The Redskins 1998 NFL Draft was defined from the outset by what Washington didn’t have \u2014 a first-round pick. Traded away as part of the Sean Gilbert acquisition, that missing selection forced general manager Charley Casserly to be creative, flexible and opportunistic across two days of drafting. The result was a mixed but quietly interesting class built around offensive weapons and defensive depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington entered draft weekend with a clear priority \u2014 offensive tackle. The offensive line remained a concern, and Casserly made multiple attempts to trade up to the end of the first round to grab one. Every attempt failed. No takers materialized, and Washington pivoted entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We knew that, number one, we were going to try to move up and get an offensive tackle,” Casserly said. “Then, number two, we were going to take as many good football players as we can.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only one offensive lineman ultimately appeared in Washington’s seven-man class \u2014 fifth-round center prospect Mark Fischer out of Purdue.Fischer was a project pick at best. He was viewed primarily as insurance. Starter Jeff Uhlenhake, had undergone knee surgery that January. The tackle problem, consequently, went unsolved, pushing the team to look elsewhere for answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the tackle pursuit exhausted, Washington pivoted aggressively toward offensive playmakers on the first day of the draft. The results were genuinely intriguing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the second round, the Redskins selected tight end Stephen Alexander out of Oklahoma. Coach Norv Turner had long coveted a receiving tight end in the mold of Jay Novacek \u2014 his go-to weapon during his Cowboys days. Alexander appeared to fit that profile perfectly, arriving with the athleticism and hands to become a reliable target for quarterback Gus Frerotte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Anytime you mention Norv Turner, Jay Novacek comes to mind,” Alexander said upon being introduced to the media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third round brought UCLA running back Skip Hicks, who had scored a remarkable 55 career touchdowns with the Bruins and rushed for 1,282 yards and 26 touchdowns in his senior season alone. Like Alexander, Washington valued Hicks’ ability to catch the football. And to create after the catch. Fifth-round wide receiver Pat Palmer out of Northwestern State added yet another weapon to the mix. He was a 99-catch college career at a 23.5-yard average, with 15 career touchdowns and Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors to his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington shifted its focus entirely to defense on the second day of the draft. The most intriguing selection came in the fourth round \u2014 outside linebacker Shawn Barber out of the University of Richmond. A Division I-AA prospect, Barber had won over Washington’s entire coaching staff during the Senior Bowl in January. Linebacker coach Dale Lindsey worked with him for a full week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lindsey projected Barber as an immediate special teams contributor with genuine upside as a third-down pass rusher. Washington traded down five spots with the Oakland Raiders to select Barber at 113th overall, acquiring Oakland’s seventh-round pick in the process. Washington used that pick on UTEP cornerback David Terrell, who had sat out his entire senior season due to academic issues \u2014 a risk pick with obvious upside if he could stay on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington’s final selection was Syracuse inside linebacker Antwaune Ponds. Rated by many publications as the fifth-best inside linebacker in the entire draft, Ponds had been a genuine second-round prospect before his senior season. Concerns about his attitude, however, had damaged his stock significantly and allowed the Redskins to grab him in the seventh round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You have to take this guy in the seventh round,” Casserly said simply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 1998 draft class followed a 1997 group in which all eight of Washington’s selections made the final roster. That is a genuinely impressive achievement. Whether the 1998 class could match that standard remained to be seen. However, the combination of Alexander’s receiving ability, Hicks’ explosiveness and Barber’s special teams value gave Washington real reasons for optimism heading into training camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Redskins 1998 NFL Draft was never going to be a landmark class without a first-round pick in the building. Nevertheless, Casserly made thoughtful decisions throughout, targeting playmakers early and pivoting smartly to defense when the tackle plan collapsed. Stephen Alexander and Skip Hicks offered genuine upside in Turner’s offense, and Shawn Barber quietly became one of the better value picks of the entire weekend. For a team working without its most valuable draft asset, Washington made the best of a limited hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Round, Pick, Player, College\n2, 48, Stephen Alexander, Oklahoma\n3, 69, Skip Hicks, UCLA\n4, 113, Shawn Barber, Richmond\n5, 140, Mark Fischer, Purdue\n6, 170, Patrick Palmer, Northwestern St. (LA)\n7, 191, David Terrell, Texas-El Paso\n7, 206, Antwaune Ponds, Syracuse<\/code><\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"