The Redskin Report

The Redskins have spent years shunning the draft. Even this year, they’ve dealt away about half of their picks and can take half the draft off after the 1st round. Joe Gibbs likes to talk about true Redskins and then spends most off-seasons picking up other team’s guys. So we all shook our heads when the rumors hit that the Redskins were going to move their 1st pick for Lance Briggs or move way down in the draft to get Dre Bly. Luckily those rumors proved false, and it looks the Redskins will either be picking high in the 1st round (either staying put or moving up) or moving down and stocking up on picks. Its about time.

Think about the big message board debates of the past few years, they all involve drafted players. Lavar Arrington, Patrick Ramsey, Champ Bailey, Fred Smoot, those are the players fans grow to love and identify with. You might not care for them by the time their Redskin career comes to an end, but they remain the players who can spark the hearts and minds of fans.

Fred Smoot is the prime example. Let’s face it, the guy isn’t a great corner. At his very best, he’s probably a borderline pro bowler alternate. He spent the past few years in Minnesota doing god knows what with strippers on boats. But everyone welcomes him back with open arms. He’s our guy and we accept him, warts and all.

We learn to love the Marcus Washington’s, the Santana Moss’s and the rest of them. But its just not the same. They didn’t grow with the Skins and you just don’t feel the same attachment. This is another reason why Jason Campbell is so important to this team. The Redskins haven’t had a long term homegrown QB in forever.

So while we’ll all have our player we want the Redskins to pick come draft day, its going to be fun to watch. Who knows, he just might end up being the name on you next jersey.