wendell Bryant<br /><br />Funny, that looks like 7. Meaning that one of the 7 will still be available at 18. And my random number spewings completely ignore the WR position. One or two WR may very well go before we pick. What about guards? Maybe Gurode goes early to Cleveland or something like that too. Now obviously Peppers won't be available, but my point is, I really don't think we have to worry too much about a quality defensive lineman being available when we pick, someone who can help us THIS year.<br /><br />'s all good, is what I'm saying... aint no thang.

[Zen-like Todd]

And of course, we still supplement that in free agency.... especially if we pick up a DE. Someone like Dalton would really be nice. Line him up next to Big Daddy, have Dennis Johnson on one end, Kenard on the other. Suddenly, we're not so geriatric.

[Die Hard]

The only one out of the bunch I pray the Redskins do NOT select is Kalimba Edwards. <br /><br />And I believe only 1 TE will be gone by the time the Skins pick.

[@DCGoldPants]

What if teams drafted cheerleaders also?<br /><br />I'll take Hootie McBoob from U of Miami with the 5th pick in the 1st round.<br /><br />"You know Bill, Hootie not only has a huge rack, she also is is extremely flexible and has NO shame!" "I heard that about her Sam, lets not forget that she's double jointed and is experience in dancing on poles which translates well to gametime situations!"

[Zen-like Todd]

I dunno Die Hard... methinks the Giants will go with a TE (mebbe Tom can shed some light on this), and Kiper has the Saints taking a TE too. The TE class is stacked, and I seriously doubt only one is snatched up before us. I expect the Cowboys to go D, but they could use a real TE as well.

[OrangeSkin]

It seemed to me like the Giants had decent play out of their TEs last year when they actually threw them the ball, which was very rare.

[NavyDave]

I'd have no problem signing a Sammie Adams,resigning a K Lang, draft a D Johnson and takin a cap hit by waiving either Coleman or B Smith.

[bulldog]

let's hope teams DO select tight ends in the first round. <br /><br />unfortunately, it is a position tangential to being successful in the NFL. <br /><br />it is nice to have a productive tight end, just as it is nice to have a killer safety.<br /><br />but it is not required to be successful. many teams have won the SB with workman like players at positions such as FB, TE, OG, S and K.<br /><br />therefore it seems a stretch to take these players so high unless they are truly one of a kind athletes.<br /><br />If a Kellen Winslow is available then you make an exception.<br /><br />but to me the top of the draft is about the critical positions: qb, rb, wr, de, t, lb and cb.<br /><br />everything else can wait. <img border="0" title="" alt="[smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[Larry]

I think, if I'm the guy making the Skins picks, my big question would be "How good a DT can I get in the 2nd round?" <br /><br />At least from what I've read linemen don't have to come from the first round to be productive. If you're 90% certain you can get a good guy in the 2nd, then I wouldn't object to picking another position with the first. (The same kind of reasoning would apply to trading down). <br /><br />I do consider DT to be our biggest draft need. (QB is up there, too, but people who're more expert than me say there don't seem to be any great ones this year). I'm just wondering if there's that much difference between the DT we'll get with #18, vs. the one we can get at #49. I'm thinking we need a DT, but maybe we can get a DT and a first rounder at another position (can't think of one). <br /><br />(Maybe we can get some college kid to drop a blunt at a party where some kid we we want is).

[aparrish]

It does seem to be a good thing that the deepest positions are ones we need, DL, OL, WR...<br /><br />Also I think that teams tend to get greater value from OL drafted in later rounds when compared to DL in later rounds? I have no idea where I get this feeling because it is possible to find gems on both sides, but I just seem to know a lot more 5-7 round OL guys that developed into all-Pros... So just by that and looking at draft depth, I think DL in the first would be better with OL or WR going in the 2nd.

[GURU]

I still say DE is a MUCH bigger need than DT. I like Dennis Johnson. He's got almost as much upside as Julius Peppers. He's a little more raw, but he's got that kind of special athletic ability.<br /><br />I'm more incline to find another DT through free agency. And, if you can talk him into it, I'm even willing to go with Kennard Lang for one more season at DT. Here's my reasoning:<br /><br />If you draft a Dennis Johnson, and Lang plays DT, you don't have to take the gigantic cap hit by cutting Smith or Coleman. Smith and Coleman start at end. Johnson replaces Coleman on passing downs and gets worked in on a rotational basis to spell both Smith and Coleman. Lang can be moved up and down the line, much like he was this past season. He can get a blow at tackle. He can shift over and spell Coleman or Smith.<br /><br />I guess the idea is to think more long term. This way, you get to keep Lang and his playmaking ability. After next season, when Smith retires, Lang can move back to DE full-time. And Dennis Johnson, or another young DE, has gotten a year of experience playing behind and rotating with Smith and Coleman.<br /><br />The thing is, if you rotate defensive lineman, kind of like Miami does, you can re-sign Lang, draft a DE, and maybe even sign another DT WITHOUT having to get rid of anybody. Everybody plays. Everybody contributes. And when someone does leave, it's not like there's guys playing next to someone they've never played with before.<br /><br />And Die Hard, people who pass over Kalimba Edwards are going to regret it like the people who kept passing over Texas DT Shaun Rogers because of his ankle injury. The kids a player who can immediately help the pass rush, and has the frame to become a very good every-down DE. He already plays the run better than many of his NFL counterparts.