2015 Draft Prospects... First Edition

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Here's how I feel about the Redskins draft, in general:

1. If we don't get an immediate starter in the first round, then we failed. I don't want to hear about BPA, depth, or anything else. We have the #5 pick, for goodness sakes!

2. If we get two players who become starters by the end of the season, then we did a very good job.

3. If we get three players who become starters before the end of the season, then I'd say we did an outstanding job.

4. I'm assuming in all three of the above scenarios that we'll also draft two or threes other players who will make the team as backups, for now, as they develop.

SM says that drafting well is the key to building a team, so he needs to deliver.

While I generally agree with Nos. 2-4, I disagree with you about No. 1. As to No. 1, while we should absolutely get a starter out of the No. 5 pick, let me ask you this:

(1) Do we draft the guy who SM thinks has the potential to be a perennial pro-bowler and possibly all-pro guy at a position for which we may not need immediate help or who may need a short (half season/full season) to be a spot player as he adjusts to the NFL (ex. - WR)? OR

(2) Do we draft the guy who SM thinks will be a solid/good starter - but nothing special - in the league and will likely play from Day 1 due to the team's poor talent at the position (ex. - OL)?

[BTW - As an extreme example of this type of choice, in 1975, Walter Payton was 4th pick. In his first year, he started only 7 games, didn't play at all in one game, and gained only 679 yards with a 3.5 yd/carry average. At the 5th pick, Cleveland choose Mack Mitchell who started all 14 games his first year, played regularly after that but was out of the league six years later. At the 3rd pick, Baltimore picked Ken Huff who didn't start at all his first two years but played in the league 11 years and, after his third, was a regular starter the remainder of his years. While never a pro bowler, he was a good (but not much more) player the majority of his career.]

To me, if you are truly committed to building for long term, you pick the best talent unless there is a very good reason not to do so. Consistent with this, and the reason I bolded your last statement, expecting what Scotty McC "delivers" on his first draft with the team to be immediately apparent to the fans represents short term thinking.

It's great to hope for immediate impact from a draft class, but, if you expect immediate impact - and attempt to judge SM based on it - you are doomed to failure. Right now, if truly committed to the long term build, get the best guys on the board and check back in four years. This year, I have no expectation from SM other than that he will draft several players who, in a couple years, will be considered very solid guys.

With Scot McC, based on his reputation and his free agent pick-ups, I think there has been a sea change at Redskins park. I also think the vast majority Skins' fans, who have never seen how a consistent winner is built, are going to be completely frustrated for a bit. As for me, unless the picks are completely whack-a-doodle crazy, in Scot I trust.