If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Who should they draft?

Don't think there any rumors that they are trading up for the top overall pick or anything like that, I'm just curious as to who you would want the Redskins to pick if they had the first overall pick.

Please note that this is strictly for the Redskins, so consider what you think the team's needs are and whether you think they should go for need or best player available (or the top need might happen to also be the best player).

And you can't trade the pick.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

damnit lol I was gonna say trade the pick down so we can stock up even more, the first overall selection should be going to the team that needs the most help.

But since we can't do that, I say go with Chris Long. DE = need, and it just so happens he's also one of the best players available. I think he'd be just as good in a 4-3 as they say he would be in a 3-4.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Glenn Dorsey at DT..

I would pick Chris Long only if we were using 3-4 scenario

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Glenn Dorsey

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

vern golston( sp?)

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Calias Campbell :D

Sorry, I just had to do that, but in all seriousness it would probably be Chris Long, given the guy can do everything with his hand in the dirt. He also has some potential to play LB, though I would imagine that it's as an emergency LB in a 4-3 system. Still Long has the potential to be the type of player that would make some older fan forget Charles Mann ever existed.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Long...Jake Long. Our needs for a future franchise o-lineman are closer than just about any other position. I wouldn't cry if we grabbed the other Long guy though.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

gholston, long, ellis... all good players. long is probably the safest bet.

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Without a doubt, Chris Long...He can play DE and DT, he is perfect for what our defense likes. He would 100% replace Phillip Daniels. I couldnt think of a better complement to Carter, its almost as if he were made for us.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Jake Long. Tackles like that dont come around often and we could fill up de in the 2nd considering we would have the first second round pick lol

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I think Dorsey is the best player in the draft, and he fits our scheme as well.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I have to say, I would've gone with Jake Long but I feel like we should give Stephon Heyer a chance to improve, he impressed me last year given that he was an undrafted rookie suddenly pressed into starting action. With another season under his belt and some more coaching from Bugel he could really develop into a good replacement for Jansen some day.

Jansen is the only tackle I'm really worried about, I think Samuels is fine on the left side for at least 2 more seasons, but Jansen has had two seasons ended before they started in his last 4 years. I don't even know if he'll be the same player when he comes back from that gruesome ankle injury he suffered against the Dolphins. When I first saw the angle his foot was at compared to the way he was lying on the ground I was genuinely concerned that he might not be able to rehab it back to being normal again.

I would love to pick up Brandon Albert this year though, because guard is where we should be more concerned and he would be a fine replacement for Kendall/Thomas should he get injured.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

[quote=mooby;439426]
Jansen is the only tackle I'm really worried about, I think Samuels is fine on the left side for at least 2 more seasons, but Jansen has had two seasons ended before they started in his last 4 years. I don't even know if he'll be the same player when he comes back from that gruesome ankle injury he suffered against the Dolphins. When I first saw the angle his foot was at compared to the way he was lying on the ground I was genuinely concerned that he might not be able to rehab it back to being normal again.
[/quote]

The funny thing is that Samuals seems to have become the leagues best offensive tackle the last few years, which is funny especially considering that some people proposed a trade to move up and get Robert Gallery a few years ago.

But honestly I think that Samuals ability is a big reason why we're able to compete with teams with a great pass rush like the Giants on a yearly basis while the best offense in the league in New England can't protect Brady to save their life.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Chris Long is the best player in this draft and it isn't even close. The only reason people still talk about Jake Long, Vernon Gholston, and Glenn Dorsey as potentially better players is because they went to bigger football schools and everyone watched them play on Saturday (and Gholston is a workout warrior). I watched Chris Long play every Saturday and he is the best college football player I've seen. He is relentless, eats up blockers, uses his hands better than any DE I've seen at the college level, forces teams to gameplan against him, got double teamed almost every single play because he was so much better than anyone else Virginia had on D, and still put up sick stats. For those who say he would be better in a 3-4, I say you are dead wrong. I guess that comes because he played in Groh's 3-4 and because the 'experts' say he might be suited to that defense. I think he was misused a lot of time as a 2-gap player and that if he could just take the edge he would be an absolute monster. The guy is 275 lbs, runs a 4.75, is built like a friggin' truck, and is extremely quick off the ball when given the opportunity to rush the passer. I hope he gets to play in a 4-3 in the NFL because he will dominate. He's not a 'tweener' he is a classic DE and I only wish he could wear burgundy and gold.

Not even a contest, Chris Long by a mile and a half.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

[QUOTE=SC Skins Fan;439431]Chris Long is the best player in this draft and it isn't even close. The only reason people still talk about Jake Long, Vernon Gholston, and Glenn Dorsey as potentially better players is because they went to bigger football schools and everyone watched them play on Saturday (and Gholston is a workout warrior). I watched Chris Long play every Saturday and he is the best college football player I've seen. He is relentless, eats up blockers, uses his hands better than any DE I've seen at the college level, forces teams to gameplan against him, got double teamed almost every single play because he was so much better than anyone else Virginia had on D, and still put up sick stats. For those who say he would be better in a 3-4, I say you are dead wrong. I guess that comes because he played in Groh's 3-4 and because the 'experts' say he might be suited to that defense. I think he was misused a lot of time as a 2-gap player and that if he could just take the edge he would be an absolute monster. The guy is 275 lbs, runs a 4.75, is built like a friggin' truck, and is extremely quick off the ball when given the opportunity to rush the passer. I hope he gets to play in a 4-3 in the NFL because he will dominate. He's not a 'tweener' he is a classic DE and I only wish he could wear burgundy and gold.

Not even a contest, Chris Long by a mile and a half.[/QUOTE]


Oh come on. Maybe Long is the best player in the draft but it's definitely close.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Wow, this is close.

Probably Dorsey, but Long is ideal also.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Dorsey is the best player, but Long would be a better fit seeing that we have youth and depth at dt, but our DE's are getting old (except Wilson).

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

The Skins have a young QB, you need help to protect him ....OL is where you should go first.The Skins OL is getting old.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

[quote=Giantone;439450]The Skins have a young QB, you need help to protect him ....OL is where you should go first.The Skins OL is getting old.[/quote]

I agree that OL is a place of need. DL is a place of need as well. Now Lets talk about youth. We have a young offensive tackle and 2 young defensive tackles. We have one middle aged (in his prime) DE and one over the Hill DE.

So I would prioritize an offensive tackle/ guard as one need and DE as another. My appologies to all of the fans and the FO who want us to take a DT.

Now lets talk about potential to start for us because 30+mil is way too much money to pay a back up. Would Jake Long start over Chris Samuels?(No). Would he start over Jansen? (possible but unlikely). The truth is he might be the 3rd tackle, but he still has to beat out Heyer (which he should).

Chris Long on the other hand could fill a position of need immediately on the DL at LDE. Andre Carter has the RDE position locked up. Philip Daniels is returning on the Right side and getting old. He also has been playing DT lately so we can move him inside, alleviating the need for another quick DT (temporarily). The rest of ur DE's are situational pass rushers and not every down type of players. Chris long is a everydown type DE with a high motor. He also has the highest starting potential for our team.

Bottom line, if I am going to spend 30+mil on any player, it wll be Chris Long who can step in and play for us right away.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Chris Long.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I don't know if Chris Long will do much as a DE in the 4-3 once the NFL shows up. I think you gotta go OL with that pick like everyone else. Maybe Dorsey. Offer out contracts -- see who accepts before the draft. We don't want a holdout.

The biggest thing we'd get with the #1 overall pick is cap trouble.

PS -- to those of you that think anyone would trade up for the #1 pick, you're nuts. No one wants this slot, including the people who earned it.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

[quote=Daseal;439465]I don't know if Chris Long will do much as a DE in the 4-3 once the NFL shows up. [/quote]

Based upon?

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I'd take chris long then with the secong round I'd take trevor laws, dline solved!

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Ive heard a lot saying he'll probably end up being a backer in a 4-3. I should rephrase, I dont know if he could make an instant impact for us, and Im not sure if he'll be a stud. DE is such a risky position.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

[quote=Daseal;439468][b]Ive heard a lot saying he'll probably end up being a backer in a 4-3.[/b] I should rephrase, I dont know if he could make an instant impact for us, and Im not sure if he'll be a stud. DE is such a risky position.[/quote]

I figured. If you'd watched him play you wouldn't say something like that. The guy is 6-3 and 275 lbs, I don't know where this LB talk comes from. He is a classic DE. I could see saying something like that about Gholston, but it makes no sense with Long. Someone might try to move him to OLB in a 3-4 because he is too explosive to get stuck at DE that defense, but I say he is a better fit as a 4-3 DE. He played with his hand in the dirt almost exclusively at UVa, played a lot of two-gap, faced constant double teams, and still had 14 sacks playing a position that is really not designed to put up those kind of numbers.

Obviously this is a hypothetical debate, but I don't think most people watched enough UVa football last year (perhaps understandably) to really appreciate the ability of Chris Long. Therefore I think a lot of statements you see about him on the internet come out of ignorance.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

His scouting report on ESPN:

Strengths: One of the most versatile and polished prospects in the 2008 class. Possesses adequate height with outstanding bulk and all around strength. Can play DE in three-and-four man front, and also projects favorably as a 3-4 OLB. Displays explosive power with initial punch. He shows very first-step quickness, fires out with leverage and does a great job of knocking offensive linemen back with his initial pop. Displays outstanding power and technique in his club and rip moves. Does a fine job of protecting his lower body. Extremely powerful bull rush. Frequently will stand up the OL and drive him back into the QB. He is instinctive and does an excellent job of finding the ball while still fighting through blocks. He disengages quickly and is relentless in pursuit of the ball carrier. Never gives up on a play and his elite motor is infectious. He grew up around the game and knows what it takes to make it in the NFL. His overall intangibles and work ethic are as good as it gets. Also has been extremely durable to this point; missed time in 2004 due to illness but started every game from that point on (2005-2007).

Weaknesses: Lacks elite top-end speed. Will rarely win battles on pure burst off the edge. Very good athlete as a DE but there are still questions regarding his ability to flip his hips in coverage as a LB. Also can get washed out at times when asked to stack versus 300-plus pound OTs.

Overall: Long appeared in 30 games (24 starts) in his first three seasons (2004-'06), recording 108 total tackles (24 for losses) and seven sacks. He turned in a brilliant senior year, collecting 79 tackles (19 for losses), 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception that Long returned 25 yards. He was a unanimous All-America selection, winner of the Ted Hendricks Award (given to the nation's top defensive end) and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. Long missed five games in 2004 while suffering from mononucleosis. He is the son of Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long. Long still has room to improve when it comes to fighting through double teams and he also lacks elite top-end speed. Otherwise, he's everything a NFL team looks for in a future perennial Pro Bowl defensive end. His combination of size, power, quickness and tenacity are unparalleled by anyone in college football today. Adding to Long's value is his versatility; he can play end in a three-and-four man front (or both in a hybrid) in the NFL. Long has made enormous strides during each of his three seasons at Virginia. If that trend continues as a senior, he will undoubtedly hear his name called in Round 1 of the 2008 draft.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Chris Long. I have seen enough of him to know he is going to be a top 5 DE in the league for a decade. We need DL help and can get depth/long term soultions on the OL later in the draft. I don't even need to think about this. Chris Long without any doubt.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Yeah, I think it would probably have to be Chris Long. I don't understand why people think he will play linebacker, he put up great stats as a pass rushing DE in the 3-4, he'll be great in the 4-3 with his hand on the ground.

All that said, it's hard not to say Glenn Dorsey just because I'm an LSU fan...

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Chris Long. He could be a "Charles Mann" for 10+ years for us. Very polished, so downside is minimal. Dorsey would be the other consideration.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I know it goes against the rules, but we should definitely trade it.

The top pick requires such a huge contract for a player who never played professionally and chances are will never be worth the money that the top pick always gets.

Trade it away for lower picks that won't require sacrificing so much cap space or trade it for veteran players who are more proven AND cheaper.


If we HAD to keep it...take Long. We need O-line depth.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

[quote=Buster;439488]I know it goes against the rules, but we should definitely trade it.

The top pick requires such a huge contract for a player who never played professionally and chances are will never be worth the money that the top pick always gets.

Trade it away for lower picks that won't require sacrificing so much cap space or trade it for veteran players who are more proven AND cheaper.


If we HAD to keep it...take Long. We need O-line depth.[/quote]Undoubtably, any trade that gives up the first pick is a good one. It's just that no one will trade for it.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I think I'd have to go with Dorsey. Tough call though

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I don't think you can go wrong with Dorsey, Sedrick Ellis, or Long with this pick.

Long is the best player in the draft, however positional value does suggest that the standout defensive tackle will make our defense stronger than the standout defensive end.

I wouldn't complain if we traded up for Long though ;)

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Chris Long

we can use that extra explosion comin off the edge. him and Andre Carter will be monstrous together.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

jake long.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I'd make it Glenn Dorsey. Disruption in the middle of the line is just as important to a defense as rush ends are. The DEs got all the glory last year because of what Strahan, Osi, and Tuck did against Brady. But people forgot how dominant the new purple people eaters were with those two Williams guys at DT.

Montgomery already is an above average DT, put Dorsey with him and they'd be downright menacing. Griffin is closer to the end of the road than Jon Jansen is. Not to mention Carter and Marcus Washington would have mad one-on-ones.

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I go Jake Long...OL is the foundation of a team and Jansen is one more injury away from going out to pasture.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

Glenn DOrsey

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Chris Long, we need a guy that can consistently bring pressure from the other side.

Re: If The Redskins Had the First Overall Pick...
 

I'd take Jake Long or Vernon Gholston