2011 Redskins Must-Hit Draft Picks

There are few teams in the NFL with more glaring needs at more positions than the Washington Redskins. In fact perhaps the one-win Carolina Panthers are their only competition for that crown. With so many needs, the Redskins must have immediate impact and value from their first and second round picks.

At number 10, the Skins are in a position to get an elite player who should step in and have a successful rookie year. Coach Shanahan said earlier this off season that the most in-need positions were offensive line, wide receiver and quarterback. In Wednesday's press conference he said the draft was deep with quarterbacks, and we know he likes mobile ones like Jake Plummer and John Elway.

One player moving up the board is Jake Locker, the consensus number one pick in 2010, who returned to Seattle to play another year at Washington. Last year his completion percentage and yardage dropped significantly but he is an interesting pick because of his athleticism, gunslinger mentality and his ability to win games despite having a poor offense around him.

Many believe the Redskins are not in a position to draft a quarterback and see Locker as a late first-to-second-round pick. Instead, the Redskins should draft the best player available at 10. This could be Julio Jones, the receiver who many see as a potential Andre Johnson clone, or Robert Quinn out of UNC who would be a great pass-rushing outside linebacker compliment to Brian Orakpo at outside linebacker.

There have been rumors that the Redskins would like to move up to the second overall pick to draft Blaine Gabbert, but such a move is highly unlikely with the holdout preventing teams packaging players with picks to move up in the draft. If the players the Redskins love are not available at 10 is its very possible they will trade down to attain some extra picks. One such scenario would be trading down to 17 with the Patriots and picking up the 60th overall pick, which would give them a first round pick and two second rounders.

In the second round the Redskins hold the 41st pick, a pick high enough to yield an impact player in 2011. At 41 both Ryan Mallet and Andy Dalton could be ripe for the picking and both could prove to be starters in the NFL for years. The tall, tough Mallet has the strongest arm in the draft, but is immobile in the pocket and comes with off the field baggage. Dalton is climbing the draft boards after a successful year at Texas Christian were he impressed NFL scouts with is leadership, work ethic and football smarts. As funny as it may seem, his red hair has come up when discussing him as prospect as there have been very few successful redheads in NFL history.

The Redskins are in a strong position to either draft for need, or trade down and gain picks while adding some much-needed talent to their squad. Defensive and offensive lines should be a priority, followed by skill positions such as wide receiver and quarterback.

The worst possible scenario would be for the Skins to reach for a quarterback who isn't worth the pick. Draft smart, draft by need, and if the player you want isn't available, trade down and add some much needed depth. Go Skins.