Breaking News: Redskins add McNabb and raise expectations
By: Turner Sports Desk
Jim Turner
Turnersportsdesk.com
April 4, 2010
My first thoughts were someone is really going overboard for April Fools but it is true.
Donovan
McNabb is a Washington Redskin. Up until now I spent most of the off season trying to figure out how the Redskins could make do with either Jason Campbell
or a rookie QB.
Ladies and Gentleman the game has completely changed. If the
Redskins can find a left tackle to protect McNabb they are now playoff
contenders. Wait, did I just write that?
I believe I did and now those words (playoff contenders) have validity.
How
does a 4-12 team become a playoff contender with one addition? Actually it’s
two additions. It is a pro-bowl Quarterback and a Hall of Fame Coach in
Mike Shanahan. McNabb
walks in the door as a subject matter expert on the west coast offense which
accelerates the growth of everyone around him. Now instead of spoon feeding
Jason Campbell or a rookie the Redskins are going to hit the ground running.
The deal sends the Redskins 37
th overall pick (2
nd
rounder) and a 3
rd or 4
th round 2011 pick to the Eagles
for a guy that is younger than Peyton Manning at 33, played in a Superbowl, five championship games and six pro-bowls. I often said Eagles fans didn’t know how great they
had it with McNabb but I guess they are going to get a crash course in 2010.
What
does this mean for
Jason Campbell?
Either the Redskins will keep him on board this year as a very nice backup
option or they will trade him to one of the teams that inquired about his
availability like Minnesota, St. Louis and Cleveland. McNabb was one of Campbell's mentors when he came into the league and it has been reported that one of the first calls McNabb made was to Jason. We know Campbell is a class act so no matter what happens to him he has earned the respect of Redskin fans. If he goes we will wish him well. If he stays we will have a quality backup.
What does this mean for the Redskins Draft? It appears the
Redskins first round choice will be a left tackle to protect their All-Pro QB. The
best on the board is
Russell Okung,
but he could go earlier than four. The good news is there are some really good
tackles still available like Iowa’s
Bryan
Bulaga and Oklahoma’s
Trent
Williams. With the most important position on the field now solidified the
Redskins can now turn their attention to tweaking other areas and getting more
depth.
The Redskins made a huge move to put themselves back in the
conversation of legit contenders. They also made this summer a lot more
interesting.