The Washington Redskins could use a shutdown cornerback. Really, any team in the NFL could, but the Redskins face three of the league's most menacing receiving corps in the NFC East, and thus will need elite players to match up with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz of the New York Giants, and Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Thus, it makes a lot of sense for ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. to have the Redskins taking LSU Morris Claiborne with the No. 6 pick in his latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft. But he cautions that there should be an asterisk on that pick, because the Redskins are still very much in the hunt for both of the two major quarterback prizes of the 2012 NFL offseason: the Redskins are expected to make a "hard push" for Peyton Manning, and Washington may trade up to the No. 2 pick to select Robert Griffin III.
If Manning signs with Washington, Kiper thinks the Redskins could draft an offensive lineman to protect him; if the Redskins trade up, they will likely include the No. 6 pick in their trade package.
SB Nation's Dan Rubenstein and Brad Wells sat down to discuss Manning's future earlier today:
For complete coverage of the 2012 NFL Combine and the 2012 NFL draft, head over to Mocking The Draft. For more on the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft and all things related to Redskins football keep checking this StoryStream for updates, or head over to SB Nation's Washington Redskins blog Hogs Haven.
