Who Would've Been YOUR 1st Round Pick?

[spyder7]

Let's rewind and propose a dream scenario: The Dan decides to finally fire Vinny and further recuse himself from all personnel-related decisions. Zorn, being the nice guy that he is, has indicated that he will support you as the new GM in Washington, entrusted with final say at the 2009 NFL draft. Who will you pick at 13th overall? If you were in charge and had to do it all over again, would you also take Orakpo, or would you have different plans? Explain.

[CM916]

Orakpo because I would have been ****ting my pants at the oppurtunity just like Vinny.

[robotfire]

Orakpo because I would have been ****ting my pants at the oppurtunity just like Vinny.Yeah, it was unbelievable that he fell so far. We got one of the best in the draft.

[Veretax]

Orakpo was hands down a top 5 talent at #13, Oher was maybe a top 20 talent.

[Arsenic]

JL33 & a 2nd


but I'm happy with Orakpo :)

[Ned Flanders]

Easy -

Chase Daniels - the boogeyman

[erock353]

I too would have jumped all over the opportunity for Orakpo. He was one of the best players in this years draft, if not the best.

[Darrell Green Fan]

Orakapo, no decision to be made here. Pass rushing DEs are much harder to find than OL. Bust rates for OL is much lower so they can feel confident they can fill that need next season. They been looking for Orakapo since Charles Mann.

[RocketCitySkins]

The only other player available that I would have even considered was Oher. But with Rak still there, there was no question who I would have picked.

[Chump Bailey]

I'm much happier about our selections now than I was previously. I was hoping that we would have picked up Alex Boone however in the 7th or UFA. I think VC did a decent job with what we had to work with at the time. I think we have picked up some good natural athletes that may be raw but could prove to be productive players for us in the future.

1st. Orakpo - no brainer and smart selection.

[ChiefPowhatan17]

Orakpo, so they got it right.

[vicrodjr]

Without a doubt it would have been Orakpo!!

[jnhay]

I'm assuming we pick at 13 with the exact same players on the board? I'd still pick Orakpo.

If Andre Smith was on the board then, I'd pick him though.

[paintrain]

Orapko, no question at all.

[nonniey]

I think virtually all of us would have picked Orakpo (Value and need). That said we'd have parted company with Vinny's picks in the later rounds. I'd have traded the 3rd for a future 2d (There were trading partners out there). Definately would have drafted Meredith in the 5th.

[SKINchiefer]

I hate to be cliche, but everything happens for a reason, everything.

[Kindred]

trade all our pics up for sanchez?

I kid I kid :D

[kingjames]

If we had the number 5 pick overall i would still want to take RAK.

[HA1LV1CT0RY]

Orakpo hands down if it was the same scenario, if we were at #13 no big OT's on the board or orakpo, I'd trade down and land all second rounders and pick up some mean talent at Center/LB/End/RT/RG(cough robinson)

edit : not saying 5 second rounders, but I'd draft more depth, and prob not barnes in the 3rd and DEF NOT the linebacks in the 5th.

[IbleedBnG83]

If I could chose anyone, Jason Smith. I love the Orakpo pick, but I would have been very happy with Oher. I would have gone with either Orakpo or Oher.

[terrifNick21]

Tim Tebow...DUH. :puke:


Orakpo. I was hoping he'd fall to 13, and somehow someway, he did. :D

[J-bomb]

I would have traded down to get a lower 1st and some extra picks and selected LB Larry English. Get a DE with my new 2nd rounder and picked up OL in the 3rd round.

[Dah-Dee]

No telling what kinds of trade opportunities might have been available, or not, so I don't see how anybody can really say "I would have traded down." All we know is what players were available when we picked at #13, and Orakpo was a no-brainer.... so if I were the GM I would have done the same exact thing our clueless FO did.

[Redskins:Victory_or_Death]

Jason Smith or Aaron Curry if we are not talking draft position. Otherwise Orakpo all the way baby!


Easy -

Chase Daniels - the boogeymanDrafting a player way before he deserves to go... Al Davis - is that you?

[ksun247]

I would have taken Oher. We really need O-line help. Defense was good last year. Orakpo looks to be a monster (hopefully). We needed a pass rusher, but think O-line help was the biggest need. Last year, we struggled so badly on Offense, it just wasn't funny.

[BKSkinsFan]

I was actually kind of hoping Crabtree would fall to us, but Orakpo was the no-brainer. Fills a huge hole in our defense, something we've been missing for quite some time. If he lives up to expectation, he instantly improves not only our d-line, but our secondary as well. The guy is insanely strong, and seemed to be hurrying the QB very frequently within 2 seconds. That's right, 2 seconds, not the normal 5-6 most offenses seemed to get against us.

[Bonez3]

I think Orakpo might be one of the best players the Skins have drafted since the Monk/Green picks- really.

[Dah-Dee]

I would have traded down to get a lower 1st and some extra picks and selected LB Larry English. Get a DE with my new 2nd rounder and picked up OL in the 3rd round.

Well, English went #16 to the Chargers, so who exactly would you have traded down with to still get him ahead of SD? New Orleans at #14? Nope, they wanted a CB and were going to get their guy at 14. Texans at #15? Even assuming they'd be interested in moving up a whole 2 spots for Orakpo, instead of one of the USC LBs they'd been drooling over for weeks, how the heck were we going to get a #2 out of them, or multiple "extra picks," for that move? Sorry, I just don't see it.

:whoknows:

[Koolblue13]

Orakpo or Raji were the two I wanted the most.

[Outlaw Torn]

RAK no question.

[Hiro]

At the pick we were at, Orakpo no doubt because he was the BPA and filled a major need we've had for years. But if we could pick anyone, I probably would've gone with either Eugene Monroe or Jason Smith since either of those two could have been plugged in at day 1 as the RT, then eventually bump over to the left to take over for Samuels.

But with the players available, I'm happy with Orakpo! :D

[PROSCOUT]

wA couple of things about Orakpo. He won all those awards even though he was injured. He missed 1.5 games and was somewhat affect and did not start in a 3rd game, and yet he came back to finish with 3 sacks in his final 2 games, including the bowl game.

He also had an incredible number of pressures, or ALMOST sacks, but evenin his highlight film I notice the quarterbacks are running from him and would rather throw the ball SOMEWHERE/ANYWHERE than be tackled by him.

He is not Vernon Golston of the Jets. Golston and Orakpo had similar numbers coming out of college, but the Jets never allowed Golston to start a game, they put him in a 3-4 defense, which is more complicated, and forced him to do things that he was uncomfortble doing. He was a failure in year one because he was not allowed to do what comes naturally, plus, he is still not as fast as Orakpo.

Brian Orakpo more favorably compares to Chris Long as a pass rusher. Watch all the highight reels of pass rushers and Orakpo and Long look pretty much alike when coming off the end as a pass rusher. Long had 8 sacks in his rookie season and he did not even have Albert Haynesworth beside him.

I look for Orakpo to have doubel digit sacks, but only if Blache gets his "system" or "packages" out of the way and lets Orakpo do his thing. Blache is too much like Greg Williams. Sound philosophy but they both have a problem with the my way or highway attitude. If Blache is ready for change, great. If not, Blache will be the change in 2010.
Orakpo is a BEAST.

[Adam291]

If it was the same draft, Orakpo is an easy choice. If it was another situation, I'd have to go for Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe or Jason Smith. But if it was between Oher and Orakpo again, I'd go Orakpo.

[VaBeachRedskin]

Michael Oher. His total package of skills at OT could not be matched by anybody else in the draft. He didn't give up a sack in either his junior or senior year in the SEC.

[HailGreen28]

Under the exact same circumstances we were dealt with:

Check and see if anybody from the Texans (15) to the Vikings (22), want to trade up. Would want swapping ones and get their first (or their 2nd and 3rd) next year, maybe no one would bite to get Orakpo, but people have done stupider things before. Would look at drafting Orakpo, English, Cushing, Ayers, Oher, or Mack. Whichever is really BPA and available.

If no one bites (probably), then get Orakpo.

If I could pick any player, Jason Smith.

[PROSCOUT]

Under the exact same circumstances we were dealt with:

If no one bites (probably), then get Orakpo.

If I could pick any player, Jason Smith.

One pure pass protector will not solve issues along an offensive line, because even if a guy like Smith would have never allowed a sack, Jason Campbell could still be sacked from one of the other 10 guys on defense whether its a tackle overopowering our guards, or whether a blitz is not picked up by a back.

However, with Orakpo, even if Haynesworth is double teamed and Griffin falls on his face, and Andre Carter is pushe dway outside, if ORAKPO sacks the quarterback then the play is over and the Skins win.

With high draft picks, if a pass rusher and offensive tackle are evenly rated, give me the pass rusher every time because I can always put my pass rusher against the other teams weakest pass protecter and win that battle.

[Koolblue13]

Chuck Norris?

[HOGnificent]

#98, we got lucky!

[SD Skins fan]

I would have looked to fill the most pressing need, which was for an OT. I would have picked Oher. He'll have a better career, I think, than Jansen has had for us, and that's not a bad thing. 10 years of solid O line play is worth a #13 pick. Don't get me wrong, I hope RAK is a beast and does great things, but a DE wasn't our most pressing need.

[FrFan]

I would have traded down, if not possible I would have selected Everette Brown.

[deejaydana]

I was personally surprised that Orakpo was there when we picked, so I love the pick we made. I want to see the guy dominate for years to come.

[HailGreen28]

One pure pass protector will not solve issues along an offensive line, because even if a guy like Smith would have never allowed a sack, Jason Campbell could still be sacked from one of the other 10 guys on defense whether its a tackle overopowering our guards, or whether a blitz is not picked up by a back.

However, with Orakpo, even if Haynesworth is double teamed and Griffin falls on his face, and Andre Carter is pushe dway outside, if ORAKPO sacks the quarterback then the play is over and the Skins win.

With high draft picks, if a pass rusher and offensive tackle are evenly rated, give me the pass rusher every time because I can always put my pass rusher against the other teams weakest pass protecter and win that battle.It's equally true that one pure pass rusher will not solve our issues on the D-Line. A back or TE can always help out against some super pass rusher. That's kinda what Gibbs I built his H-back formation on.

Orakpo probably wasn't even the best DE in the draft. Tyson Jackson was.

I'm okay with taking BPA, but all other things being equal, which line needs help the most?

[drowland]

I would of tried to trade down, get some more picks, looked at Robert Ayers, Michael Oher or Alex Mack.

Staying at #13 I still would of looked at Robert Ayers. More versatile, could fit in any defense. Less of the boom or bust prospect Orakpo is and still has a lot of upside.

My last impression of Orakpo was the Fiesta Bowl. OSU LT Alex Boone made him look ordinary. Boone went undrafted last weekend.

[AAARedskin]

If Sanchez had still been on the board at 13, I'd have taken him first. The Redskins averaged 10 to 16 points per game down the stretch last season and YES, there's a VERY, VERY GREAT REASON Snyder wanted this kid to run the offense. And ginning up blame for the O-line isn't gonna work this coming season for the offense still cannot get out of second gear during the second half of the season again. If some of you are content with this kind of point production, and the words HOPE and POTENTIAL still seem like cool words to you after average results, I hear the Lions are also trying to attract fans. BTW....since Sanchez was gone, the Orakpo pick was the BEST. Vinny gets a gold star......HAIL!!!!

[SAli457180]

Definitely Orakpo. I think he's a perfect fit for what they want to do on defense.

[stevemcqueen1]

With the benefit of hindsight, I would have traded #13 to the Broncos for 18 and another 2nd or 3rd round pick. Then I would have taken Robert Ayers there, and then moved back into the first round with Buffalo at 28 and taken Eric Wood there. If I couldn't have gotten him, I would have moved into the second to get Max Unger, and I strongly would have considered jumping ahead of the Giants for William Beatty.

Wood and Ayers were my two favorite players in the draft, and Beatty dropped so far for a player with his upside.

[TheLongshot]

Orakpo probably wasn't even the best DE in the draft. Tyson Jackson was.

Just because he was drafted higher doesn't make him the better player.

I wouldn't change a thing the Skins did in the first round. I've long said that Orakpo was the only DE I would draft at #13 and I would have drafted him. If he wasn't there, maybe I would have dropped back depending on who was there. I don't think Oher would have been worth picking there and I could drop back and still could have gotten him or Eben Britton.

[stevemcqueen1]

Orakpo probably wasn't even the best DE in the draft. Tyson Jackson was.

According to who? He may end up being the best DE but then anyone could. He's going to play the 5 technique, so he isn't all that comparable anyway.

A lot of experts said he is closer to Marcus Spears than Richard Seymour, and Mayock said that Robert Ayers was the best defensive end in the class.

I'd have taken Ayers or Orakpo every day of the week over Tyson Jackson.

[cphil006]

Michael Oher...

but, I'm fine with Orakpo... in fact I'm ecstatic...

If he wasn't there, I would have traded down and nabbed Alex Mack and a second rounder...

[cphil006]

With the benefit of hindsight, I would have traded #13 to the Broncos for 18 and another 2nd or 3rd round pick. Then I would have taken Robert Ayers there, and then moved back into the first round with Buffalo at 28 and taken Eric Wood there. If I couldn't have gotten him, I would have moved into the second to get Max Unger, and I strongly would have considered jumping ahead of the Giants for William Beatty.

Wood and Ayers were my two favorite players in the draft, and Beatty dropped so far for a player with his upside.

dang... me, too.

[littleskins]

Orakpo is who I wanted in the first place. Eventhough, I would have took either of the Smiths or Monroe if it was possible.

[englitdaudelin]

There were good prospects on the board for a while, and I think sitting at 13 was not wise, given the serious questions at OLB and offensive tackle.

I would have traded down. It's certainly a risk, but I would have dropped into the 20s to pick up a 2nd round pick, and looked for Oher, English, or Clay Matthews in the first.

If I got Oher in the first, then Laurinaitis or Sintim in the 2nd; if I got English or Matthews in the 1st, then Max Unger in the early-mid 2nd (He was 17th pick of the 2nd round. Curse you, Vinnie Cerrato and Jason Taylor!)

Personally, I thought the addition of a new, stout DT would have us looking more at the LB position than the DE position, but I DO understand what luck that was to have Orakpo drop; I thought that SF or Denver would take him.

[DCDiesel44]

I totally agree with the Orakpo pick, I just wished we would have picked up Marcus Freeman instead of Cody Glenn in the 5th round. Marko Mitchell was a steal. Trading our 3rd and one of our 7th-rounders for a 2nd-rounder next year would have also been an option.

[HailGreen28]

Just because he was drafted higher doesn't make him the better player.

I wouldn't change a thing the Skins did in the first round. I've long said that Orakpo was the only DE I would draft at #13 and I would have drafted him. If he wasn't there, maybe I would have dropped back depending on who was there. I don't think Oher would have been worth picking there and I could drop back and still could have gotten him or Eben Britton.Well, the draft order is in fact what I was going by.... for better or worse. And also the Bills picked Maybin at #11. So there's two NFL teams that disagree with Orakpo. OTOH, Sports Illustrated agrees with you about Orakpo. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/breakdowns/by_position/DE.html) I'm hoping you're right, but in hindsight how other teams pick carries a lot of weight to me.

Britton looks like a good pick too, the Jags had to be looking at O-Line hard this draft, and they picked him pretty high in rd 2.........


According to who? He may end up being the best DE but then anyone could. He's going to play the 5 technique, so he isn't all that comparable anyway.

A lot of experts said he is closer to Marcus Spears than Richard Seymour, and Mayock said that Robert Ayers was the best defensive end in the class.

I'd have taken Ayers or Orakpo every day of the week over Tyson Jackson.Orakpo was the third DE taken this draft. Ayers was 4th, after the Chiefs, Bills, and Skins had their chance to get Ayers,and drafted a different DE instead. And maybe we should have taken an OLB anyways, given where Orakpo's playing now?

[mi6]

In the first round, Orakpo or Raji were the two I wanted the most.

Yes, we do need help on the o-line, but lets not forget they were not the worst line in the NFL either. They were decent ... and, unfortunately, they get blamed for the all of the poor QB play. That's just not the case.