The NFL Draft Countdown is where we take a closer look at an NFL franchise to see what its transactions have been and what its needs are.
Franchise
Draft Position: 4
2009 Season Result: 4-12 (4th in NFC East; Missed Playoffs)
2009 Head Coach: Jim Zorn
2010 Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (146-98; 8-5)
Key Transactions
QB Donovan McNabb (from PHI)
QB Rex Grossman (from HOU)
RB Quinton Ganther (to SEA)
RB Larry Johnson (from CIN)
RB Willie Parker (from PIT)
WR Antwaan Randle El (to PIT)
G Artis Hicks (from MIN)
DT Maake Kemoeatu (from CAR)
CB Philip Buchanon (from DET)
P Josh Bidwell (from TB)
Draft Picks
1-4
4-5
5-4
7-4
Analysis & Outlook
Normally, the Washington Redskins make a big splash once free agency starts, but not this year. Unlike owner Dan Snyder, new HC Mike Shanahan knows what he’s doing so he let everything play out. He got what he wanted. A couple of RBs here, a G there, add in a DT and a P, and then a franchise QB. That was actually very impressive of the Redskins to land Donovan McNabb. McNabb will help an offense that was poor last year and couldn’t complement a top 10 defense.
On offense, the Redskins will want to get more fundamentally sound and that would be in the form of strengthening the O-Line. They’ll also get a better feel of how well their young WRs have progressed with McNabb under center.
On defense, the Redskins will look to add players at LB and CB, and potentially at DT to help free up Albert Haynesworth to be more disruptive.
In the first round, I expect the Redskins to go after T Russell Okung or T Trent Williams. They lost their second round pick in the McNabb trade so they don’t have much left. I expect them to target a CB in round 4, a DT in round 5 and a LB with their final pick.
If the defense continues to play well, the Redskins will be much better than last year because of McNabb’s experience and quality as a player. It’s the toughest division in football, but they’ll make progress in 2010.
2010 NFL Draft Countdown: Washington Redskins
Franchise
Key Transactions
Draft Picks
Analysis & Outlook
Normally, the Washington Redskins make a big splash once free agency starts, but not this year. Unlike owner Dan Snyder, new HC Mike Shanahan knows what he’s doing so he let everything play out. He got what he wanted. A couple of RBs here, a G there, add in a DT and a P, and then a franchise QB. That was actually very impressive of the Redskins to land Donovan McNabb. McNabb will help an offense that was poor last year and couldn’t complement a top 10 defense.
On offense, the Redskins will want to get more fundamentally sound and that would be in the form of strengthening the O-Line. They’ll also get a better feel of how well their young WRs have progressed with McNabb under center.
On defense, the Redskins will look to add players at LB and CB, and potentially at DT to help free up Albert Haynesworth to be more disruptive.
In the first round, I expect the Redskins to go after T Russell Okung or T Trent Williams. They lost their second round pick in the McNabb trade so they don’t have much left. I expect them to target a CB in round 4, a DT in round 5 and a LB with their final pick.
If the defense continues to play well, the Redskins will be much better than last year because of McNabb’s experience and quality as a player. It’s the toughest division in football, but they’ll make progress in 2010.