NFL Draft 2012: 5 Players the Washington Redskins Should Have on Their Radar

The NFL draft is coming quickly, and the Washington Redskins must be taking some deep looks at who they will be selecting to help improve their team.

The Redskins have plenty of holes that could be filled and with so much talent in the 2012 draft class, they should have no trouble finding the perfect prospects to bolster those needs. Washington needs to improve on both sides of the football, but their offense is the most desperate unit in need of an upgrade.

The Redskins showed good potential at times for head coach Mike Shanahan during the 2011 season, but it is clear they will need to find a franchise quarterback in order to succeed in the future.

With the sixth pick in the first round though, it is uncertain whether or not they will have the opportunity to select one of the top two quarterbacks in this class. This may force the Redskins to look to improve elsewhere, such as the wide receiver and offensive tackle positions, with their first-round picks.

With so much talent in this draft class and plenty of improvement to be made, here are five players the Redskins should definitely have on their radar heading into the 2012 NFL draft.

Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor

The most obvious prospect on the Washington Redskins’ radar must be Heisman Trophy winner and Baylor standout quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Next to certain No. 1 pick Andrew Luck, Griffin is the hot prospect at the quarterback position. With the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings potentially seeking his services, the Redskins will likely to make a move up to the St. Louis Rams’ No. 2 pick to acquire the quarterback.

Griffin is a special talent with top-notch accuracy and arm strength. He is a natural leader with no glaring character flaws.

As a junior in his Heisman campaign, the track star passed for 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 72.4 percent of his passes. He also tacked on 699 yards rushing and 10 scores by way of his legs.

The Redskins would love to have Griffin and will likely do all they can to add the Baylor quarterback. His talent, leadership and potential instantly improve the Redskins offense.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Washington Redskins have quite a few holes on offense, but bolstering the wide receiver position must be one of their top priorities. There might be no better a wide receiver prospect than Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon.

Aging veteran Santana Moss is on his legs and beside him, the Redskins have little talent at wide receiver. Blackmon is an instant improvement to the position.

Blackmon is a 6’1”, 215-pound wideout with sticky fingers. He has strong hands and can make even the most difficult of catches.

Blackmon is a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner with 232 receptions, 3,304 yards and an astounding 38 touchdowns in the last two seasons. That type of production of something the Redskins must desire from their offense.

Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina

DeAngelo Hall has been great at cornerback for the Washington Redskins, but adding a player of Josh Norman’s caliber would make them a truly lethal coverage team for opposing offenses.

Norman is a senior standout from Coastal Carolina who improved his draft stock with a spectacular showing during the East-West Shrine Game week.

The 6', 205-pound corner has quick feet and great closing burst in coverage with natural ball skills. His size makes him an imposing force against opposing receivers who are rarely largely or as athletic as he can be.

Norman led the Chanticleers in tackles in 2011 and accounted for 12 passes defended and eight interceptions. He excels in man coverage,

Unfortunately, Norman has some character flaws that leave something to be desired, but those troubles could be something of the past. Regardless, Norman is a talented cornerback who would easily improve the Redskins' secondary.

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

In the 2012 draft class, there's a collection of wide receivers with talent to be had. If the Washington Redskins don’t take a receiver in the first round, Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill must be a promising young prospect that intrigues them.

Hill is a 6’4”, 206-pound mammoth with talent comparable to former Yellow Jackets star Calvin Johnson.

Asked to block often in Georgia Tech’s triple-option, Hill is surprisingly a very good blocking receiver. That may be a skill Mike Shanahan and the Redskins favor considering how often they like to run the football.

Hill has 4.4-speed and good hands, though much of his tenure in Georgia Tech required running the most basic routes. He makes good adjustments when the ball is in the air, however, and is capable of the “big play” when needed.

Hill is a player with potential to turn into one of the NFL’s elite with some good coaching. He can easily be a steal for the Redskins if that does happen.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

It’s evident the Washington Redskins need to find their franchise quarterback.

Rex Grossman is certainly not that player, but his abilities do enable them to take a player like Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill with the opportunity for him to sit behind Grossman while he develops.

Tannehill is a prospect whose stock has been on a constant rise, but his raw talent is a concern after just two seasons as a quarterback at the collegiate level.

Despite this, Tannehill displays outstanding arm strength and can make any pass asked of him. He reads defenses well and has the intelligence to make plays out of nothing. The former Aggie boasts all of the intangibles an NFL team could ask of their quarterback.

Tannehill is still two years off, but with some patience and good coaching, he could be the franchise quarterback the Redskins seek. With Robert Griffin III likely off the board when the Redskins are tabbed to use their first-round pick, Tannehill must be a prospect they consider with the sixth pick in the NFL draft.