2011 NFL Draft - Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins - NFC East, 2011 Draft Selections & Prospects

 
Washington Redskins

2011 NFL Draft Analysis
1st Round (1-5) | 1st Round (6-10) | 1st Round (11-15) | 1st Round (16-20)
1st Round (21-25) | 1st Round (26-32) | 2nd Round | 3rd Round
4th Round | 5th Round | 6th Round | 7th Round | Top Free Agents

2011 NFL Draft Team Analysis - AFC
EAST Buffalo | Miami | New England | NY Jets
WEST Denver | Kansas City | Oakland | San Diego
NORTH Baltimore | Cincinnati  Cleveland | Pittsburgh
SOUTH Houston | Indy | Jacksonville | Tennessee

2011 NFL Draft Team Analysis - NFC
EAST Dallas | NY Giants | Philadelphia | Washington
WEST Arizona | San Francisco | Seattle | St. Louis
NORTH Chicago | Detroit | Green Bay | Minnesota
SOUTH Atlanta | Carolina | New Orleans | Tampa Bay

- 2010 Washington Draft Breakdown

First Round 
DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue 6-4, 267 , 267
Overall Pick No. 16 CFN Overall Ranking: 11

The anti-Albert Haynesworth pick, Kerrigan is going to bring the A effort every time out. Put him on the other side of Brian Orakpo and look out. A theme in this draft early on is taking players who don’t have to be the main man, and that’s perfect for Kerrigan who can be erased by double teams, but should blow past tackles time and again and will always hustle to make plays.

CFN Analysis With the ultimate motor and with a variety of skills and moves, he could be the best edge rusher in the draft. He might not be lightning fast and he’s not the most fluid of athletes, but he’s relentless when it comes to getting into the backfield, and he has the drive and the desire to do whatever it takes to get better. There’s no questioning his character, and he improved his stock in a big way at the Combine in the interviews, on the bench, and in the quickness drills. He’s not going to fly off the ball at an NFL level and he’s not going to be a pure speed rusher, but there’s no bust potential and he could be a statistical superstar with the right help from the rest of the line.
CFN Projection: First Round

Second Round    
DT Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson 6-4, 310
Overall Pick No. 41 CFN Overall Ranking: 110

An inside defender for the Tigers, he benefitted from being next to Da’Quan Bowers and will almost certainly be used as 3-4 defensive end. He’ll get a little bit of work on the nose, but he’ll be used with Ryan Kerrigan to transform the Redskin line and will be part of a new group who’ll get into the backfield on a regular basis. Now he has to hit the weights and get stronger.

CFN Analysis: With the right frame and the right bulk he looks the part of an NFL defensive lineman. Now he has to put in the time and the effort to become special. Quick for his size and with decent strength against the run, he has good skills and will work to improve them. A good leader, he’ll never dog it and he’ll be extremely coachable. Now he has to get into the weight room to get far stronger after coming up with a mere 17 reps on the bench at the Combine, and he has to learn how to be a pass rusher. He has the size and he has the athleticism, but he didn’t get to the quarterback in college and has to put it all together.
CFN Projection: Third Round

Third Round   
WR Leonard Hankerson, Miami 6-1, 209
Overall Pick No. 79 CFN Overall Ranking: 61

Big, fast, and talented, he’ll drop some passes, but he has the potential to finally be the go-to receiver the Redskins have been trying to draft for years. After whiffing on receiver pick after receiver pick, Hankerson is a sure thing to not bust, and he has the potential to be a No. 1 target right away. Now he needs someone to throw to him.

CFN Analysis: With good size and excellent speed, he’s a nice all-around prospect who had a good career and then abused defensive backs during Senior Bowl week to make a bigger splash. He likes being a football player and is always working and always trying to improve his game; it shows as a route runner. A more natural receiver than he gets credit for – he did have a case of the dropsies at times - he can snatch the ball with big hands. He doesn’t have special skills and he’s not the type of target to revolve a passing game around, but he’ll be a long-time pro who’ll be a reliable complementary player.
CFN Projection: Third Round
 
Fourth Round   
RB Roy Helu, Jr., Nebraska 5-11, 219
Overall Pick No. 105 CFN Overall Ranking: 194

CFN Analysis: There’s something missing. He’s a big back with blazing speed, and he’s one of the few true home run hitting backs in the draft. With great moves, nice wiggle, and with a one cut and gone burst, the measurables are all there. However, what he isn’t is powerful and runs way too softly for a player of his size. He’ll come up with a big game – like he did against Missouri in 2010 – and then he’ll disappear. There’s a great chance he could be far better as a pro, but he has to show he can be consistent.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round

Fifth Round    
SS DeJon Gomes, Nebraska 5-11, 208
Overall Pick No. 146 CFN Overall Ranking: 203

CFN Analysis: Ultra-aggressive and very tough against the run, he worked a bit as an outside linebacker at times and always held up well against the run. He’ll make every stop in the open field and he’s more than willing to get his nose dirty to make the top play. The lack of athleticism is an issue and he’s not going to do much of anything against the pass, and while he hits like a linebacker, he also runs a bit like one. It would be nice if he was about 20 pounds heavier, but he’s not and will be limited to working as a top special teamer early on. Even so, he could find a role as a first down run defender.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round 

Fifth Round
WR Niles Paul, Nebraska 6-1, 224
Overall Pick No. 155 CFN Overall Ranking: 123

CFN Analysis: A compact, tough receiver who can play inside or out, and while he’s not all that fast, he has functional speed and he can find ways to get open. Extremely strong, he’ll hit people in the ground game and he has no problem against the more physical defensive backs. While he has some good tools, he’s not a great wide receiver and was never healthy last year. Some will want to compare him to Anquan Boldin, but he doesn’t have the hands and he’s not the type who’ll get open against a defense trying to stop him.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round

Sixth Round   
RB Evan Royster, Penn State 6-0, 212
Overall Pick No. 177 CFN Overall Ranking: 168

CFN Analysis: Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, he’s more of a tough, plodding producer than a flashy home run hitter. He didn’t exactly get a whole bunch of help from some mediocre lines, and he didn’t do anything too memorable, but he’s smart, tough, coachable, and can catch the ball. There’s nothing there to suggest he can be special or a No. 1 back, but he’ll be a decent enough No. 2 to count on for 7-to-10 key touches per game.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round  

Sixth Round
WR Aldrick Robinson, SMU 6-0, 184
Overall Pick No. 178 CFN Overall Ranking: 191

CFN Analysis: Fast, fast, fast. With fantastic deep wheels, he can make a team purely on his home-run hitting ability and has the hands to make the big grab whenever needed. Too small and too weak, he’ll get shoved around with a little bit of a push and he’ll never be a part of a running game even though he’ll try to block. With his athleticism, character, and speed, he’ll make a team, but he’ll struggle to find a role in the passing game and might have to shine as a returner.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round

Seventh Round   
DE Markus White, Florida State 6-4, 266
Overall Pick No. 224 CFN Overall Ranking: 220  

CFN Analysis: Very quick for his size and with great character, he’s the type of player a coach wants to have around. Always working and always bringing positive energy, he’s a leader who doesn’t take a play off and wants to be better. Unfortunately, he suffers from seizures and is missing the NFL athleticism to be anything more than a very good backup, but with all his intangibles he should be a long-time reserve. It would be nice if he was stronger against the run, and it would be great if he was a more creative pass rusher, but he’ll have to settle for being a hard-working part of a rotation.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round

Seventh Round
CB Brandyn Thompson, Boise State 5-9, 189
Overall Pick No. 213 CFN Overall Ranking: Unranked

CFN Analysis: Very athletic, he moves well and is great when the ball is in the air. He’s good against the run and he’s got a knack for picking off passes. He’s not big, he’s not the best athlete and he’s not going to shut down an NFL receiver, but he could be serviceable as a nickel or dime defender.
CFN Projection: Free Agent 

Seventh Round
OG Maurice Hurt, Florida 6-3, 319
Overall Pick No. 217   CFN Overall Ranking: Unranked

CFN Analysis: The body isn’t there. He has the size and he has the weight, but he doesn’t carry it well and he doesn’t have the strength needed to handle any NFL defensive tackle. A mediocre athlete, he might move well considering his extra pounds, but he doesn’t move well enough to handle a quick interior pass rusher. Because of his size and his versatility he could be a decent backup prospect, but someone will need to light a fire under him in the weight room and on the field.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round

Seventh Round
NT Chris Neild, West Virginia  6-2, 319
Overall Pick No. 253  CFN Overall Ranking: Unranked

CFN Analysis: Very big and very, very strong, he won't be shoved out of the center of a line. An anchor, he can sit in the middle and let everyone else work, but he's not an athlete and he's not going to get into the backfield. With plenty of experience and good drive and fight, he'll be a tough cut because of his motor and strength. 
CFN Projection: Free Agent