Kiper's Mailbag

[MTK]

Will the Washington Redskins be looking to draft an offensive lineman, clearly a weakness from last year, or might they go for a wide receiver like Mark Clayton of Oklahoma or Braylon Edwards or Michigan?
Mike, Jackson, N.J.

KIPER -- Washington's main need along the offensive line is at center. The Redskins need a big, physical anchor to take on all those huge defensive tackles, and if they can't get one through free agency they might look at Michigan's David Baas, a former guard who moved to center. He is not tremendously athletic, but Baas is a big street fighter with strength and a mean streak. He would make a lot of sense with Washington's third-round pick, but he will likely be off the board in the second round and the 'Skins don't pick in that round.

So, trading down just a bit,would allow them to move to the No. 12-13 area in the first round, get a second-rounder to use on Baas and still allow Washington to go after a quality wideout early. That may be a little early for Clayton and Edwards might be off the board already, but there is plenty of talent to choose from, including South Carolina's Troy Williamson. Third in line among the Redskins' needs is a defensive end.