The draft is a passion for NFL reporter Jeff Legwold, who evaluates several hundred players each year during the months leading up to the annual selections. Legwold offers his insights here daily, with additional entries at
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan shook up the league and the first round of the NFL draft by trading for quarterback Donovan McNabb.
But Shanahan has plenty of teams curious about what the Redskins will do with the fourth pick overall. Redskins officials have spent plenty of time meeting with quarterbacks, or planning to meet with quarterbacks, over the past month. The list includes Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford.
Shanahan has an over-30 quarterback whose movement skills are diminishing in McNabb — and not many players in the offensive front to protect him. His most prudent move would be to trade the fourth pick to get more picks or to pick a left tackle to protect his quarterback.
Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung is the top-rated offensive tackle on the board but may not make it past the No. 2 spot, where Lions coach Jim Schwartz has quarterback Matt Stafford to protect. That would leave Shanahan looking at the next best thing, Oklahoma’s Trent Williams.
Tough spot. Shanahan can either get a QB to groom or the left tackle that he needs.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
