From Mel Kiper

[RedskinsDave]

YOU'VE GOT MEL | Mel Kiper Jr.'s Mailbag
Q: With Coach Gibbs taking control of the Washington Redskins what area do you see the team addressing in the draft?
Red, Centreville, Va.

Miami's Kellen Winslow would be a good fit in Washington as a pass-catching tight end.
KIPER -- First of all, player personnel director Vinnie Cerrato has done a great job stockpiling talent in Washington. But Joe Gibbs will have plenty of input into the team's draft decisions, and despite surrendering numerous picks in the deals they made with free agents last offseason the Redskins can still improve with the fifth overall pick. A pass-catching tight end like Kellen Winslow of Miami would make sense at that spot, or they could go with a safety like Winslow's teammate Sean Taylor. The team's most glaring need is on the defensive line, but the question is whether any of the available linemen are worthy of such a high pick. Oklahoma's Tommie Harris or Ohio State's Will Smith could be possibilities, but in terms of value at No. 5 it looks like Winslow or Taylor would be the best fit.

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I'm not sold on taking a TE that early and I'm certainly not sold on Winslow. The comment about Vinny was rather surprising. They must be pals.

[Skinzaholic]

Sounds like Mel has been reading Uri's draft posts here...

sneaky guy!

[TexSkin]

Kipper is the man but dam that Vinny compliment made me whince for some reason.

[Yudolindo]

I think we will have to wait until after FA to really get a good idea on who we ought to draft. My best guess would be a trade down and then take some linemen...but Gibbs is a "best talent available," kind of guy as well. But Winslow? Does Gibbs throw to tight ends that much?

[SkinsKY]

Originally posted by TexSkin
Kipper is the man but dam that Vinny compliment made me whince for some reason.

No doubt. How can you give credit to Vinny? Maybe it was Pastabelly posing as Kiper.

[RichardBradley]

I beleive someone wrote the exact same thing in the draft forum about a week ago... Maybe ESPN should give me a job

[NCskinsfanatic]

Originally posted by Yudolindo
I think we will have to wait until after FA to really get a good idea on who we ought to draft. My best guess would be a trade down and then take some linemen...but Gibbs is a "best talent available," kind of guy as well. But Winslow? Does Gibbs throw to tight ends that much?
I agree and Gibbs is very partial to the TE in his offense.Remember in Dallas when troy still had Novachek?That only helped Micheal Irvin,harper or who ever else they lined up over there.I think gibbs would love to had that for this offense.But with that being said I dont wanna pick any TE at #5.

[Skinsfan1906]

Gibbs is DEFINITELY a block first, pass catch second person in how he utilizes his tight ends. If you cannot block (and pass protect), then you will not be a tight end on Gibbs' list.............Mr. Flemister. Winslow is a receiving tight end (who is not that physically strong). He would NOT be a fit (IMO) of the Gibbs system. Sean Taylor would be a better fit. Hmmm. Wait. That might just be my own personal bias.

DRAFT SEAN TAYLOR!!!

[Spence]

If no DL is worth the fifth pick then the Redskins must trade down, get more picks, and take a DL when one IS worth the pick. Considering the glaring needs the Redskins have at DL and RB, anyone who takes a TE with the fifth pick should be sued for malpractice. And that includes Joe Gibbs.

[RedskinsDave]

I agree completely Tom.

[RedskinRyan]

Originally posted by Spence
If no DL is worth the fifth pick then the Redskins must trade down, get more picks, and take a DL when one IS worth the pick. Considering the glaring needs the Redskins have at DL and RB, anyone who takes a TE with the fifth pick should be sued for malpractice. And that includes Joe Gibbs.

exactly. if it were late 1st round and they were available, then sure, get one of them. but this early in the draft, you need to find what you need. its part of the reason we are drafting this late.

[PennSkinsFan]

Originally posted by Spence
If no DL is worth the fifth pick then the Redskins must trade down, get more picks, and take a DL when one IS worth the pick. Considering the glaring needs the Redskins have at DL and RB, anyone who takes a TE with the fifth pick should be sued for malpractice. And that includes Joe Gibbs.

Unless the plan is to fix the DLine through free agency as well as RB. I can see us stockpiling with Kearse, Sapp, Gardner, and Dillon, while using the darft to nab Winslow. Guess it all depends on size of contracts the above stated woudl be seeking.

[PennSkinsFan]

That being said, i agree with Tom's point of trading down. We don't need the fifth pick. Trade it and pick up a lower first round pick and a second rounder or something like that.

[CowboyKilla]

Winslow can do everything, including blocking. However our needs don't justify him.

[CowboyKilla]

FA will determine the draft like it or not.

[Redvan]

It really bothers me that Winslow is a TE in the first place. He is built like a receiver and plays like one. If it is a TE we are after, it should definately not be Winslow.

Heath Miller from Virginia, although young, is a hell of a TE; good blocker, strong build, and great hands.

[SkinsKY]

Redvan, do you know where he would go in any of the mock drafts.

[Redskinfan28]

So none of you believe that Tony Gongalez, Todd Head or Jeremy Shockey have made enough of an impact to be considered a top 5 talent? I guarantee you that Winslow will make far more of an impact next year than Jones, Jackson or Harris.

[Spence]

Originally posted by Redskinfan28
So none of you believe that Tony Gongalez, Todd Head or Jeremy Shockey have made enough of an impact to be considered a top 5 talent? I guarantee you that Winslow will make far more of an impact next year than Jones, Jackson or Harris. Tony Gonzalez's team was knocked out of the playoffs in their first postseason game because they couldn't play defense. Gonzalez wasn't much help there. Todd Heap's team only made the playoffs because of defense. Jeremy Shockey played for a 4-12 team that couldn't rush the passer or defend at all and couldn't protect its quarterback either.

None of the teams left in the playoffs got where they are with great tight ends. The Eagles and Patriots got to the championship games because of terrific quarterbacks and excellent defense. The Panthers got there with a strong running game and the best defensive line in football. The Colts got there with the best quarterback in football and a wide receiver who might challenge one or two of Jerry Rice's records on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Drafting a tight end with the fifth overall pick is the sort of thing a team does when it has solved its big personnel problems. The Redskins have not even started.

[Green-Is-Good]

If we retain Russell, sign Darren Howard and Sam Adams/Daryl Gardener, then we could THINK of drafting Winslow, but even then I say trade down and draft a DE that is starter caliber.

[SkinsKY]

Completely agreed Spence. TE's are nice, but not necessities to building a top team.

[REALRICK]

I disagree strongly about trading down in order to take a WEAKER player, just because no defensive lineman is worth number 5.

First of all you go after the position you need. Who is to say the person we pick at number 5 is not worth it. Michael Strahan was a 2nd round pick. Ryan Leaf was the 2nd pick of the draft. If you trust you scouting staff, you figure out who will help you team the MOST and you consider yourself lucky with that 5th pick.

With that said, the best defensive player available at pick 5 will probably be Sean Taylor. He is "special" as Kiper likes to say. And you always stockpile as many "special" players as you can. The same was said of Roy Williams and look what impact he has had on that Dallas defense.

If we look at this as a 2 year building process, we can still draft a defensive lineman in round 2 and groom him and Taylor for the next year. Or we can go after Daryl Gardener, maybe go after a big nose tackle like Sam Adams and then employ a 3-4 defense. Gardener would make a heck of a right defensive end if we had 4 linebackers in back of Wynn, Adams, and Gardener. Plus. then, Sean Taylor would really be effective in that arrangement.

Just some thoughts.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

I don't want Winslow. He'd be my last option. After Jones, after Taylor, after Harris or Wilfork, and after trading down.

[hail2skins]

Originally posted by REALRICK
I disagree strongly about trading down in order to take a WEAKER player, just because no defensive lineman is worth number 5.

First of all you go after the position you need. Who is to say the person we pick at number 5 is not worth it. Michael Strahan was a 2nd round pick. Ryan Leaf was the 2nd pick of the draft. If you trust you scouting staff, you figure out who will help you team the MOST and you consider yourself lucky with that 5th pick.

With that said, the best defensive player available at pick 5 will probably be Sean Taylor. He is "special" as Kiper likes to say. And you always stockpile as many "special" players as you can. The same was said of Roy Williams and look what impact he has had on that Dallas defense.

If we look at this as a 2 year building process, we can still draft a defensive lineman in round 2 and groom him and Taylor for the next year. Or we can go after Daryl Gardener, maybe go after a big nose tackle like Sam Adams and then employ a 3-4 defense. Gardener would make a heck of a right defensive end if we had 4 linebackers in back of Wynn, Adams, and Gardener. Plus. then, Sean Taylor would really be effective in that arrangement.

Just some thoughts.

Well, the Redskins don't always draft for need (IE. Jacobs last year). Maybe things will change now. We need defensive linemen and we need them bad. So if you want to draft for need, the D line is our priority IMO.

[Odyn]

After reading the above posts, I just don't see us taking anyone other than Taylor if he is available. He makes the most sense if we sign some of the above names mentioned.

[Odyn]

Look at the stats from the first DL taken in last years draft. Dewayne Robertson was taken by the Jets at #4. He had 13 tackles all year and was condsidered a bust by the media in NY. Our current line is full of 2nd and 3rd round picks. We need to build the line with proven free agent signings. I hope we don't have very many more #5 selections in the draft. Let's make this one count!

[rskinsfan10]

Originally posted by Redvan

Heath Miller from Virginia, although young, is a hell of a TE; good blocker, strong build, and great hands.

Ahh, yes. I totally agree with all of this, and yes I am a homer.

[RichardBradley]

Jeff Dugan from Maryland is the best blocking TE coming out this year

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

imo....just because there isnt a d lineman worthy of the #5 doesnt mean we should trade it away....i think we should draft the fifth best player avaliable....we have more than one pressing need although DL is our biggest one.....the number 5 pick is a valuable pick. i hope gibbs, snyder & co make the right decision.

[tonedog12345]

Cerrato is Smart?????

[RichardBradley]

Originally posted by Spence
Tony Gonzalez's team was knocked out of the playoffs in their first postseason game because they couldn't play defense. Gonzalez wasn't much help there. Todd Heap's team only made the playoffs because of defense. Jeremy Shockey played for a 4-12 team that couldn't rush the passer or defend at all and couldn't protect its quarterback either.

None of the teams left in the playoffs got where they are with great tight ends. The Eagles and Patriots got to the championship games because of terrific quarterbacks and excellent defense. The Panthers got there with a strong running game and the best defensive line in football. The Colts got there with the best quarterback in football and a wide receiver who might challenge one or two of Jerry Rice's records on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Drafting a tight end with the fifth overall pick is the sort of thing a team does when it has solved its big personnel problems. The Redskins have not even started.


Spence ...... Come on Daniel Graham and Marcus Pollard are not great tight ends? That is like saying you don't need a running game .... Some teams just utalize different parts of the game

[SkinsKY]

Graham and Pollard are good tight ends, but I don't think they reach the quality of Shockey/Heap/Gonzo.

[Patrick]

Now Kiper is projecting Winslow to us ........ Hmmmmmm .......................Other than a name at a big time school - What has Winslow really done????? If you'll research TE in college this year, there are three (probably more) that are far more productive than Winslow:
Mike Peters (TexTech), Heath Miller (VA), and Chirs Cooley (UtahSt). AND as pointed out by many so called college analysis, Dugan (MD) is one of the best blocking TE in the nation.

[capitol_cop]

Originally posted by Patrick
Now Kiper is projecting Winslow to us ........ Hmmmmmm .......................Other than a name at a big time school - What has Winslow really done????? If you'll research TE in college this year, there are three (probably more) that are far more productive than Winslow:
Mike Peters (TexTech), Heath Miller (VA), and Chirs Cooley (UtahSt). AND as pointed out by many so called college analysis, Dugan (MD) is one of the best blocking TE in the nation.

It's not his fault that his QB sucked. Berlin was just horrible at times. When Winslow did get the ball, he dominated.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Winslow won't be getting the ball much if the other team is making 8-minute drive after 8-minute drive by running against our woeful D-line and converting 90% of its third downs.