NFL Draft 2012: 3 Possible Options for the Washington Redskins

It was another tough season for Redskins fans in 2011, a season which started off with promise and ended with a fourth consecutive last place finish in the NFC East. Considering that the Giants won the division with just nine victories, the Redskins theoretically had a better chance of winning in 2011 than any other year in recent memory.  

But the story remains the same. Now the Redskins have the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and have a wealth of options to attempt to fix a troubling set of deficiencies.  

One could argue that the Redskins only have a single unit on their team that is solid across the board—the defensive line, which played well pretty much wire to wire and has established itself as one of the premier units in the league. Other than that, its a sad story. 

Here are three ways the Redskins can use the 2012 draft to their advantage.

1. Get a Quarterback Somehow, Some Way

I would first like to preface this by saying that I am NOT and advocate of drafting a quarterback as a quick fix. I think it's a bad strategy that should only be used at the most desperate time.

Well, now's the time.

The Redskins are going nowhere with their current situation under center. John Beck is a complete and utter bust. Rex Grossman can play quite well at times, but he's a turnover waiting to happen and had the primary hand in making the Redskins turn the ball over more than any team in the NFL.

The chances of Washington drafting Andrew Luck are minimal at best, and Matt Barkley's decision to stay at USC for his senior year took another option off the board. The sexy pick (and the correct one, in my opinion) is Robert Griffin III, the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor.

Chances are the Redskins will have to trade a multitude of picks to move up enough to get Griffin, but I think they should do it unless they think Kellen Moore or Landry Jones is a world-beater. Griffin seems like he'd be a good fit and the success of quarterbacks like Cam Newton gives his potential even more buzz.

If anything, the Redskins need to draft a quarterback to show their fans their committed to change. Hopefully it's Griffin. If it's not, they still need to pick one.

2. A Dominant Offensive Lineman

If the Redskins don't draft a QB, it would be, well, not good.  But if the scenario arises, USC OT Matt Kalil is a good option and bar none the top lineman in the draft, but the Redskins would have to decide who would switch to right tackle between him and Trent Williams. The Redskins' offensive line is an absolute mess and needs help in a big way. Iowa OT Riley Reiff is another option.

3. Morris Claiborne

The Redskins secondary played better in the second half of 2011, but the fact remains that it has a lack of talent and depth at the corner position. DeAngelo Hall can be great in stretches but is mostly awful and Josh Wilson is nothing more than decent.

Claiborne could be the guy that helps push the defense over the top and could provide play-making ability to give the ball to the offense more.

Redskins fans have two things to be happy about—the team has a high draft pick, and they played pretty well down the stretch. While going 2-10 after a 3-1 start, the Skins played very well against some high-level competition, and should have won against the Patriots, the Jets and twice against the Cowboys.  

Here's to hoping 2012 holds good things in store for the suffering fans of the burgundy and gold.