After acquiring 13 new players in the offseason, the Washington Redskins have turned their focus to the NFL draft. Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. of the University of Miami visited Redskins Park yesterday as the first of a dozen players scheduled to make appearances over the next two weeks. Winslow and his teammate, safety Sean Taylor, highlight the Redskins' list, but there are other intriguing names, such as cornerback DeAngelo Hall of Virginia Tech and defensive tackle Tommie Harris of Oklahoma, according to sources familiar with the team's draft preparations.
Every player scheduled to visit is a first-round prospect: Winslow, who wasn't made available to talk with the media, is among six offensive players scheduled to visit Redskins Park this week. Next week, the club has scheduled visits for defensive players including Ohio State defensive end Will Smith and Dunta Robinson of South Carolina. (The Redskins are also trying to arrange a visit from defensive end Kenechi Udeze of Southern California, a source said.) The Redskins have the No. 5 overall pick, a fifth-round and sixth-round selection in the draft, which will be held April 24 and 25 at Madison Square Garden. Washington is trying to gain another selection after instructing linebacker Jeremiah Trotter to seek a trade. However, Trotter seems likely to be released after June 1.
Coach Joe Gibbs, who is also team president, has said that the Redskins are likely to stay at No. 5 unless the club receives an enticing offer. According to a source, if the Redskins trade down in the first round for multiple picks, the club will target a defensive end and linebacker such as Miami's Jonathan Vilma or D.J. Williams.
The top two players on the Redskins' draft board are expected to be Taylor then Winslow, who are both juniors. Several NFL scouts consider Winslow the most talented player in the draft, comparing him favorably to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez. The Redskins could use Winslow at the H-back position, which is conspicuously open after the club traded fullback Bryan Johnson for a sixth-round selection.
However, according to club sources, one significant factor in a decision is Winslow signing Carl and Kevin Poston as his agents last Wednesday. Winslow hired the Postons instead of Eugene Parker or Drew Rosenhaus, despite the Redskins' objections. According to a source familiar with the situation, Winslow's father asked the Redskins to rank the contending agents from one to three, and the club listed Rosenhaus first, Parker second and the Postons last. According to another source, two people on a five-person advisory board formed by Winslow suggested he choose Parker to avoid the risk of dropping below the fifth pick. (Last year's No. 5 pick, cornerback Terrance Newman of the Dallas Cowboys, earned a $15 million signing bonus.) The Postons represent linebacker LaVar Arrington, who has filed a non-injury grievance against the Redskins contending that $6.5 million is missing from a $68 million extension he signed last December.
"My loyalties always go with my client whether it's Kellen Winslow or LaVar Arrington and we would hope that Washington doesn't take that position," Carl Poston said of the team factoring in Winslow's representation.
"I think it would be a mistake but that's their prerogative. We don't expect to be a holdout. We like all our clients to get in on time."
Notes: The NFL reportedly will likely schedule the Cowboys game against the Redskins for a Monday night telecast on Sept. 27. . . . The Redskins have cooled their interest in reserve defensive tackle Peppi Zellner, sources said, but remain interested in re-signing defensive tackle Bernard Holsey. . . . The Redskins still have an interest in linebacker Warrick Holdman.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... 4Apr6.html
I'm hoping for a trade that brings both Taylor and winslow to D.C.