Rueters - (Sterling, Va.) In the salary cap era, a win now mentality is prevalent in the NFL. After doing their best to fill holes through free agency, teams hoping to make a post-season push need a key player or two, from the Rookie draft, to contribute. After reviewing these players in the scouting combine, personal workouts and interviews, teams have a pretty good idea which ones will fit best on their roster.
As the NFL draft nears, GM's begin jockeying for position in the draft. Each draft selection is worth more than the next. Each team has specific needs to fill. So it is inevitable that teams will not only try and mislead their opposition as to who their most coveted players are, but also may move up or down via trades to position themselves for "THEIR GUY".
Hence I bring you a very interesting tactic being purveyed by Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins. Recently rumored to be interested in swapping picks (#6 for #31) with the Bears for the right to sign Lance Briggs, the Redskins have decided to go in a different direction. They believe the value they can get for the #2 overall selection, via trade with the Detroit Lions, is better than if they tried to trade down from #6. The Lions have been quietly shopping the #2 pick, but with no serious offers to move down. The Redskins, using their alliance with powerful agent Drew Rosenhaus, think they can shop the #2 pick and recoup everything they give the Lions and then some.
How the rumored trade breaks down:
Redskins would send:
#6 pick (2007)
1st round pick (2008)
3rd round pick (2008)
Lions would send:
#2 pick (2007)
Then with the #2 pick overall, Snyder has a deal in place with the Denver Broncos to trade down. The Broncos have secretly coveted Calvin Johnson and felt they could not package a deal to interest the Lions. The Lions have a bad history with drafting WR's high (Charles Rogers and Mike Williams) and were afraid of the risk and criticism involved should they draft Johnson. Since the Portis/Bailey trade the Broncos have had a good relationship with Washington. In addition, Johnson's WR coach in college attended high school and played on the HS football team with Mike Shanahan. So here's how the Redskins/Broncos trade is rumored to be structured:
Redskins would send:
#2 Pick (2007)
2nd Round pick (2008)
Broncos would send:
#21 Pick (2007)
WR Javon Walker
LB Al Wilson
#56 2nd Round pick (2007)
#70 3rd Round pick (2007)
#86 3rd Round pick (2007) (originally sent from Wash to Den as part of T.J. Duckett trade)
Sounds crazy, but what the Redskins have done here is recouped the value of the 1st and 3rd they sent to Detroit by gaining an All-Pro WR in Walker plus 4 draft picks this year. Denvers' 2nd rounder next year is valued below their 2nd rounder this year. The reason Washington may have wished to include next years 2nd round pick for Denvers' 2nd rounder this year is believed to be an interest in Drew Stanton, Michigan St. QB. He fits the Gibbs mold of big strong QB's like Doug Williams, Jay Schroeder and Mark Rypien. He would provide a youthful backup and solid competition to Jason Campbell.
At #21, the Skins are believed to have a serious interest in Drew Rosenhaus' client Greg Olsen. Washington has a history of coveting both Rosenhaus clients and Miami Hurricanes. Olsen, paired with Chrisey in his more natural H-back position, would give the young QB Campbell some insurance when he can't find Santana Moss deep.
Al Wilson may not be Lance Briggs and has some injury concerns but he figures to be a Gregg Williams favorite and an upgrade over last years Warrick Holdman.
In summary, should this deal go through, several keys should be emphasized.
The Lions continue without a clear cut path, trading down in hopes of playing it safe
The Redskins get several top starters (Walker, Wilson, Olsen) to make a serious push for the post-season
The Broncos get the player they covet most and possibly the highest graded WR in NFL history to form a youthful tandem with their young star QB Jay Cutler.
Rosenhaus gets top dollar for three of his clients (Walker, Olsen and Stanton)
Seems Rosenhaus hasn't finished yet.
My head is spinning.
