With the NFL draft fast approaching, Washington Redskins fans have been speculating about a possible move down the draft board from the fifth overall spot. Due to the team's laundry list of needs, trading down and acquiring more picks is generally looked at as a positive move by most fans. However, new general manager Scot McCloughan may not share that same thinking.
Sports Illustrated's Peter King summed up the talent in this draft and made a compelling case as for why the teams at the top should stay put.
"Here's what a few football people who were at the league meetings are thinking about the breakdown of this draft: Nine prime picks, then eight or 10 really good prospects, then maybe 30 or so of the same-level player," King wrote. "The top nine: quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, defensive tackle Leonard Williams, wideouts Kevin White and Amari Cooper, pass-rushers Dante Fowler and Vic Beasley, offensive tackle Brandon Scherff and cornerback Trae Waynes. After that, beauty starts to be in the eye of the beholder. I had one GM tell me: 'The 17th pick on our board might be the 53rd pick on another team's board - and that could be a team we really respect.'"
Basically, if the Redskins trade down and pick in the mid to late first round then they could be looking at a significantly lesser prospect.
"There is always the debate over quality or quantity," Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com wrote. "The crowd that wants to trade down thinks that giving McCloughan more selections will increase the chances that he can find contributors. But there is also something to be said for getting a single impact player who has a very high chance of being successful and who can make other players around him better."
Neither strategy is wrong, they are just different. As of now, the Redskins are projected to select Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. who could slot in as a DE/OLB hybrid to replace Brian Orakpo. This would fill a big need with a talented player. However, if the Redskins traded back they might be in a better position to address the weak right tackle spot. In either scenario there are both pros and cons.
The Redskins could always stay at five and trade down in the middle rounds to acquire more picks as well. But as with everything draft related, we'll have to wait until April 30 to find out.
