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Draft Grader: Washington Redskins

In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve been going back over the 2008, 2009, and 2010 draft class of each franchise and assigning each pick a grade. Up next? Well, that’s the Washington Redskins.

Each pick between the 2008 and 2010 draft classes has earned a grade between +2.0 and -2.0 (in 0.5 increments) that depends upon:

• Where they were drafted
• Their performance
• Their contribution (how many snaps their team got out of them)
• Other factors, such as unforeseen injuries and conditions that could not have been accounted for

Let’s take a look at how the Redskins drafted.

 

+2.0: You’ve just found Tom Brady in the 6th round

Find a quarterback in the sixth? The Redskins would settle for finding a starter at any position in the sixth.

 

+1.5: Getting much more than you bargained for!

Not in this draft series.

 

+1.0: The scouts nailed it!

Brian Orakpo, LB (13th overall pick in 2009): If you’re going to hit on one pick in a draft, let it be your first one. The Redskins did so by finding a player who is in that group of pass rushers just below the elite. A real shame that he missed so much of 2012. Getting him healthy will make the Redskins a more serious contender.

Trent Williams, T (4th overall pick in 2010): After a horrendous rookie year, Williams started to get it and in 2011 looked like a tackle capable of being that blindside protector teams are loathe to be without. Williams took that a step further with a fine 2012 that had him finishing the year with a +18.8 grade.

 

+0.5: Never hurts to find a solid contributor

Fred Davis, TE (48th overall pick in 2008): As good a receiver as he is bad as a blocker. Davis finally emerged from the shadow of Chris Cooley in 2011 — only to end the season suspended. Davis was really clicking with RG3 before ending up on injured reserve in 2012.

Chris Horton, S (249th overall pick in 2008): Horton was something of an impact player as a rookie, and has always looked decent when he’s got on the field. Clearly not a favorite of the new regime, his promising Redskins career ended after being waived in 2011.

Rob Jackson, LB (242nd overall pick in 2008): When Orakpo went down Jackson saw his most considerable action to date. Better on early downs, he failed to generate much pressure but can walk away content with a very decent +1.7 grade. Good contributor.

Perry Riley, LB (103rd overall pick in 2010): After eight snaps in 2010, the Redskins finally bit the bullet in replacing the consistently poor Rocky McIntosh with Riley and received a substantial upgrade. He didn’t deliver quite as well in 2012 as in 2011, but a solid starter has been found here.

Terrence Austin, WR (219th overall pick in 2010): A former seventh-round pick, Austin saw 247 snaps since being drafted by the Redskins. He hasn’t blown anyone away, but he has flashed upside while also being able to contribute on special teams before being released before the 2012 season.

 

0.0: Nothing ventured, nothing gained (It could have been worse)

Justin Tryon, CB (124th overall pick in 2008): There must be something about Tryon, because wherever he goes he looks competent, yet he ultimately fails to catch on. That was the case in Washington where the former fourth-round pick looked capable in the slot when he saw action in 2009, though he found himself gone a year later.

Durant Brooks, P (168th overall pick in 2008): A sixth-round pick, Brooks had a year punting for the Redskins before they went in a different (and better) direction.

Kareem Moore, S (180th overall pick in 2008): Moore contributed on special teams, but his poor play when he was given a chance to play on defense was what he should be remembered for. He was clearly out of his depth in coverage though.

Colt Brennan, QB (186th overall pick in 2008): Brennan put up some good numbers in preseason. He never got on the field for the Redskins before missing his entire 2009 season when old college injuries resurfaced. You don’t expect much out of a sixth-round QB, so you can’t dislike the Redskins taking a chance on him.

Jeremy Jarmon, DE/DT (2009 supplemental draft pick–equivalent of 68th overall pick in 2010): It’s always risky picking someone up in the supplemental draft, and so it proved with Jarmon. In fairness to him, a change in defensive schemes didn’t help, yet he was able to hold his own when he was on the field (as rare as that was). The saving grace in this deal was that, in trading him, the Redskins did get a productive receiver in Jabar Gaffney from Denver.

Robert Henson, LB (186th overall pick in 2009): A couple of special teams tackles aside, Henson didn’t do much in Washington, failing to establish himself on special teams with injuries playing their part. He did manage to hang around for a couple of years.

Eddie Williams, FB (221st overall pick in 2009): A late-round project, injury played its part in Williams never catching on before being cut a year after he was drafted.

Marko Mitchell, WR (243rd overall pick in 2009): He lasted a year in Washington which promised much but ultimately didn’t deliver a great deal. A training camp stud, it would have been interesting to see if more opportunities would have come his way if Washington weren’t trying to get something out of their two second-round 2008 picks.

Erik Cook, OG (229th overall pick in 2010): Looking every bit the seventh-round pick in his 182 snaps and was released before the 2012 season..

Selvish Capers, OT (231st overall pick in 2010): A project at tackle, Capers lasted a year on the Redskins' practice squad before being cut.

 

-0.5: That pick was not put to good use

Chad Rineheart, G (96th overall pick in 2008): Rinehart got on the field for 227 snaps in 2009 before a broken fibula ended his season. A new coaching staff was obviously not impressed and said goodbye before the 2010 season began. He has since gone on to excel in Buffalo.

Kevin Barnes, CB (80th overall pick in 2009): After a slow introduction to the league in his opening two years, Barnes got his chance to establish himself as the Redskins’ slot cornerback in 2011. It did not go well. He gave up an extremely unhealthy 12 yards per catch from the slot and was traded before the start of the 2012 season.

Cody Glenn, LB (158th overall pick in 2009): After converting late in his college career to linebacker, Glenn was something of a project who you expected to contribute on special teams. He did, but for the Colts, who picked him up when the Redskins waived him. He would become available later in the year, but Washington didn’t pursue him.

Dennis Morris, TE (174th overall pick in 2010): How bad was Morris? The Redskins seemed to concoct an elaborate plan with the Rams designed to get him off the roster without paying him his entitlement months after being drafted.

 

-1.0: What a waste!

None here but …

 

-1.5: The scouts/ coaches failed, big time!

Devin Thomas, WR (34th overall pick in 2008): Just 445 yards on a high second-round pick? Thomas did catch on as a special teamer for the Giants and earned a ring. He was a monumental disappointment in Washington, though.

Malcolm Kelly, WR (51st overall pick in 2008): Kelly had some red flags heading into the draft and those were realized as he had a real hard time getting on the field. He may have played more than Thomas, but posted fewer yards. This was another gamble that turned into a waste of a second-round pick.

 

-2.0: You just drafted the love child of JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf!

There were no Russell/Leaf hybrids to pick from.

 

 

Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled

 

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