Redskins' Draft History

With the draft only a few days away, it's appropriate to review the team's draft history over the last decade with what I can recall about each of the draft picks.

1996
1. Andre Johnson, T, Penn State - Played a few disappointing years
4. Stephen Davis, RB, Auburn - Set the rushing record, great years in a Redskins uniform, too bad the Spurrier era ended the chances of him retiring as a Skin
5. Leomont Evans, S, Clemson - Decent backup player, occasional starter
6. Kelvin Kinney, DE, Virginia St. - Same as Evans
7. Jeremy Asher, LB, Oregon
7. Deandre Maxwell, WR, San Diego St.

1997
1. Kenard Lang, DE, Miami - Good motor and versatile, some decent years out of him before he signed with Cleveland
2. Greg Jones, LB, Colorado - Disappointment
3. Derek Smith, LB, Arizona St. - Did well enough that he turned his opps into a long-term starting role with the Niners
4. Albert Connell, WR, Texas A&M - Talented headcase, one good year and good riddance to the Saints
5. Jamel Williams, S, Nebraska - Unmemorable backup
5. Keith Thibodeaux, CB, N.W. Louisiana - Unmemorable backup
5. Twan Russell, LB, Miami - Non-descript special teams player
5. Brad Badger, G, Stanford - Good find, unfortunately lost his depth to the Raider Nation

1998
2. Stephen Alexander, TE, Oklahoma - Too injury prone, never fulfilled on potential
3. Skip Hicks, RB, UCLA - Found the end zone as a rookie but fizzled after that
4. Shawn Barber, LB, Richmond - Talented underachiever made a home with underachieving Chiefs
5. Mark Fischer, C, Purdue - Nondescript backup
6. Pat Palmer, WR, Northwestern St. - Preseason only?
7. David Terrell, CB, UTEP - Blossomed into a great special teams player, why did we allow him to leave?
7. Antwaune Ponds, LB, Syracuse - Nondescript backup

1999
1. Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia - Elite athlete, how horrible that he got fed up with the revolving door; however, can't complain about getting Clinton Portis in return
2. Jon Jansen, T, Michigan - Great pick, the Skins are lucky to still have the original 'Rock'
4. Nate Stimson, LB, Georgia Tech - Nothing
5. Derek Smith, OL, Virginia Tech - Nothing
6. Jeff Hall, K, Tennessee - Nothing
7. Tim Alexander, WR, Oregon St. - Don't know what happened with him

2000
1. LaVar Arrington, LB, Penn St. - Absolute shame that he didn't realize his HOF talent as a lifetime Redskin
1. Chris Samuels, T, Alabama - Continues to impress and with Joe Bugel around, has his best years ahead of him
3. Lloyd Harrison, CB, N.C. State - Too slow
4. Michael Moore, G, Troy St. - Never got off the ground
5. Quincy Sanders, S, UNLV - Didn't last long
6. Todd Husak, QB, Stanford - Played in NFL Europe, may still be there?
7. Del Cowsette, DT, Maryland - Got time as a backup, may still be floating around somewhere
7. Ethan Howell, WR, Oklahoma St. - Preseason casualty

2001
1. Rod Gardner, WR, Clemson - Couldn't get open, the Danny was right all along, should have picked Santana Moss at this spot
2. Fred Smoot, CB, Mississippi St. - Fun "party" guy to have on the team but far from a shutdown corner
4. Sage Rosenfels, QB, Iowa St. - Decent arm and stands tall but that's about it
5. Darnerien McCants, WR, Delaware St. - Not enough passion
6. Mario Monds, DT, Cincinnati - like Del Cowsette

2002
1. Patrick Ramsey, QB, Tulane - Strong arm and tough, still has an opportunity to have a wonderful career ahead of him; in retrospect, it was a waste to draft him as a first rounder that year anyway
2. Ladell Betts, RB, Iowa - Shows talent but hasn't proven an ability to stay healthy
3. Rashad Bauman, CB, Oregon - Too small and didn't have burner speed to compensate
3. Cliff Russell, WR, Utah - Fast but raw, couldn't stay healthy to develop
5. Andre Lott, S, Tennessee - Average player
5. Robert Royal, TE, LSU - Decent value at this pick, too bad we couldn't keep him but we've got Cooley
6. Reggie Coleman, T, Tennessee - Nothing
7. Jeff Grau, LS, UCLA - Nothing
7. Greg Scott, DE, Hampton - Nothing
7. Rock Cartwright, FB, Kansas St. - Great heart, excellent special teams player and backup but will be limited to that role

2003
2. Taylor Jacobs, WR, Florida - Same as Cliff Russell, didn't take advantage of his many opportunities last year
3. Derrick Dockery, G, Texas - Big and talented, learning under Bugel will maximize his potential
7. Gibran Hamdan, QB, Indiana - Not a pro prospect, NFL Europe and maybe CFL is as good as it gets

2004
1. Sean Taylor, S, Miami (Fla.) - Makings of an elite athlete but is self-destructive
3. Chris Cooley, TE, Utah State - Grew by leaps and bounds, hope he doesn't regress and that the team is able to retain him in the long run
5. Mark Wilson, OL, California - Didn't stick
6. Jim Molinaro, OL, Notre Dame - Unknown, can Buges turn him into a gem?

2005
1. Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn - Unproven as of yet, didn't excite me last year; a far cry from Champ
1. Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn - Is he as good as Gibbs is hoping? One bad hit to Brunell and we'll find out soon enough
4. Manuel White, Jr., RB, UCLA - Unknown, was on IR
5. Robert McCune, LB, Louisville - Doubtful if he ever contributes more than on special teams
6. Jared Newberry, LB, Stanford - Didn't stick
7. Nehemiah Broughton, RB, The Citadel - Same as Rock Cartwright; surprising that the team kept both

So here is the count of keepers excluding last year's class:
99 - 1
00 - 1
02 - 2
03 - 2 (but Jacobs will be cut and it will be down to 1)
04 - 3 (but Taylor could go to prison)

That is how NOT to build a team through the draft.

Draft Moves
The team needs a LB to replace Arrington despite re-signing Warrick Holdman. They should package some of their lower picks to turn into a higher pick for another 4th or 5th round pick for a linebacker.

Arrington About to Sign with G-Men
It's disappointing to think that LaVar (and Antonio Pierce) will play the Skins twice each year. The saving grace has to be that Gregg Williams knows LaVar's tendencies enough to take advantage of them for big plays.

Stephen Davis

Here's a thought. What if the Redskins signed Stephen Davis for the veteran minimum for a 1 or 2 year deal? Does it make sense?

Yes, it makes sense because Davis is the perfect size back in the mold of Riggo. Yes, because having Davis retire with the Redskins would be a great ending. Yes, it makes sense because Ladell Betts is entering the last season of his contract. Yes, because Betts hasn't shown the durability that the Redskins have been hoping for. When both Portis and Betts are out, the Redskins have looked very vulnerable. Yes, because with Betts wanting a starting shot, he probably will not be around next year. And yes, because as lovable and good a special teams contributor Rock Cartwright is, he's not a viable option as the primary backup.

No, it doesn't make sense because Davis has a history of being injury prone himself. No, because all the backups need to prove to be useful in a special teams capacity. No, because this is no longer Gibbs' power back offense, it will be Al Saunders' fastest show on turf offesnse with Portis playing the role of Faulk. No, because the Skins should be grooming a young backup, not a 1 or 2 year solution.

Thoughts?