The Washington Redskins find themselves in a rare position after three rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft: the "Winners" circle. This according to one seasoned NFL scribe, ESPN.com's John Clayton:
Washington Redskins: Like the New York Jets, the Redskins often have only three to five selections in some years. Under Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen, the Redskins kept trading back and now have 13 picks. That's fine, but they also got some pretty decent players they liked while making those moves. Jarvis Jenkins, a second-round pick from Clemson, is a big body to put on the 3-4 defensive line. The Redskins considered taking wide receiver Leonard Hankerson with one of their two second-round picks. They ended up trading down and still getting him, in the third round. Ryan Kerrigan, the first-round pick, will be the team's left outside linebacker. And to make it official, the Redskins had no plans to draft a quarterback in the first three rounds. The abundance of young players should add depth and help on special teams words
As Clayton notes, the Skins cannot simply be lauded for acquiring more picks, as their recent draft history indicates they are fully capable of screwing up three or 13 picks. What Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen need to do on the final day of the 2011 NFL Draft is continue to fill holes for a team that needs all the help it can get. Depth on the offensive line would certainly seem like a key area to focus on, and of course no one will cry foul if the Shanahan/Allen braintrust unearthed a dynamic defensive or offensive weapon in Rounds 4-7.