For a while there, I wasn't sure it would ever come. It was just a sea of never ending NFL Mock Drafts without an end in sight. But against all odds, we made it; and the NFL Draft is just a few days away. But with those few days, comes even more Mock Drafts and speculation than you could possibly imagine. SB Nation just released the newest edition of their 2011 NFL Mock Draft, and they have the Redskins taking Washington QB Jake Locker with the No. 10 overall pick. Here is their rationale.
This might strike many as a risky pick, but Locker's a high-character kid that fits Mike Shanahan's offense extremely well.
This pick invokes an argument that has surrounded the Redskins since the whole Donovan McNabb scenario became irreparable; Do the Redskins absolutely need to take a quarterback in the Draft this year? If they fell like that is the case, than I could see them reaching for a player they like in Locker in the first round.
But to be honest, taking Locker at No. 10 is not a good pick. This would be a pretty serious reach for Locker, and the Redskins need to get as much value out of their draft picks (because they have so few) as they can. If they really like Locker that much, then they could trade back and get some picks, as well as their quarterback. But there are other teams that need a QB (particularly the Vikings at No. 12) who could make a similar reach on Locker, making that situation uneasy. I wouldn't mind if the Redskins walk away from this draft with Jake Locker, but if they do it without adding some additional value, I don't think it is a very sound decision.
The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28, and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare: NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it out at SB Nation's NFL Draft page and our NFL Draft blog, Mocking the Draft.