Vinny Cerrato

[FRPLG]

Here's the deal. I find it hard to believe that any of our picks we're not the highest player on our board. If we accept that then we can only view this draft as a success right now because we got as much talent as we possibly could. Some of us would prefer that we addresses some other needs and I understand that but we have to assume that Cerrato and co. felt taking players for needs was going to get us less talent overall. In the end we'll be lucky to get 4-5 solid to good players out of a draft like this. Trading down and accumulating more picks in the rounds wehere we felt value was to be had was just plain smart. No other way to to reasonably look at it.

Take away our own perceived abilities of the players and substitute the the abilities that our FO thinks these guys have and we had a good haul.

It all comes down to talent evaluation now. Nothing else. They either knew what they were getting or didn't. The fact that we didn't rally address some needs spots was simply a function of our talent evaluation.

So we'll see.

We have to ask ourselves though what "successful" means at some point. If we go out and go 2-14 this year because our DLine tanked and JC got sacked every other play but in 3 years we have the high flyinest offense ever with the greatest WR corp on the planet then was this a successful draft? Or are we only going to year by year? In other words if every single player we picked makes the team and contributes well but we suck because we didn't get a pass rusher or linemen are we okay with that?

[Big C]

i never really got he vinny hate, but either way i am pleased with how he handled the draft

[JWsleep]

I'm glad it's at least clear now who is making the picks.

As for this draft, both Boswell and JLac at the Post were pretty skeptical about not bolstering the line or the DB corps in round 2, and I think most of us were as well (admit it: you were at first kinda surprised with the TE and 2nd WR). The premise of this argument is that the skins draft board was skewed by Snyder's deep desire for a serious WR. That overvalued the pass catchers at the expense of everyone else. And the rest of the league generally had lower grades for these guys than the skins did, or at least so it appears, given how low they fell.

Time will tell, of course. And Rome was not built in a day. But I would feel much better if they had picked an OL or DL player in round 2.

[Bishop Hammer]

For the record, I never thought Cerrato was bad at his job. I always disliked him because he was a yes man to Snyder. It is obvious that Cerrato is making these personnell decisions and Snyder is having little involvement in them.

[onlydarksets]

Maybe my expectations are lowered, since this is the first year in a LONG time we are working with a legitimate number of draft picks. In past years, 2-3 players in a draft sticking around past their rookie contract was an excellent draft for the Skins. I'm pretty confident that we'll get at least that out of this class. However, we had 3-4 extra picks this year, so perhaps my expectations should be higher. This is all so foreign to me.

[jbcjr14]

I am also impressed with the way Vinny handled the draft. I think the movement in both the 2nd and 5th rounds were good moves for us. I do believe that we will make some type of after June 1 move to get depth on the DL and the OL.

IF, the OL can stay healthy in total, this offense will be EXPLOSIVE!

[SmootSmack]

I'm not that big a fan of VC the person, but I've always thought he's pretty good at what he does. And I can't state enough how critical Scott Campbell is to the whole process. I know I've been pimping him for a while now, but dude knows his sh*t.

I think most of the criticism directed toward the Redskins in the past has been "They pick good players...so why don't they pick more often?" Which is valid.

This year we addressed several, but not all, needs. There still is the undrafted free agency period and June 1 cuts of course.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm not that big a fan of VC the person, but I've always thought he's pretty good at what he does. And I can't state enough how critical Scott Campbell is to the whole process. I know I've been pimping him for a while now, but dude knows his sh*t.

I think most of the criticism directed toward the Redskins in the past has been "They pick good players...so why don't they pick more often?" Which is valid.

This year we addressed several, but not all, needs. There still is the undrafted free agency period and June 1 cuts of course.

Smootsmack - I think this is the biggest issue I have with the Skins. I have bashed Cerrato before, but this draft went well in my opinion and if they did what they did this year going forward I would be pretty happy as far as attempting to acquire more picks by trading down.

What still worries me is I read a lot of reports that said the Skins were trying to trade multiple picks for Chad Johnson , Boldin or Williams. While all 3 receivers have good production, I really wish the Skins would get away from trying to unload their picks by acquiring high profile players. While many of you will argue that any of these 3 guys will solve the passing problems of our offense, I would think you really can't defend that all 3 of these players would put a major strain on our salary cap situation. So thank goodness the Bengals, Lions and Cardinals saved the Redskins from themselves and refused to trade. I am glad the Skins decided not to trade away their picks and instead roll the dice on some recievers I think will do pretty well and for a heck of a lot less than these other 3 will cost.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Smootsmack - I think this is the biggest issue I have with the Skins. I have bashed Cerrato before, but this draft went well in my opinion and if they did what they did this year going forward I would be pretty happy as far as attempting to acquire more picks by trading down.

What still worries me is I read a lot of reports that said the Skins were trying to trade multiple picks for Chad Johnson , Boldin or Williams. While all 3 receivers have good production, I really wish the Skins would get away from trying to unload their picks by acquiring high profile players. While many of you will argue that any of these 3 guys will solve the passing problems of our offense, I would think you really can't defend that all 3 of these players would put a major strain on our salary cap situation. So thank goodness the Bengals, Lions and Cardinals saved the Redskins from themselves and refused to trade. I am glad the Skins decided not to trade away their picks and instead roll the dice on some recievers I think will do pretty well and for a heck of a lot less than these other 3 will cost.

Also you assume a lot less risk with 3 players as opposed to 1. If 1 of the 3 gets injured you still have 2 able bodies to maintain their position.

If that 1 player gets hurt that position is now a liability. I'm glad the football gods smiled upon us and let us keep our draft picks.

Hail to the Redskins

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Smootsmack - I think this is the biggest issue I have with the Skins. I have bashed Cerrato before, but this draft went well in my opinion and if they did what they did this year going forward I would be pretty happy as far as attempting to acquire more picks by trading down.

What still worries me is I read a lot of reports that said the Skins were trying to trade multiple picks for Chad Johnson , Boldin or Williams. While all 3 receivers have good production, I really wish the Skins would get away from trying to unload their picks by acquiring high profile players. While many of you will argue that any of these 3 guys will solve the passing problems of our offense, I would think you really can't defend that all 3 of these players would put a major strain on our salary cap situation. So thank goodness the Bengals, Lions and Cardinals saved the Redskins from themselves and refused to trade. I am glad the Skins decided not to trade away their picks and instead roll the dice on some recievers I think will do pretty well and for a heck of a lot less than these other 3 will cost.

I think unfortunately what's reported is inaccurate. Better said, incomplete. The real story is that they were exploring multiple options to do what was best for their team. And they identified early on that improving the WR position was best for the team. So they looked at drafting one in the first round, trading down to pick up a WR later and pick up draft choices, discussing various trade options for established veterans. It's just like every other team did (should have done) throughout the past several weeks. But the sexy story is "multiple picks offered for Chad Johnson." It just doesn't tell the whole story.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think unfortunately what's reported is inaccurate. Better said, incomplete. The real story is that they were exploring multiple options to do what was best for their team. And they identified early on that improving the WR position was best for the team. So they looked at drafting one in the first round, trading down to pick up a WR later and pick up draft choices, discussing various trade options for established veterans. It's just like every other team did (should have done) throughout the past several weeks. But the sexy story is "multiple picks offered for Chad Johnson." It just doesn't tell the whole story.

I hope it is inaccurate. I just am of the camp that the way to build the team is focus on the draft first and than fill your holes with trades and free agents, as this method gives you more salary cap flexability and also injects youth into the lineup. I know that getting a proven WR may seem to be the safer route, I just hate it when someone gets that $10-20 million signing bonus and kicks their legs up knowing they are set for life and does not produce. Whereas if you draft a lower round pick (2 and below in my opinion) you often don't have to give a huge signing bonus and get 4-5 possible years of great production for a good value. Would Chad johnson be productive - probably, but what does everyone think he would cost - I heard in the range of a $20 million signing bonus, which to me is pretty excessive and if I had my way I would rather put that $20 million into multiple players (like a couple of lineman) instead. Just my opinion.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Bill B

I hope it is inaccurate. I just am of the camp that the way to build the team is focus on the draft first and than fill your holes with trades and free agents, as this method gives you more salary cap flexability and also injects youth into the lineup. I know that getting a proven WR may seem to be the safer route, I just hate it when someone gets that $10-20 million signing bonus and kicks their legs up knowing they are set for life and does not produce. Whereas if you draft a lower round pick (2 and below in my opinion) you often don't have to give a huge signing bonus and get 4-5 possible years of great production for a good value. Would Chad johnson be productive - probably, but what does everyone think he would cost - I heard in the range of a $20 million signing bonus, which to me is pretty excessive and if I had my way I would rather put that $20 million into multiple players (like a couple of lineman) instead. Just my opinion.

I guarantee you it's inaccurate. You have my word.

[bertoskins2]

building a team does not end in draft picks. it will continue as the OTA and camps goes. maybe calais campbell will be a camp cut and then we can sign him.

[sbaughone]

<<I'm getting the vibe that people are very willing right now to throw out the possibility that this draft might not look as good in three years as it does right now.>>

Three years? Wait three months...most of these guys will not make the team. My two cents...but I realize I am in the minority.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by sbaughone

<<I'm getting the vibe that people are very willing right now to throw out the possibility that this draft might not look as good in three years as it does right now.>>

Three years? Wait three months...most of these guys will not make the team. My two cents...but I realize I am in the minority.

???...I willing to bet our first three choices will make the team this year. I'm not saying they will start but will be on the roster come this time next year. That's just the 2nd round.

Only 3 guys made the team last year, Landry (1st), Blades(6th) and Heyer(UDFA). We'll have the same amount as last year with just our first three picks, lordwilling. We still have Reinhart (3rd) and Tyron (4th) that were drafted a whole 2 round earlier than Blades and Blades seemed to make the team just fine.

With our draft picks this year being in the higher rounds we should have a better chance at having more guys make the squad. I'm not going to speculate their performances but the power is in the numbers.