SB Nation DC - 2011 NFL Draft: Scouting Reports For Potential Redskins First-Round Draft Picks

NFL Draft 2011: Christian Ponder Scouting Report

2011-04-28T16:00:55Z

The 2011 NFL Draft is taking place on Thursday, April 28, and the Redskins will have the No. 10 pick in the first round. Many different players have been projected to be picked in that spot in various 2011 NFL mock drafts, and the Redskins certainly have a lot of needs. Which players will be good fits for the Redskins in that spot? We will provide scouting reports and let you know who we like in this StoryStream. Next up: Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder.

Strengths: Ponder is an above average athlete with an accurate arm. He is good at making plays with his feet, although I wouldn't call him fast, and he is good at making decisions and throwing when on the run.

Weaknesses: Ponder might not have the strongest arm, and he didn't dominate against College competition.

Redskins Fit: I think Ponder would be an excellent fit for the Redskins as a developmental quarterback. As I said up top, he has the kind of mobility that Mike Shanahan like to have in his quarterbacks, and an accurate enough arm to be a successful NFL quarterback.

Where He Will Be Drafted: Unfortunately, I can't really envision a scenario where the Redskins would have a shot at him. At this point I think he would be too much of a reach for the Redskins at No. 10, and I don't see him still being on the board when they pick in the second round. I think he will be taken somewhere in the late first round by a team trading back into the first round specifically for him. I don't believe the Redskins have the ammunition to make a trade like that happen.

NFL Draft 2011: Colin Kaepernick Scouting Report

2011-04-27T18:00:58Z

Strengths: Kaepernick is a very good athlete with a strong arm. His arm is so strong, in fact, that he was also drafted in the MLB draft as a pitcher, two years ago even though he hadn't actually played baseball in a couple years. His mobility was perfect for Nevada's spread 'em out offense and he put up gaudy, and in some cases record-breaking, numbers. Last year he passed for over 3,000 yards, rushed for an additional 1,200, and scored 20 touchdowns both on the ground and through the air.

Weaknesses: We've seen a lot of quarterbacks that come from these spread offenses have trouble acclimating themselves to the NFL game. He probably did not have to make very many complex reads in College, but that will not be the case once he makes the NFL. Kaepernick has shown that he has all the physical tools to be successful, we just have no idea how he will translate to the NFL game.

Redskins Fit: I think that Kapernick (assuming he translates well to the NFL) would be a good fit for the Redskins. I happen to think more highly of him than others and think that he will make the transition. We all know that Mike Shanahan likes his quarterbacks to be mobile, and Kaepernick certainly provides that option.

Where He Might Be Drafted: It appears like Kaepernick might go somewhere in the second round. I could see him going early in the second round if a team likes his potential, but based on value, he will probably go closer to the middle of the second round.

If the Redskins decide to take a non-quarterback in the first round, they could take Kaepernick with the 41st overall pick and get a quarterback to develop. Or, they could trade back in the first, earn another second round pick in the process, and take him a little bit closer to where he is pegged to go. He won't go in the first round, but the Redskins will have a pretty good chance to get their hands on him.

NFL Draft 2011: Mike Pouncey Scouting Report

2011-04-27T16:40:24Z

Strengths: Pouncey has pretty good athleticism for an interior lineman, and should be able to make the transition to the NFL relatively seamlessly. We know that he has good bloodlines, his brother Maurkice made the Pro Bowl in his rookie year for the Steelers last year. It's not easy for an interior lineman to make it up this high in the draft, so he has to be pretty darn good.

Weaknesses: I'm not sure Mike has any weaknesses, but we have heard that he might not be quite as good as his brother is. Whether that means that he has to play guard or center, we're not quite sure. But I'm not sure I would say he has very many actual "weaknesses." He seems to be a pretty complete player.

Redskins Fit: As we all know, the Redskins have a lot of holes on their offensive line. Pouncey would be an upgrade to each of the three positions that he could potentially play at the next level. I'm not sure center/guard is the Redskins biggest need, but Pouncey would be a solid player for the 'Skins if they choose to take him.

Where He Might Be Drafted: I've seen Pouncey projected to go anywhere from the Redskins at No. 10 overall to the late first round. It's hard to peg where a guard might go in the first round because there are teams out there that probably won't give a player at that position a first round grade. But I would expect him to be off the board for sure by the time the Redskins pick again in the second round.

NFL Draft 2011: Cameron Jordan Scouting Report

2011-04-27T16:00:48Z

Strengths: This is your prototypical pass rusher. He has excellent strong hands that can shed blockers with relative ease. He has an array of pass rush moves and has plenty of football IQ, much of which comes from his family. His father Steve played in the NFL for 13 season and made 6 pro bowls, so this kid is learning from someone with experience.

Weaknesses: He is not viewed someone who will succeed in space and showed a lack of explosion at times. Scouts worry that his size might make him a schematic tweener in that he may not be a perfect fit for either the 4-3 or 3-4. He had some off the field issues in 2008, which scouts wonder about, as well.

Redskins fit: Like we've mentioned over and over, the Redskins need help along that defensive line. Anytime they can put themselves in a position to draft one will serve more good than harm.

Where he will be drafted: This looks to be someone who has the makings of a mid first round pick. He could go anywhere from 12 to 20 according to most mock drafts.

NFL Draft 2011: J.J. Watt Scouting Report

2011-04-27T14:00:53Z

Strengths: This guys frame is very impressive for someone who likely projects as a 3-4 defensive end. He is 6-5 and weighs 290 lbs. He is that prototypical 3-4 end in that he s great at occupying blockers, clogging rush lanes and providing some pass rush when necessary.

Weaknesses: Because he lacks explosion, scouts view him as a good player, but not a great player. He is not the greatest pass rusher, and is not viewed someone who can provide consistent pass rush from the outside.

Redskins fit: The Redskins are lacking in almost every area along their front seven, and that of course includes the defensive end position. Drafting Watt could fill that need, though the Redskins are likely to look in another direction.

Where he will be drafted: Most mocks have him there for the taking at that tenth spot, and its like the Redskins (should they stay put) will have shot at Watt. The question is, do they want him?

NFL Draft 2011: Nick Fairley Scouting Report

2011-04-27T12:00:55Z

Strengths: You won't see many defensive tackles with this good a mix of size and speed. He is 6-3 and 291 lbs and gets after the quarterback like he is a defensive end. He is a terror for opposing lineman because they either not as strong or fast as Fairley is. In addition to his pass rushing skills, he is an excellent tackle who has great finishing ability.

Weaknesses: Character, character, character. This can be applied to Fairley both on and off the field. His motor isn't always running in games, and is prone to taking plays off (uh oh, we've heard that before). When he wants to, he can be a force up front (sounds familiar) and can truly dominate games(hmmmm). But the key phrase is "when he wants to". Scouts are worried about that in addition to the fact that he only had one good year at Auburn.

Redskins fit: The Redskins could use a playmaker like Fairley along their front three. He wouldn't project to be a nose tackle, and would likely line up at the defensive end position. That being said, the Redskins can't afford to bring a guy who is rumored to have work ethic issues into their locker room.

Where He Will Be Drafted: Early on in the process, he was a lock to be in the top five. But as time has gone on, there are some doubts that have made his draft stock fall. Will he fall far enough that the Redskins could have a chance to get him? Who knows, but if they did, Fairley could be a guy the Redskins use as trait bait to trade down in the first round.

NFL Draft 2011: Ryan Mallett Scouting Report

2011-04-26T18:00:56Z

Strengths: Arm. Mallett will have one of the strongest arms in the NFL as soon as he gets drafted. he can make any and every throw on the field.

Weaknesses: Mallett is not very mobile and has some trouble staying alive in the pocket and throwing on the run. He also has some trouble differentiating the speed of the throw when needed. This might sound kind of nit-picky, but Mallett has a habit of throwing underneath passes at 200 mph, which make them very hard to handle for his backs and tight ends. Lacks elite touch and accuracy. Showed some questionable decision making in some of Arkansas' biggest games, particularly against Auburn.

Redskins Fit: Even though the Redskins need a QB in the worst way, I don't think Ryan Mallett is a very good fit. Mike Shanahan needs a quarterback in his system who can move around in the pocket. That is the opposite of Ryan Mallett. He's more a Raiders quarterback than he is a Redskins one, if that makes sense.

Where He Will Be Drafted: Mallett has been plummeting down draft boards recently because of how he has handled the pre-draft process. He reportedly went out late the night before meeting with the Panthers and had to miss the meetings because he was sick. There are always teams that fall in love with QB's and could take them higher than they are projected, but I wouldn't expect Mallett to go earlier than the mid-second round at this point.

NFL Draft 2011: A.J. Green Scouting Report

2011-04-26T14:03:20Z

NFL Comparison: Green is pretty similar to Calvin Johnson, without the elite vertical speed. But in terms of going up over the defender and coming down with the ball, he's in the same class as Megatron.

Strengths: Like I just said, A.J. Green can go up and get the ball as well as almost anyone I've ever seen. He is the ultimate "back shoulder fade in the red zone" type of player. He's going to come down with the jump ball 10 times out of nine. Has excellent hands and should be a favorite target of the quarterback. Very good height and agility.

Weaknesses: I feel like trying to pick out a weakness with a prospect like Green is nitpicking, but he doesn't have the most elite vertical speed. He's not slow, by any means, I'm just saying he isn't a young Randy Moss. He can still get by a defender, he just might get caught by the speedier defensive backs before he reaches the end zone.

Redskins Fit: Green would be a great fit for the Redskins, who have seemingly been looking for a tall wide receiver forever. He would be that large target that they have been missing. I'm not sure who will be throwing it to him, but he can make any quarterback look good.

Where He Will Be Drafted: Unfortunately, I can't imagine a situation where Green makes it to the Redskins at No. 10. I think the absolute latest that he could go is to the Browns, who pick four spots before they do.