The Washington Redskins selected 2 WRs and a TE in the second round of last April’s Draft expecting them all to make a impact.  None of them did but it would be dumb to count them all out already as I think at least one of them will step up in 2009 for the Redskins.  WR Devin Thomas was the highest pick the Redskins made last April.  He played in all 16 games (1 start) for the Redskins last season but he only caught 15 passes for 120 yards (8.0 avg).  Thomas also carried the ball 3 times for 53 yards (17.7 ypc) with a TD run.  TE Fred Davis was up next in the 2nd round for the Skins.  He played in 11 games (2 starts) and he only caught 3 passes for 27 yards (9.0 avg).  WR Malcolm Kelly was the final of the “Big Three” for the Redskins and he only played in 5 games (0 starts) catching only 3 passes for 18 yards (6.0 avg).  In the third round the Redskins selected OT Chad Rinehart who didn’t play in a game last season and was inactive in 14 of 16 games.  4th round CB Justin Tryon didn’t show much as a rookie either playing in 14 games (0 starts) and making only 4 tackles.  Punter Durant Brooks was a 6th round pick for the Redskins but he was cut in October.  He punted the ball 26 times for 1,030 yards (39.6 avg) for the Redskins last season.  He placed 9 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line and didn’t have any touchbacks.  Safety Kareem Moore was also selected in the 6th round by the Redskins.  He played in 14 games (1 start) for the Skins last season and he made 17 tackles.  QB Colt Brennan was the final of the 6th round picks by the Redskins last season and he played well in the preseason but didn’t appear in any real games last season.  He could develop into the #2 QB in the near future for the Redskins.  7th round DE Rob Jackson played in 3 games (0 starts) last season for the Redskins and he made only 1 tackle.  With the 249th pick (7th round) the Redskins selected safety Chris Horton who was by far the best player they drafted.  He played in 14 games (10 starts) for the Redskins last season and he made 76 tackles, had 1 sack, defensed 5 passes and had three interceptions.  Horton will likely be a starter for a long time on the Redskins.

GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  C+

The Redskins have signed 34-year old DT/DE Renaldo Wynn to a 1-year deal.  Wynn played in all 16 games for the Giants last season and he made 25 tackles and had 2 sacks.  He has now played in 180 games in his NFL career in which he has made 344 tackles, defensed 3 passes, has 27 sacks and he has forced 6 fumbles.  This was a good signing if it was for depth purposes but if Wynn has to start that would be a bad thing.

The Washington Redskins have signed 33-year old punter Dirk Johnson.  Johnson played in 12 games for the Cardinals last season and he punted 40 times for 1,670 yards (41.8 avg).  He placed 13 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line but only had 4 touchbacks.  Johnson has now played in 69 games in his NFL career and he has punted the ball 320 times for 13,356 yards (41.7 avg).  Johnson has placed 94 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line and has 32 touchbacks in his career.  But, Johnson has never had a punt blocked in his career.  This was a good signing for the Redskins.

The Redskins have released 34-year old DE/OLB Jason Taylor.  Taylor played in 13 games for the Redskins last season and he made 29 tackles, defensed 9 passes, had 3.5 sacks and he forced 1 fumble.  He has now played in 185 games in his NFL career and he has made 678 tackles, has defensed 81 passes, has 120.5 sacks, forced 41 fumbles and he intercepted 7 passes (3 that he returned for TDs).  The Redskins decided to release Taylor after he failed to restructure his contract.