There’s a chance that: Peyton Manning signs elsewhere (likely), another team beats the Redskins to Robert Griffin III (possible), and the Redskins must choose another quarterback.
Former NFL scout Russ Lande said that isn’t as bad as you think. For Lande, who publishes the draft guide GM Jr. and heads the Sporting News’ draft coverage, taking Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill at No. 6 would be wise.
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Lande said Tannehill reminded him of a better version of Jay Cutler, whom Redskins coach Mike Shanahan drafted 11th overall in 2006 with Denver.
“I would be shocked if the Redskins preferred Griffin over Ryan Tannehill,” Lande said. “He’s a big, athletic kid and from people that used to work for Mike in Denver, they’ve told me then that he loved the big strapping quarterbacks. Griffin is not a big thick body kid.
“[Tannehill] can get out of the pocket and he’s a great thrower on the move, which I’m sure is something Shanahan loves. He’s shown that big arm to gun it into spots where he has a little bit of space to fit it. I think he’ll be a great quarterback.”
The Redskins do not appear to be front-runners for Manning. ESPN 980 reported that Manning did not want to play in Washington in part because he wanted to stay in the AFC and not face his brother Eli twice a year. The latter reason is one we’ve heard from NFL sources as well.
Still, they’ll need a quarterback.
“Shanahan can’t miss now,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said on a conference call Thursday. “He missed three times on quarterbacks [Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman and John Beck] and he can’t miss four times. RG3 is the option.”
Kiper’s issue with Tannehill is how quickly he’ll be ready to play. Kiper didn’t like Tannehill’s stats vs. the top teams in the Big 12 (he was under 60 percent completion with nine picks vs. the top four teams). But he excelled in the red zone.
“You like the potential, you like the talent,” Kiper said. “He’ll go high.”
To read more on Tannehill and why Lande ranks Griffin ahead of Andrew Luck, subscribe to the Redskins Report, which is emailed each Friday. Visit: http://vip-stage.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/redskins-confidential/2011/10/redskins-insider-emails-sign-here/149547.
