Home grown talent

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

However, D-line, secondary (ST is an exception - everyone knew he would be a beast), WR, and QB (still an unknown), it seems like we try to buy the position instead of cultivating talent. I recognize that WR/QB are skill positions that are much more difficult to build talent at, but I still thought it was interesting how our success seems localized at certain positions.

I actually think Washington is one of the best teams in the league as far as drafting defensive backs. Champ Baily, Fred Smoot, Sean Taylor and even Carlos Rogers. I'm not as quick to label him a bust as some people. He's about as good as Smoot was in his first couple of seasons, and he's a far better hitter and tackler.

Wide receivers are a different story. Sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough in late rounds, but usually, if you don't get one of the top three guys, they turn out to be average, or solid at best.

Drafting quarterbacks is russian roulette. You can draft a 6th round clip board carrier, that turns into Tom Brady or Brett Favre, or you can draft a first rounder that turns into Ryan Leaf or Cade McNown. It's mainly because it's hard to gauge a quarterbacks poise without seeing him play an NFL game at full speed.