[NotAJerry]

The deal cannot become official until Tuesday, but the Redskins have moved up to the #2 slot to take RGIII and given up three 1st rounders (2012, 2013, 2014) and a 2nd rounder (2012) to do so. It seems like a steep price until you realize just how bad the QB position has been in DC for 2 decades.

Redskins starting QBs the last 20 years:

Gus Frerotte, John Friesz, Heath Shuler, Jeff Hostetler, Trent Green, Brad Johnson, Jeff George, Brad Johnson, Tony Banks, Shane Matthews, Patrick Ramsey, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Hasselbeck, Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell, Todd Collins, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman, and John Beck.

It had to be done.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/76682 ... louis-rams

[jbock13]

Agree. I think it's the right move.

[NotAJerry]

Just realized that Mark Rypien's final year as starter falls in that 20 year timeframe as do 3 starts by Cary Conklin.

I blame Lawrence Taylor.

[Purple Haize]

Too much. Look what happened when New Orleans traded the house for a player. They have a lot of holes and could have gotten a solid QBlater on.

[LUconn]

No player is worth that. And now you have ensured that the redskins will suck for the next 7 years

[Purple Haize]

No player is worth that. And now you have ensured that the redskins will suck for the next 7 years

Part of the problem with Rex n Effects was he had no O line and no quality receivers. Those two things are not gonna help a rookie QB! Good thing he is a 'run first' QB

[adam42381]

I don't like the price they paid, but I'm excited about RGIII playing for the Skins.

[LUconn]

You cannot be a good team not having a 1st round pick for 3 years. You've got a shot that first year but once start letting go the high priced FAs you can't afford, you'll have nothing to replace them with. This is something a team would do for a player that puts them in the superbowl THIS year because it will handicap you for the following 5 years. The Redskins having been giving their 1st round picks away for a decade it seems like. It hasn't been working out for them. I don't know why all of the sudden it would.

[Sly Fox]

The standard joke from everybody around here is that Snyder has finally built a playoff contender. Unfortunately for him it will be in St. Louis.

I agree with the prevailing sentiment that the price was too high. Hopefully for Skin fans, RG3 is not the second coming of another athletic Christian QB drafted high by the Skins who was in NotAJerry's list above.

[Purple Haize]

The standard joke from everybody around here is that Snyder has finally built a playoff contender. Unfortunately for him it will be in St. Louis.

I agree with the prevailing sentiment that the price was too high. Hopefully for Skin fans, RG3 is not the second coming of another athletic Christian QB drafted high by the Skins who was in NotAJerry's list above.

Yep the Rams can now get their deep threat receiver, shore up their line and get Stephen Jackson's replacement.

[NotAJerry]

Some of you should really pay attention to who's calling the shots in DC now. It's clearly Shanahan/Allen. They've already shown they can draft in the middle rounds by getting 3 starters in the 3rd-4th rounds (Hankerson, Helu, Riley), they've cut all the fat off the roster so that they've got between 28m-40m in cap space depending on who you believe, and they've got their needs down to a manageable level with LG/C, deep threat WR, CB, and then depth at ILB and OL as the only real holes. That kind of cap space, the way they've played the 1st two offseasons in the FA market, and the style of QB they finally made the move for show pretty clearly that the SB winning coach and the SB winning GM are calling the shots.

With the money available in FA, and the players that fit the needs, it's conceivable that the Skins end up with a G like Carl Nicks or Evan Mathis or a C like Scott Wells or Chris Myers and then a WR like Vincent Jackson, Marquis Colston or Mario Manningham while still having plenty of cap room. Personally, I'd like Myers and Jackson. Don't forget how much cheaper it is to sign draft picks with the rookie cap in place. They are in great shape for the first time in 20 years. If RGIII plays anywhere near the potential he has, this is an easy move to make.

You absolutely give up 4 draft picks for a potential franchise QB.

[Purple Haize]

a manageable level with LG/C, deep threat WR, CB, and then depth at ILB and OL as the only real holes.

That's a lot of holes. Unless you are from Switzerland and making cheeses am not sure you could call this manageable. According to your list, with RG taking the QB spot you are set at RB, if they come back healthy, slot receivers and D line. FA has not been good to the Redskins or too many teams. Again, thankfully I'm not a Skins fan. Of course my team just released everyone and their sister, but at least we will have a QB as well!

[prototype]

I'm not sure if giving up all those picks are that big of deal... For a teams willing to spend money of FA - the draft isn't as important. The deal here is - is he the real deal? Can he be another CAM? If he is, this was a good move. What I would like to see is some movement from them now to sure up some other tools on offense. I'm a Bucs Fan and I hate that we never take any risks - good for the Redskins for even just trying... We had enough Cap room to make a run at Manning and bring in a lot of talent, but my team bearly wants to open their change purse. They have put all their hope in a unproven QB that had one good year.

[TDDance234]

The Redskins have sucked for the past 20 years. This doesn't change anything: they either get a franchise QB or they flounder for another 20. It's an "all-in" type move... there wasn't any alternative. Manning wasn't coming, Flynn probably wasn't coming and is still a huge question mark, and the Colts weren't trading #1.

It was either this or another year of Grossman, where we may or may not have been in a position to go after Barkley or Landry Jones next year.

Bruce Allen had a solid draft for the 'Skins last year, and they still have several picks this year that could provide some depth. Overall, it's a huge risk but one that was the right move at the moment.

[Purple Haize]

I'm not sure if giving up all those picks are that big of deal... For a teams willing to spend money of FA - the draft isn't as important. The deal here is - is he the real deal? Can he be another CAM? If he is, this was a good move. What I would like to see is some movement from them now to sure up some other tools on offense. I'm a Bucs Fan and I hate that we never take any risks - good for the Redskins for even just trying... We had enough Cap room to make a run at Manning and bring in a lot of talent, but my team bearly wants to open their change purse. They have put all their hope in a unproven QB that had one good year.

Matt Painter and Rex Grossman are available

[TDDance234]

The "he's only had one good year" argument is a myth:

2008: 160 of 267, 2091 yards, 59.9%, 15 TD/3 INT, 142.0 QBR - 846 rushing yards/13 TD's
2009: 45 of 69, 481 yards, 65.2%, 4 TD/0 INT, 142.9 QBR (Torn ACL) - 77 rushing yards/2 TD's
2010: 304 of 454, 3501 yards, 67%, 22 TD/8 INT, 144.2 QBR - 635 rushing yards/8 TD's
2011: 291 of 402, 4293 yards, 72.4%, 37 TD/6 INT, 189.5 - 699 rushing yards/10 TD's

He's been consistently improving since his freshman year. Statistically, he's been better than Matt Barkley and Landry Jones, and had a better overall season than Andrew Luck this year. If you want to knock him down a notch for playing against inferior defenses in the Big 12, than you have to do the same with Luck and the PAC-10.

The Akili Smith comparisons that are being thrown around are ridiculous- Smith had 11 starts at the Division 1 level. RG3 has the experience of playing four years in the Baylor system. He may or may not be a franchise quarterback but his numbers compare favorably to Cam Newton and other top-5 QB's picked lately.

The media is blowing it up because it's the Redskins. They aren't giving up three #1's (they are switching positions with the Rams), but three additional picks is roughly the equivalent to what the Giants gave up for Manning.

[NotAJerry]

a manageable level with LG/C, deep threat WR, CB, and then depth at ILB and OL as the only real holes.

That's a lot of holes. Unless you are from Switzerland and making cheeses am not sure you could call this manageable. According to your list, with RG taking the QB spot you are set at RB, if they come back healthy, slot receivers and D line. FA has not been good to the Redskins or too many teams. Again, thankfully I'm not a Skins fan. Of course my team just released everyone and their sister, but at least we will have a QB as well!

The Skins were an average QB, really just anyone other than Grossman or Beck, from beating the Cowboys twice and going 8-8. Thing's aren't that bad at all.

DL is set with Jenkins coming back, LB needs depth but the 4 starters are good. DB need a starting CB and maybe a S depending on what goes on with Landry.

QB is now set, RB is set, WR needs a deep threat, and OL needs new starters at LG/C before adding depth. That's not all that much with 40m in cap space and a couple of years history of drafting well in the mid and late rounds under this regime.

The Skins still have 7 picks this year, 7 picks next year, and 6 in 2014.

[Purple Haize]

I'll agree I don't think they are that far away. I was just laughing at NAJ defending by listing just about every position as a need
'Now that we have RG3 all we need to compete is an O Line, deep threat, OLB and DB's!" I guess the Punter and Kicker are safe. Probably the holder and long snapper as well!

[NotAJerry]

I'll agree I don't think they are that far away. I was just laughing at NAJ defending by listing just about every position as a need
'Now that we have RG3 all we need to compete is an O Line, deep threat, OLB and DB's!" I guess the Punter and Kicker are safe. Probably the holder and long snapper as well!

OLB? Didn't list anything other than depth at LB. I'll stick with Orakpo and Kerrigan just fine. If you actually read what I wrote, it's a need for 3-4 starters. I'd wager that most teams have at least that and don't have 40m in cap space + 7 picks in the draft.

[Purple Haize]

You. Did say ILB I misread. But you also said
OL (LG)
ILB
S
CB
C
WR (Deep Threat)

That's 6. Also, will your TE be drug free? What about your RB's? Will they all be healthy? They were in several close games and even beat the Giants but I'm not sure how many teams were gearing up for the Redskins last year. It is an All in move, no doubt about it.

[LUconn]

I am definitely of the opinion that the Redskins are a lot better than their record. Pretty good D and of course the Shannahan run game. That still doesn't make it a good trade. Those 2 teams you mentioned got those QBs using their own picks. They didn't give away years of young, cheap potential starters to get them.

[NotAJerry]

You. Did say ILB I misread. But you also said
OL (LG)
ILB
S
CB
C
WR (Deep Threat)

That's 6. Also, will your TE be drug free? What about your RB's? Will they all be healthy? They were in several close games and even beat the Giants but I'm not sure how many teams were gearing up for the Redskins last year. It is an All in move, no doubt about it.

LB depth. The starters are set. They could use a young guy at ILB for whenever Fletcher finally wears out. CB or S, not both. If Landry is healthy then they go CB to replace Hall. If Landry is still a mess then Hall stays and they go SS.

LG/C are needed, but they could easily bring back Lichtensteiger (RFA) if his knee is okay to lock down one of those spots.

WR, they don't need an immediate starter as Moss is still good, Gaffney is a good #2/#3 and Hankerson will likely be starting this year. They need the deep threat, and if that happens to be a starter that's even better.

I would expect them to grab someone like Chris Myers from the Texans to play C since they run the exact same system under Kubiak. Vincent Jackson, Marquis Colston and Mario Manningham would be the 3 WRs I would most expect in that order. That's 2 pickups right there. At that point you bring back Lichtensteiger and then all you're doing is drafting for depth on offense. DL is set, starting LB is set, and that allows either a FA CB or S depending on how things shake out. That's pretty easy to do with $40m in cap space.

[NotAJerry]

I am definitely of the opinion that the Redskins are a lot better than their record. Pretty good D and of course the Shannahan run game. That still doesn't make it a good trade. Those 2 teams you mentioned got those QBs using their own picks. They didn't give away years of young, cheap potential starters to get them.

They swapped picks this year in the 1st, gave up a 2nd, and gave up 2 more 1st rounders. Shanahan/Allen have drafted very well. They've nearly turned the roster completely over while keeping a few key FAs to be veteran leaders (Moss & Fletcher the big examples). They've still got 7 picks this year, 7 next year, and 6 in 2014. They'll be just fine.

Shanahan/Allen picks by round (1-4):

1: Trent Williams (played well last year) and Ryan Kerrigan. That's 2 for 2 at key positions. If they like RGIII that much, I'll trust them.
2: Jarvis Jenkins (won the starting DE spot in pre-season, hurt his knee in the last pre-season game). That's 1 for 1.
3: Leonard Hankerson (had 1 start with Grossman, sadly the better QB, and lit up a good Miami defense). That's 1 for 1.
4: Roy Helu and Perry Riley. That's 2 for 2 with a staring RB and starting ILB.

Throw in playing time for Terrance Austin (WR), Niles Paul (WR), Dejon Gomes (S), Evan Royster (RB), Maurice Hurt (OG), and Chris Nield (NT) in 5-7, and I'm more than comfortable with them moving a few early picks for a franchise QB. Even Markus White (OLB) and Brandyn Thompson (CB) got some time and looked like they may contribute.

BTW, with their ability in the 3rd-4th rounds so far, I can't wait to see what they do with a 3rd and 2 4ths this year.

The Falcons gave up a 1, 2 and 4 last year, and 1 and 4 this year, for a WR. A franchise QB is definitely worth more than that. Basically the Skins got RGIII for the price of Julio Jones with the two 4ths being turned into a 1st. They did not give up too much.

[Sly Fox]

Chris Myers isn't going anywhere. The Texans are letting Mario Williams walk so they can have the cash to re-sign Myers and a couple of other guys.

[NotAJerry]

Chris Myers isn't going anywhere. The Texans are letting Mario Williams walk so they can have the cash to re-sign Myers and a couple of other guys.

Ah, I was wondering why Williams was being allowed to walk. Okay change that to C Scott Wells or G Carl Nicks. There are a ton of options for a team with a few specific needs and $40m in cap space.