Why The McNabb Trade Was Bad For Washington

It seems kind of ironic that the two teams that were the front runners for Donnovan McNabb were the Raiders and the eventual "winners" the Redskins. Both Al Davis and Dan Snyder have a history of making these types of deals for their respected teams.

The Raiders traded for an aging Richard Seymour last season in a deal that lost their first round pick for 2011. Seymour didn't turn the Raiders season around or make them all that much better. Seymour didn't even want to go to Oakland after being traded in the first place. Who can blame him? But maybe the Raiders should stay away from first round picks because it might bring them more players like Michael Huff, JaMarcus Russell, and Darrius Heyward-Bey.  

The Redskins aren't far behind the Raiders in stupid moves in recent years. Giving big contracts to players like Brandon Lloyd, Randle El, and Albert Haynsworth. Not to mention their lack of respect for the draft that in the past ten drafts they have had three years of no first round picks, only seven picks from 2003-2004, and an endless amounts of failed prospects.

This trade leaves the Redskins with only 4 picks in this years draft. After their number 4 pick the Skins have to wait until the 103 pick in the 4th round to pick up another player. Some experts are saying that this years draft is one of the best and deepest classes in a long time. The Redskins have a lot of holes that have led them to being the 4th worst team in the league. Who ever the Redskins pick with the 4th pick it won't be enough to make their team a contender or help them for the future. Earlier in the off-season it seemed that the Skins were thinking "rebuild" with the signing of Mike Shannahan.

 The Skins cleaned house by losing Betts, Collins, Randle El, Samuels, Thomas, Griffin, Smoot, and Cartwright and added some subtle free agents in Kemoeatu, Buchannon, Larry Johnson, Parker, and, Grossman. The talk about the Redskins picking up either Sam Bradford or Clausen with their first round also seemed like a good move to make them a contender.

Both Clausen and Bradford are 22 years old and could bennefit from sitting behind McNabb for a year or two. But even if they decide to pick up a QB at number four or even higher, that leaves picks in the fourth, fifth, and seventh round to fill the numerous holes that the Redskins have. It may take a trade of a Jason Campbell, Andre Carter, or another player to get some picks back.

The Redskins' best bet may be to trade down or select another player besides a QB and take a chance on a late round QB like Skelton or even Tebow, if he falls, to put behind #5.

Even though he is a pro bowl caliber QB and a proven leader, McNabb isn't going to take the Redskins anywhere this year. Taking an over-the-hill QB in favor of a younger franchise QB isn't always the path to the Super Bowl. McNabb has taken a beating in his eleven seasons in Philly and might not last as long as the Redskins expect him to.  McNabb is 33 years old today and it will take more than just him to lead the Skins back to the playoffs and the injury prone QB is running short on time left in his career.