So you are the Redskins and you have the #4 pick in the NFL Draft. According to most mock drafts the Redskins are about 60/40 on Oklahoma Quarterback Sam Bradford and Oklahoma State Offensive Tackle Russell Okung. I would like to suggest another route. I recommend the Redskins follow the lead of teams like Indianapolis, New England, NY Giants and base the draft on value and fit.

I start by asking this basic question. Can the Redskins become a championship team with whoever they pick at #4? If you are not smoking crack that answer is a resounding no. I think we all can agree that none of the rookies in this draft class represent that much value at least for the Redskins. If the skins draft Bradford they still have an O-line to fix before Bradford can make a difference. If they draft Okung they still have other positions along the O-line that they will need to upgrade before they can be competitive. The bottom line is the Skins have so many holes that to truly maximize the 4^th pick they need to turn it into multiple picks.

According to Scouts Inc. Russell Okung is the 6^th best player in this draft. Sam Bradford grades out as the 11th best player in the draft. So if you draft either of these guys at 4 you are over paying in terms of value. Meanwhile, the 4^th best player in the draft is Florida Cornerback Joe Haden. If the Redskins are bound and determined to draft a QB as most of the draft gurus believe they can definitely find willing trade partners to move down and still get Bradford while accumulating more picks which we all agree they need. Okung is likely to be taken by the Chiefs at the 5^th spot if we pass on him and he certainly will not slip as far as Bradford. So if the Redskins are looking to trade down Bradford is the guy. There will be plenty of teams willing to move to the 4^th slot especially the teams mired in the middle to bottom half of the draft order and need a playmaker. Another factor that will influence teams to make deals this year is the lack of a salary cap. Some teams will not be able to sign free agents unless they lose them so the draft becomes the only way they can improve themselves.

If the Redskins are looking for cheaper alternatives they can trade picks with the Minnesota Vikings and draft Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen late in the first round. According to many scouts Clausen is very close to Bradford in terms of physical talent and ahead of Bradford in the mental portion of adjusting to NFL offenses since he has played under an NFL Coach. The Vikings need a quality QB regardless of what Favre decides to do so they would be quite willing to make a move should the Redskins approach them.

The moral of this story boys and girls is simple. The Redskins need to turn 1 pick into many in order to maximize value. They have a lot of holes to fill and one guy at the 4^th pick can’t do it all.