Washington Redskins: Players Who Can Negate the Heavy Price for RGIII

A second.

A first.

Another first.

That was the price to move up four draft spots and land one of the biggest names of the 2012 offseason.  There's no doubt that the Redskins sold the farm to acquire the long-coveted and needed face of their franchise.

The real question is whether or not it was worth it.

As NFL Network's Mike Mayock pointed out during the broadcast of the draft, "If this kid turns into what Mike Shanahan thinks he turns into, it doesn't matter."

While I absolutely agree with that statement, the cost still remains.  There are players currently on the Redskins roster who can help in making up that cost.

These players are players who have the potential to be playmakers, difference-makers, and even Pro-Bowlers.

If these players can live up to that potential, no one will ask or even remember how much the team gave up to select Robert Griffin III.

Jarvis Jenkins

Jarvis Jenkins' return from injury is like a Christmas present for Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett.

Jenkins was selected in the second round of the 2011 draft as 41st overall selection.  Some considered the move to be a reach, but by preseason, no one was singing that tune.  Jenkins was one of the biggest standouts in training camp and was well on his way to a starting gig.

Through the first two preseason games, Jenkins increased his stock and more than proved his value for his early second-round selection.

Unfortunately, his potentially breakout rookie season was cut short by suffering a season-ending torn ACL in the team's third preseason game against Baltimore.

The defense played exceptionally well in his absence, but he will be more than welcomed back into the defensive end rotation.

Jenkins has reported that he is fully recovered from his injury, and after nine months of rehab, he participated in team OTAs this week.

His loss essentially robbed the Redskins of a second-round pick last season, and his return helps buffer their lack of a second-round pick this season.

Ryan Kerrigan

In 2011, the Redskins entered the NFL Draft with the 10th overall pick.

When perceived prize QB Blaine Gabbert fell to them, they made the decision to use the pick as trade bait and traded with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 16th overall pick.  With that pick, the Redskins selected Ryan Kerrigan.

In the process, the team acquired the Jaguars' 49th pick in the second round.  That pick was traded with the Colts for the 53rd pick and a fifth-round pick (152nd).  The Redskins then traded the 53rd pick for the 62nd and added a fourth from the Bears (127th).  The Redskins then traded the 62nd overall pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the 79th overall pick in the third round, a fifth-round pick (157th) and a seventh-round pick (217th).  The team also acquired a sixth-round pick from Houston by trading up in the fourth-round for Roy Helu.

All that adds up to the value of Ryan Kerrigan being worth six additional draft picks—a third, a fourth, two fifths, a sixth and a seventh.

To put that in more English terms, Ryan Kerrigan awarded the Redskins with Leonard Hankerson, Roy Helu Jr., Dejon Gomes, Niles Paul, Evan Royster and Maurice Hurt.

If that wasn't good enough, Kerrigan turned in a rookie season that was in conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year with 63 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles and a touchdown.

There is no doubt that the trade down for Ryan Kerrigan and the six additional picks it awarded them made it easy for the Redskins to part ways with the price for Griffin III this year.

Leonard Hankerson

Leonard Hankerson was selected with the 79th overall pick in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.  This was the pick the Redskins had gained from Jacksonville in the Gabbert-Kerrigan trade.

Hankerson was a player with a late first- or early second-round grade, but somehow fell to Washington in the third round.

In 2011, Hankerson showed flashes in his few appearances of exactly why he had that high grade.  In only his second career start against the Miami Dolphins, Hankerson had eight receptions for 106 yards, giving the Miami secondary fits all day.

Hankerson suffered a subluxation of his right hip and a torn labrum in that game, which cost him his rookie season.

Entering this season, Hankerson is expected to start alongside Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan/Santana Moss.  He will be called upon to be a work horse at receiver, and he has shown the coaches that he can handle it.  He is on track to be one of the best young receivers this team has seen in over a decade.

Not bad for a third-round pickup in a trade down.

Roy Helu Jr.

Not enough can be said about Roy Helu Jr.

The Redskins are in love with this kid and they should be.  He fits Mike Shanahan's offense to a T, and his quick speed coupled with exceptional power to extend the play is very similar to Matt Forte.

Helu was also a player that analysts believed to be somewhat of a reach in the fourth round, but after becoming the second most productive rookie running back in the league, his critics have long since shut their mouths.

Helu rushed for 640 yards and two touchdowns.  He had 49 receptions for 379 yards and a receiving touchdown.

This was the most production from a rookie running back in Redskins history.  Yes, the 80-year Redskins history.

Over the offseason, Helu has tried to pack on more muscle to aid in his power and with a year under his belt, he has the chance to really turn heads in 2012.

Helu was also selected with a pick acquired in the trade down for Ryan Kerrigan.  He has the potential to be a franchise back if he can build on what he has already shown.

Dejon Gomes

See the trend?

Most of these players were taken with picks that the Redskins entered the 2011 NFL Draft without.

They entered the draft with eight picks that included three seventh-rounders and no picks in the third or fourth rounds. They walked away with 12 total picks and selections in every round.

Dejon Gomes was also a product of the Ryan Kerrigan trade.  He was a player selected with a draft pick the team acquired from Miami.

Gomes exceeded expectations in 2011.  In only five games, Gomes logged 35 tackles and two pass deflections.  All things considered, that's not bad for a rookie.

Many believe that the Redskins' coaching staff is very high on Gomes, and see him as a long-term answer at safety.  However, they aren't sure if he's quite ready for the starting role yet.

With the loss of LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe, he will have an opportunity to compete for a starting safety spot in a wide open secondary competition this offseason.

Another potential starter.  That's really all you can ask from a fifth-round pick.

Evan Royster

Evan Royster really turned heads when handed the starting job in the team's final regular season games.

In just three games, Royster racked up 328 yards on 56 attempts.  That's about six yards per carry.  He also had nine receptions for 68 yards.

Although backup running back isn't the most coveted position on the team, teams pay big money to backup running backs (see Eagles, Bears, Broncos, Giants, Chargers, Saints, Panthers).  If you can find a player who can put his nose down and get you those three yards on third down when you need them, you're in a good place.

Evan Royster is that player for the Redskins.

Between Tim Hightower, Roy Helu Jr. and Evan Royster, the team has three young talented backs they can rely on to carry the franchise.

Royster also was selected with a pick acquired via the Kerrigan trade.

One really begins to realize that the trade down in the 2011 draft was as important for the future of this franchise as the trade up in the 2012 draft.  If not, more so.

Perry Riley

The Redskins gave up two future first-round picks to get Griffin III.

One has to ask the question of what the Redskins could have used those picks on.  What needs would they have in 2013 and 2014?

The need that really stands out is the addition of an inside linebacker to replace aging team captain London Fletcher.

The Redskins, in their first draft under Mike Shanahan, drafted Perry Riley in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.  Riley was one of the top-rated linebackers that year.

In his first season, Riley was nothing more than a special teams player.  In 2011, Riley stepped into the starting role and shined.

Last season he recorded 68 tackles, four pass deflections, two recovered fumbles and stuffed the run five times for 15 yards.

Shanahan has Riley as the starter going into 2012, and he can take the opportunity to improve on a solid 2011 campaign.

By solving a need at inside linebacker, it will help solve a need the Redskins will eventually have going forward, and make the loss of two first-round picks easier to bear.

Kirk Cousins

Everyone knew this player was going to be on the list.

Another question you have to ask is whether or not the Redskins would be able to get any of their lost picks back.

Well, maybe.

Kirk Cousins puts them in position to possibly get a high pick back via trade from another team.  If Griffin III were to go down to an injury, and Cousins were to play at the level he is expected to, other teams would pick up their phones and call Redskins Park.

All the negativity around this pick is the real head-scratcher.  "They already have a young quarterback," or "Now there's a quarterback controversy."  Please, people.

I equate this pick to the situation the Atlanta Falcons put themselves in after the 2004 NFL Draft.

In 2001, the Falcons drafted rookie phenom Michael Vick.  You might have heard of him.  Vick did amazing things that no one had seen before in his first three seasons in Atlanta.

In 2004, the Falcons selected a quarterback in the third round out of Virginia named Matt Schaub.  You might have heard of him too.

It wasn't that they had little faith in Vick, or that they wanted to create a controversy.  They just needed a good solid backup quarterback.  Schaub's only appearances came in preseason: 11 game sub-ins and one start.  In his one start in 2005, he threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns.

During the next season, the Houston Texans picked up the phone and gave up two second-round picks for the rights to Schaub.

Just because you draft a solid backup quarterback doesn't mean you're wasting a pick or creating a controversy.  You're setting yourself up to capitalize on the most coveted position in sports.

If Cousins impresses in preseason or any appearances he may make, don't be surprised to see quarterback-needy teams call.  I'm looking at you, Jacksonville and Arizona.

Chase Minnifield

Chase Minnifield is the X-factor in this whole thing.

Entering the 2012 draft process, the star corner from Virgina had a late first- or early second- round grade.

A season-ending injury cut his chances to achieve that grade.  Minnifield watched as the draft passed him by.

I was ecstatic when Minnifield signed with Washington.  If he can play to the level he has shown he is capable of, he will essentially replace the Redskins' missing second-round pick.

The team entered the draft with the need to draft a corner, and they might have found one in undrafted free-agent pickup Chase Minnifield.

I would be surprised if the Redskins didn't put him on the final roster and give him the opportunity to thrive in the nickel corner position.

Robert Griffin III

No one has the ability to make the trade for Griffin III worth it more than Robert Griffin III.

Look at Eli Manning.  No one remembers or cares how much the Giants gave up to get him, they just look at what he's done.  That speaks enough.

Robert Griffin III is a special player whose charisma and personality fit exactly what this team has needed for a very long time.

Fans are tired of the Mark Brunell and Donovan McNabb trades.  We wanted one to call our own.  We wanted one whose first snap was in burgundy and gold.  We got what we wanted.

Griffin III has the talent to lead a young team that's hungry to succeed to the playoffs.  Not just in the future, but right now.  Under normal circumstances, a rookie takes a little while to come into his own, but this is no normal rookie. 

Couple his intense work ethic, hunger for success and the fact that Mike Shanahan doesn't rely on his quarterback to win games, and the Redskins have a legitimate shot to turn heads in 2012 and beyond.

Was the trade worth it?

Is that even a question?