Washington Redskins: Can Their No. 10 Draft Pick Launch Improvement on 2010 6-10 Season?

The Washington Redskins were one of the teams that had a lot of problems with personnel in 2010. These days' players sometimes forget who the coach is, and unfortunately sometimes the coach doesn't get proper support. In the case of the Redskins, they employ a defensive player, Albert Haynesworth, who didn't like the position he was asked to play so he was ultimately suspended. That carried over to the success, or lack thereof, for Washington.

Here's a look at some of the Redskins' draft options. Will they improve from 6-10?

2010 Season Outlook:

The Redskins had an up-and-down season in 2010. It started out well; they had a new quarterback who had been among the most successful players of the previous decade. They also had a new head coach who had won the Super Bowl twice. Despite upsetting the Cowboys on opening night, the Redskins struggled with the aforementioned Haynesworth, a quarterback controversy as well as a poor run and pass-protection game.

The Good:

There are some individual players on the Redskins who really stood out in 2010. For example, assuming the Redskins are able to retain him, potential free agent wide receiver Santana Moss is a great addition to the team. Chris Cooley and Fred Davis are great pass-catching threats. Defensively, the Redskins have an exciting young pass rusher in Brian Orakpo.

The Bad:

The Redskins have problems everywhere. Their quarterback situation is a mess. Donovan McNabb should have helped the team, but due to a poor offensive line and an unprepared backfield, he turned into an additional player-problem for Mike Shanahan. Not that I blame McNabb all that much.

Of course, I haven't even picked apart the defense yet, although they have already been pretty well picked apart. Aren't I clever? The defense ranked second to last in the league in pass defense, and probably could have been last had Jay Cutler not decided to throw four terrible passes in one half to DeAngelo Hall. Yes, as a Bears fan, it still hurts.

Suffice to say when it comes to defense, the Redskins have holes in nearly every position on the field.

Draft Outlook:

The Redskins hold the 10^th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Because of this, it's hard to guarantee who will be available when Washington is on the clock. I would try to upgrade the secondary -- perhaps Prince Akukamara from Nebraska. Or, they might go for the offensive tackle position -- perhaps Derrick Sherrod from Mississippi State or Anthony Castanzo from Boston College.

I suggest to you, much as my previous article about the Denver Broncos, I would not be surprised to see the Redskins go after another quarterback.

Frankly, whatever Washington does can't hurt because they have a lot of holes to fill.

Reference:

B/R BleacherReport.com Website, Chris Albright, "NFL Mock Draft 2011: Washington Redskins' Possibilities in First 2 Rounds"