Washington Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan watches his team warm up for the game against the New York Giants at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on January 2, 2010. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg
2011 NFL Draft Needs: AFC East | AFC North | NFC East | NFC North
No. 9 Dallas Cowboys
Top Needs: S, OT, CB
The Cowboys’ biggest priority heading into the offseason appears to be safety. Alan Ball’s lackluster play at free safety was one of the main reasons the Cowboys were torched through the air last season. If he returns, it’ll likely be as a backup in a nickel or dime package. Gerald Sensabaugh is a free agent and even if he does come back, the ‘Boys are likely to add another body to push him for the starting job. Seeing as how Mike Jenkins and Terrence Newman also contributed to the team’s problems in pass defense, the Cowboys will probably look to add more pieces at cornerback as well. Offensively, there’s talk that right tackle Marc Colombo could be released over concerns about his durability and declining production. Alex Barron resembled a turnstile when he played, so chances are the tackle position will be a priority for Dallas this offseason as well. You may even see them draft a tackle in the first round.
First Round Possibilities: Anthony Castonzo (Boston College), Nate Solder (Colorado), Gabe Carimi (Wisconsin), Derek Sherrod (Mississippi State), Stefan Wisniewski (Penn State), Tyron Smith (USC), Prince Amukamara (Nebraska), Jimmy Smith (Colorado), Patrick Peterson (LSU).
No. 10 Washington Redskins
Top Needs: QB, WR, LB, RB, OT, CB, DT
What don’t the Redskins need? It’s highly unlikely that they’ll pay Donovan McNabb when it’s clear that Mike Shanahan doesn’t have a ton of trust in him to run his offense. So then what? Do they go with Rex Grossman as the starter? Do they draft a signal caller in the first round? The entire offense is lacking playmakers, especially at the wide receiver position. Santana Moss is their top playmaker but he’s a free agent and Malcolm Kelly has been a major disappointment. So if Washington doesn’t draft a QB in the first round, they could certainly target a wideout like Alabama’s Julio Jones. Defensively, Andre Carter is a bad fit for the 3-4 and Rocky McIntosh is a free agent that probably won’t be back because Shanahan was none too pleased that he skipped all of 2010 offseason workouts. London Fletcher and Brian Orakpo remain fixtures at linebacker, but the Skins need to add another pass-rusher opposite Orakpo on the outside. At cornerback, DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers are both free agents, but the Skins can’t allow both of them to walk with so few draft picks. Once Albert Haynesworth is dumped, the defensive tackle position becomes a need as well. Simply put, the Skins have too many holes to fill in just one offseason. It’s going to take Shanahan and Bruce Allen time to rebuild this roster.
First Round Possibilities: A.J. Green (Georgia), Julio Jones (Alabama), Robert Quinn (North Carolina), Derek Sherrod (Mississippi State), Mike Pouncey (Florida), Anthony Castonzo (Boston College), Gabe Carimi (Wisconsin), Cam Newton (Auburn), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Marcell Dareus (Alabama), J.J. Watt (Wisconsin), Von Miller (Mississippi State), Akeen Ayers (UCLA).
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