Let's face it. Our WRs are set...

[GoSkins!]

If we can just get our receivers set before the snap and keep our linemen from jumping offsides 10 times a game we will be better than last year.

[CRT3]

Boss Hog, Marlin Jackson with our 1st pick? Now that would be a reach. And picking the kids from hampton so he can return balls because of speed is also quite a reach. While speed is great it does not translate into a great returner. Plus with Thrash, Moss, Brown, and you heard it here Morton (ughhh) we have plenty of good ones already.

Marlin Jackson, get real with that one, you must be a diehard Wolverines fan cause only a Michagan alum would make that pick. I agree reciever is pretty much covered but they still might pick one, you never know. Rolle if he is still there will be the pick. He is smart and big which is the type of corner these days that is needed.

Also we have a very good chance of picking a DE with number 9 or the 1st pick in round 2. Your statement "Remember we had guys like Chris Clemons, Demetric Evans and Ron Warner wrecking havoc" What games were you watching cause if I am correct between the 3 of them they had 6 sacks. Clemons the DE did not even play last year, but his brother the LB played. They hardly wrecked havoc, what the Redskins did alot was smoke and mirrors to free up 1 or 2 players for a sack. Double corner blitzs and zone blitzs were the norm. This is how we got pressure.

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

It would seem that we're writing off any possibilities of drafting a AAA WR, but didn't Gibbs state last year going into the draft that we were going after the best talent that's available? Would there be any indication that his philosophy will be different this year?

[e16bball]

Ramseyfan is exactly right. Our WR corps, which was subject to innumerable criticisms last year, is actually worse. We have two new players, but that is meaningless, since they are both worse than the guys they are purportedly replacing (Moss > Coles, Patten > Gardner). Believe me, I love the attitude change, but the skills are not improved. That is why we need a guy who could be a true #1 in Mike Williams.

A DE or a CB is a decent fallback plan, but they should be just that: fallback plans, if we simply cannot get Mike or Braylon. There are no DEs worth taking at 9, and there is incredible CB depth in this draft. We could get a good CB in the 3rd round who isn't distinctly less talented than Rolle or Jones.

For those reasons, I advocate this course of action:
-Trade Rod Gardner to Cleveland for their 3rd round pick (#67).
-Trade that pick (#67) and our first rounder (#9) to the Titans for their 1st rounder (#6) or trade #9, #67, and our 6th rounder (#168) or a future 4th to the Bucs for their 1st rounder (#5). It seems like a lot to give up, but it really is not that much to secure a guy who will very likely be a top WR in the league for years.

Draft (assuming we trade with Titans):
1. Mike Williams, WR, USC
3. Darrent Williams, CB, Oklahoma State
4. Jovan Haye, DE, Vanderbilt
6. Dave Kashetta, TE, Boston College
7. Lang Campbell, QB, William and Mary

[steveo395]

ignore my boston post before cuz he already signed with the 49ers

http://www.49ersnews.com/street.html

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I still think the general consensus is that we take Williams if he is available. That being said, I also wouldn't be too upset to take a CB first and a DE second in the draft. Just as I have (and Daseal) have been saying, give Daniels a chance!

[MTK]

If Williams is there at #9 I don't see a better value for the pick.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Most definitely. I'm just worried about the Titans right now... I'd much rather just see them take Pac Man and deal with it.

[lifetimeskin]

I am not sure that our WR situation is as bad as it is being made out to be. Yes we don't have a "proven" multiple year 1K yd season guy, but what we do have is 4 guys that have played regularly. Remember the skins will still be a run oriented team, and they need speed to keep the safties back. Moss and Patten provide that. Actually, I think it is briilliant. Teams will have to keep safties back, unless they RISK the possiblity of major big plays similar to what the Pats did to the Steelers in the AFC Championship game. Yes Coles when healthy, was MUCH better than both of our new additoins, but he hasn't been healthy for a while. This whole offense is based on Portis.

I would like the skins to look at the CB position first, the DE position 2nd, and then best available player.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by lifetimeskin

This whole offense is based on Portis.

I think this is the best point that nobody has made (at least that I have seen) this week.. All the hemming and hawing and boo-hooing over the trade and our WR, we tend to forget we're still a running team. We're not trying to be the '99 Rams.. Portis & Betts are going to account for 65% of the offense in a well executed Gibbs offense.. The passing game is designed for big plays and short 3rd down conversions.. That's the way it is operating when it's at it's peak.. With Rabach, a healthy Jansen and Portis with a year under his belt knwoing the offense he could have a great year which will open up the passing game, regardless of the WR we have..

[GoSkins!]

Again, Gibbs is just filling in the blanks that he feels he needs to make his system work. He wants more speed at receiver (Moss, Patten) to open it up for Portis and hit a few long balls. Patten has better hands then Gardner, so I think that that will be an upgrade. We could definitley get better at WR, but I think we could really shore up the team more for years to come by trading down and getting more young talent.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

Again, Gibbs is just filling in the blanks that he feels he needs to make his system work. He wants more speed at receiver (Moss, Patten) to open it up for Portis and hit a few long balls. Patten has better hands then Gardner, so I think that that will be an upgrade. We could definitley get better at WR, but I think we could really shore up the team more for years to come by trading down and getting more young talent.

Considering the lack of star power in the draft this year, trading down is a good idea. Moreover, I always love the idea of hoarding draft picks. Then again, those are the very same reasons why it will be hard for us to trade down.

[SmootSmack]

This has probably been addressed somewhere in this thread, I'm just too lazy to look for it, but what about Rod Gardner?

I know the plan is to trade him, but let's just say they don't. Suppose they don't get the right offer and decide ultimately to just hold onto him. Do you bury him at the bottom of the depth chart and just let him walk next offseason? Do you make him a #1 or 2 and showcase his value possibly for a midseason trade? Clearly you wouldn't draft a receiver then, right?

And lest you think it's a lock that RG won't be here come September, from Saturday's Washington Post:

"This week, Coach Joe Gibbs said Washington is willing to keep Gardner if the club isn't satisfied with the return. And according to sources familiar with the situation, Gardner hasn't yet been dealt partly because Washington has been choosy about offers."

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Very true lifetimeskin... If we can get the secondary to respect those wideouts, Portis will have a lot of room to run after hitting the second level.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I don't think our wide receiving corps is a disaster, but it's undoubtedly a weak point on our team. And yes, I'm aware that every team has weak points. I just took issue with the "proven" part of the assessment of our WR corps.