This story contributed by Scott Hirsch.
We are in the NFL “American Idol” stage of the season. We are all hoping for a steal in the draft to emerge to somehow give the Redskins some extra advantage.
It’s not just the fans; it’s the players too. That’s why some players are calling DeSean Jackson the Redskins first round pick this year. Somehow everyone senses that a great draft and in particular getting a draft ‘steal’ gives the team the extra shot in the arm needed to win the season.
No doubt the last time the Redskins went to the playoffs, they had a draft steal named Alfred Morris. Fittingly, Morris rushed for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Cowboys in do or die season finale, a classic Redskins performance for the ages.
The Seahawks had a few ‘steals’ including Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson and a couple pass rushers that built them into a Super Bowl powerhouse. They also had lesser ‘steals’ that built the team like undrafted wide receiver Kearse.
When Allen and company talk about needing to develop players within the organization like the best NFL teams do, what better proof is there than pointing to the classic ‘draft steal’?
So who is the Redskins steal of this draft? It’s too early to tell, but the likely candidates are Trent Murphy, Bashaud Breeland, Ryan Grant, Morgan Moses and Lache Seastrunk. Amongst the UFDAs, the most likely possibilities are Robert Thomas (DL), Courtney Bridget (CB) and Cody Hoffman (WR). Of course it’s possible no Redskins player qualifies as a ‘steal.’ Keep your eye out this season on the correlation between having players called ‘steals’ and playoff births from non-elite NFL teams (i.e. everyone except the Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks, Packers, 49ers and maybe the Saints).
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