2011 Mock Draft: 10 Prospects the Washington Redskins Should Target

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2010 showed that the Washington Redskins are seriously lacking in young talent.

The team’s drafting over the last few years has been decent in the top-end, netting Washington some young building blocks like LT Trent Williams, LB Rocky McIntosh, LB Brian Orakpo and S LaRon Landry.

However, the Redskins have consistently failed to add solid depth through the later rounds, often drafting players who don’t fit needs and also notching a few notable misses at key positions like wide receiver.

Though the team holds top choices in the first and second rounds, previous trades have left the team without mid round selections. Ideally, Washington would look to move down in both the first and second rounds to grab some additional picks.

In addition, the team has a few players like QB Donovan McNabb, DL Albert Haynesworth, DE Andre Carter and OG Derrick Dockery whom can likely be swapped for a few picks.

With some clever maneuvering, the Redskins could put themselves in a position to add some serious young talent and depth to the spot for the 2011 campaign.

WR A.J. Green

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Wide receiver has been a problem spot for the Redskins for quite some time, even though the team has invested multiple picks and millions of dollars in trying to develop the spot.

Currently, the team has just one legitimate starting wide receiver in Santana Moss. Moss had one of his most productive seasons in 2010, but is a speedster on the wrong side of 30.

Many would argue that Anthony Armstrong has earned his stripes as a starter. Like Moss, Armstrong is a speedster and a legitimate downfield threat. However, Armstrong isn’t physical and often gets lost in traffic in the 5-10 yard range.

He’s terrible when pressed, and has a hard time finding the ball over his shoulder. Armstrong is a third or fourth guy, and would work best in the slot covered by a nickel corner or free safety.

The Redskins need to come away from the 2011 offseason with either a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver, or at least someone who could potentially be one in a couple of years.

A.J. Green is the best receiver to hit the NFL Draft since Calvin Johnson, and his size-speed combination is tough to beat. He’s been very productive, and is a three year starter in the NFL factory that is the SEC.

Green also has all the intangibles. He’s a good student and is respected by teammates and coaches. He can go deep and also over the middle of the field. Green has relatively few injuries and no durability issues.

Though not likely to be on the board when the Redskins select, crazy things happen in the draft. Green could have a cold when he’s ready to run the 40, and turn in a 4.6, knocking him down a few spots. In addition, some players simply get lost in a position shuffle.

The Redskins should be looking at trading back to stock-pile younger talent. However, if Green is on the board, this is a Redskins star for the next 15 years, and the team’s best receiver since Art Monk.

WR Greg Little

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As previously mentioned, the Redskins absolutely have to come away with a potential top-shelf receiver, ideally with a major free agent signing as well as a draft choice.

Also as previously mentioned, A.J. Green would be a fantastic fit, but will almost certainly be gone by the time that Washington makes its selection at No. 10.

Though there are other flashier receivers in the 2011 Draft, North Carolina’s Greg Little would be the best fit in Washington.

Despite his name, Little has a solid 6-3, 210 frame and, combined with top-end speed, would be perfect to work the middle of the field while also being able to keep defenders honest by going downfield on occasion.

Little is very smooth for his size, and a great student of the game. He does a great job creating space, working well against defenders to separate. Little also has top-end ball skills, tracking the ball well and also being able to snag it over his shoulder.

Little also comes with versatility, as he also has 225 career carries as a running back. He has a passion for the game, is a ferocious competitor and no off the field issues (he’s heavily involved in community service activities). He’s likely to be selected in somewhere between the low second to the fourth round.

NT Jerrell Powe

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The Redskins switched to a 3-4 scheme in 2010 with results that could charitably be described as disastrous.

Though many arm-chair quarterbacks look for the team to return to a 4-3 scheme in 2011, that simply won’t happen, primarily because the reasons for changing were sound.

When re-building a team, a smart coach and GM consider the best young players on a team and build the scheme around them. On the Redskins, a defense should be built around Brain Orakpo, Rocky McIntosh, LaRon Landry and DeAngelo Hall. Though the front is relatively inconsequential for Hall, the former three best fit into a 3-4 scheme.

The team’s biggest hole in its conversion is at nose tackle. The NT is situated heads-up on the center, and controls the line of scrimmage, shutting down running lanes straight up the middle and collapsing the pocket by driving the center into the backfield on passing downs.

Though he lacks flash, Jerrell Powe is the best NT for the team. The NT can be the leader of the defensive line and Powe is an older, mature player who will be 24 by the draft and once attended Hargrave Military Academy. He’s started in the SEC, and received Ole Miss’ J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award this past spring.

Powe is durable, reasonably quick and strong versus the run. He has a strong bull rush and does a great job establishing position with good instincts. He lacks top-shelf endurance, but can be a key component of a solid defensive line rotation in Washington. He is likely to be a third-fourth round selection.

OC Rodney Hudson

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The 2009 Washington Redskins offensive line simply was one of the worst lines in the history of the NFL. It had some decent starters, two of whom were lost for the season by the fourth game. The team had not expended more than two draft choices on the position in five years, and as of today, neither of those players remained with the Redskins.

2010 saw the beginnings of change in that area. Washington selected left tackle Trent Williams with the No. 4 overall choice, then traded choices to New Orleans for Jamall Brown who, if the team has any sense, will find a way to re-sign for 2011.

However, the interior of the line still needs some work. Center Casey Rabach isn’t a great fit in Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme, which relies on lighter, more athletic linemen rather than road-graders like Rabach.

Florida State’s Rodney Hudson is such a player. Hudson is a four year starter at a top program despite being slightly undersized at 6-2, 277. He has great awareness in the center of the line, good feet and shows good strength. He’s athletic, and a top-end leader in the center of the line.

Hudson also has all the intangibles and has played multiple positions on the line. He’s a team leader and works hard both on and off the field. If he were 20 pounds heavier, he’d be a likely top 10 selection. However, he will likely slip into the second or third rounds.

QB Andy Dalton

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Washington’s struggles with quarterback, particularly in the 2010 season, have been well documented.

Should Shanahan select a quarterback in the first round of the 2011 draft, it would mark the third time in just nine seasons that the team has done so. Include the litany of good picks given to Philadelphia for Donovan McNabb, and that simply amounts to too many choices flushed down the toilet for very little.

Instead, the Redskins should focus on building the other 21 positions on the field, particularly with its high choices. This team is not a quarterback away from competing.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the team should avoid the position in the 2011 NFL Draft. If the team is able to trade back in the first and second rounds and add some additional choices for trading some of its unneeded players, grabbing a potential developmental quarterback for later would be a shrewd move.

Though it’s tough to say what Shanahan will do in this realm (particularly when he thinks Rex Grossman might be the answer), someone like TCU’s Andy Dalton would be a solid pick.

Dalton is a four year starter and a consistent winner, most recently capping a perfect season by up-ending the favored Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl. His completion percentage, even as a freshman, has always been solid, and his touchdown to interception ratio has been elite the last two seasons.

Dalton reminds many of Saints quarterback Drew Brees: Though lacking ideal height (6-2), he is a vocal leader and very tough. He is likely to be a fourth round selection.

FS Jaiquawn Jarrett

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Washington has been without an elite free safety since the death of Sean Taylor in 2007. Taylor was an athletic freak who roamed the deep third of the field and punished anyone who dared to catch a ball in his territory.

Since then, the Redskins have used a variety of other players in his spot, and have allowed far too many big plays against them. The team did identify a reasonable role player in Kareem Moore to play the spot, but they still need an upgrade.

Though there are a couple of elite free safeties in this year’s draft, the Redskins have far too many holes to devote a top choice to the position.

Enter Jaiquawn Jarrett, a rising prospect from the small Temple program.

Jarrett is a bit undersized, just shy of six feet. However, he’s a three and a half year starter at Temple, with solid production all four seasons. Jarrett is a solid athlete with good flexibility and athleticism. He does everything right in coverage, always getting himself in the right position to make a play on the ball.

Jarrett also possesses all of the intangibles. He’s won multiple awards for achievement at Temple, and is on the school’s honor roll for academics. He’s a rising prospect who, with a little refining, can be a top-shelf free safety in the league. Jarrett is likely to be a fourth or fifth round choice.

FB Owen Marecic

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Mike Sellers has manned the fullback position in Washington for the better part of the last 12 years. A converted tight end and H-back, Sellers is a tough inside presence and a devastating blocker. He’s also a solid contributor on special teams.

Sellers is also well past his prime, and his feet aren’t what they used to be. He’s slower to set his blocks and to pound through a hole.

The team hasn’t had another legitimate fullback on the roster for years, and that’s something that needs to change in 2011. Not only do they need an eventual replacement for sellers, but also someone who can pound through the hole on third and goal from the one yard line.

Stanford’s Owen Marecic is a four year starter with a good combination of height and weight. He’s a tough and competitive blocker who works his butt off to hold his blocks. He’s got good vision inside, and good enough feet to pound through the defensive line in short yardage situations.

Marecic also is a converted linebacker, has played both ways and as such would be a huge asset on special teams. He’s a hard worker and has earned All-Academic honors. He will likely be a fifth round selection.

OG Andrew Jackson

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Like with the center position, the Redskins are also seriously lacking at the guard. Entering 2010, Derrick Dockery was slated to be the top left guard on the squad, but quickly fell out of favor with Shanahan, and will likely be traded or released in the offseason.

That left the team with Kory Lichtensteiger and Artis Hicks as is starting guards. Lichtensteiger had bounced around from team to team before getting his chance in Washington. Hicks had been signed in the offseason to compete at both right guard and tackle. He had been a career backup in Minnesota.

What these two players have in common is that they are not every day starters. They are above average backups, spot starters who could potentially rotate in one position.

Likely Washington will sign a legitimate free agent starter to fill one of the two spots. However, due to the deficiency of draft picks over the last few years, the team should also look to grab a guard on the second day.

As football players continue to get bigger, there are less and less smaller, athletic guards available. However, Fresno State’s Andrew Jackson could be a solid fit.

Jackson is a taller guard at 6'5-plus and, at 288 lbs, has some room to add muscle bulk. He’s a four-year starter and a tough competitor who plays through the whistle. He gets set up and into his stance quickly, and shows good drive and feet. He’s got the athletic ability to run as a pulling guard, and shows good awareness.

Jackson has also been a WAC All-American several times, and is a solid leader.  He will likely be available in the fifth round.

P/KOS Rob Long

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The team’s punter is arguably one of the top defenders on the team. When an offense goes three and out (which the Redskins did far more than enough times in 2010), a good punter can help salvage the situation by bombing the ball down the field.

Washington’s punter situation has been abysmal for years. The team signs good punters, then they get hurt. They sign young punters, but they’re terrible, and are often replaced by the injured ones.

The team also needs to seek a punter who can handle kickoff duties as well. Doing so will allow the team the flexibility to sign more accurate kickers who may not necessarily have the ability to kick off.

Syracuse’s Rob Long is such a punter. He’s punted for the Orangemen for four seasons with elite averages of close to 44 yards each of his last three seasons. He also added kickoffs in 2009, netting kicks over 60 yards a shot with three touchbacks.

Long is likely to be a rookie free agent signing.

Defensive Line Depth

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One of the hardest things to develop in a 3-4 is a solid defensive line rotation. The defensive ends are significantly different than in a 4-3 scheme, as they tend to be bigger linemen who can hold at the point of attack, rather than the smaller, lighter pass rushers favored in the latter defense.

As such, many teams tend to sign a variety of journeymen free agents to hold the fort at the position while they develop the unit through the draft.  Washington is no exception to this.

Washington will be parting ways with Albert Haynesworth this offseason. They also have a pair of over-the-hill linemen in Vonnie Holliday and Phillip Daniels who will also need to be replaced.

2011 is shaping up to be one of the richest drafts for 3-4 defensive ends in a while. There’s a number of players who project well at 4-3 defensive tackle and 3-4 end as well. Washington would do well to grab a player or two late in the draft, as well as sign a number of rookie free agents at the spot, as there will likely be some serious value.