Will not signing left tackle Chad Clifton derail the Washington Redskins plans to take quarterback Sam Bradford with the fourth pick on April 22?
Clifton opted to remain with Green Bay after using Washington for leverage and sweeten the Packers offer by nearly $2 million annually. It was a tough loss for the Redskins, who desperately need to replace retired Chris Samuels. Clifton wasn’t a Pro Bowler, but he was the only respectable unrestricted free agent tackle on the limited market.
So what’s Plan B?
Signing Clifton would have been a clear indication Washington wanted Bradford. Now, they may have to opt for an offensive tackle. They’ll at least spend the next two months debating it. The Redskins can always sign some journeyman lineman and use quarterback Jason Campbell next season, but the debate is there.
Suppose St. Louis drafts Bradford with the overall first pick? Washington then has a no-brainer approach and takes a lineman and waits another year for a passer. Then again, the Redskins are hoping they improve enough so they’ll be drafting too late for a quality passer in 2011.
Right now, we’re figuring the Redskins are going for Bradford with the first pick. The second-rounder could net one of the seven OTs that are on the board. Maybe one falls to them at 37. The third-rounder was spent last summer on the supplemental draft for Jeremy Jarmon, who suddenly looks out of position in the coming 3-4 scheme. The fourth rounder would seem a classic Mike Shanahan pick – running back.
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