Even in victory the Washington Redskins lost.
The Redskins had an outside chance at the fifth overall draft pick in 2011 before their 20-17 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Now they’ve likely fallen from the top 10 even if they lose to the New York Giants on Jan. 2.
Goodbye, Jake Locker. Hello, Cam Newton?
The Redskins are readying for the offseason, when a fruitful free agency class awaits. That is, whenever the labor agreement finally occurs and business resumes following a spring dance in court rooms.
Watch owner Dan Snyder spend big money for free agents. Coach Mike Shanahan proved this season he likes older players, even if it was the younger ones who were the best bargains.
But the payoff for another crummy season was lost when they beat the Jaguars. Not that anyone is saying they should lose to improve the draft order, but the Redskins’ typical luck just saw that happen. They’re currently No. 14. Finishing 7-9 might move them to No. ?16. That’s just past an immediate impact player like Brian Orakpo and probably someone like Tennessee reserve defensive end Derrick Morgan, last year’s 16th pick.
The draft is another one-shot chance of finding an impact player after the team traded its second- and third-rounders for Donovan McNabb and Jammal Brown, who probably won’t be here next year.
That one player could be a quarterback. The Redskins need to sell long-term hope to fans no longer interested in short-term fixes. The potential lockout might delay thousands of season-ticket renewals of fans tired of persistent losing over two decades.
Snyder peddles hope, and nothing’s better than a first-round passer, especially a top-five pick. No one’s prying away Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck from Carolina as the top pick, but Locker might have been there for Washington at No. 5. Instead, the Redskins must either trade up to get a passer or move on to another position of need of which there are plenty. That is, unless Snyder wants to gamble on Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who threw 30 touchdowns for the Razorbacks.
General managers love to say they take the best player available and don’t draft for need, which is really a cowardly system. Taking tight end Fred Davis hasn’t helped the Redskins because he can’t beat out Chris Cooley. That 2008 second rounder could have been a needed offensive lineman.
Fortunately for Redskins GM Bruce Allen, the Redskins have so many needs he can still take whomever he wishes. Maybe Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller, Mississippi defensive tackle Jerrell Powe or one of a half-dozen cornerbacks and safeties.
Allen is a deal maker, so the Redskins probably won’t sit at their assigned slot. There are too many needs, so dropping down for more picks is also possible. Either way, the chance for a big-name passer disappeared in Jacksonville.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
