No. 51

by Hogs Haven Chilo Rachal Offensive Guard Southern Cal

After addressing the cornerback position in round one with the drafting of Kansas' Aqib Talib, the Washington Redskins have added USC guard Chilo Rachal in round two.  TexSkins, one of two contributing authors at Hogs Haven, dishes on the Rachal pick:

  I know MattMiller is going to rip this pick, but it had to be made.  The team probably should draft a DE, DT, or WR here, but Chilo Rachal is the best player on our board.  He is rough and could have used another year at USC, but family illness (his mom is waiting on the insurance go-ahead for a stomach tumor) brought him out.  So, if he gets to sit a year (or half a year) and learn from quality veterans like Randy Thomas and Pete Kendall, all while being coached by my favorite offensive line coach Joe Bugel, then he should be fine.  But if,  like in the past few years, someone on the interior goes down, then he could step in and start right away.  Kendall was not a long term solution when the Redskins aquired him from the Jets during last season and Thomas is, like the rest of the offensive line, on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a season on IR for a triceps tear.  I'd rather a young player get some playing time than having Jason Fabini as the primary backup.

The DTs were thought about (Okam, Bryant, Laws) and the DEs were looked at (Jackson and Ellis) all either seemed to be a reach or felt like another quality player at those positions could be found later.  Add in the fact that the team has said they're looking for a DT more than a DE, and it spelled going a different direction at #51.

I like Hardy at WR.  Nothing against him.  There are some other players later in the draft that I like as well, so the WR spot didn't feel like a must draft here.  Anthony Mix is going to get a looksee from new head coach Jim Zorn, and the veterans ARE, Moss and Thrash are all returning.  Plus, with picks #84 and #96 coming before the fourth round, the team still has an opportunity to fill in some holes (DL, WR) before the middle rounds.

Basically, we took the best player on the board who happens to fill a need.  If he doesn't start right away, he will be starting either by the end of the year or going into next season and should fill one of the two G spots for a long time.  He still has an upside and I see him being a very good G for the Redskins for a very long time.

Okay, Matt... do your worst.
 
Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

  I really like this pick, and the reasons for making it. I'm of the school that you can never have enough good offensive linemen. Rachal is more of a finesse blocker, but his ability as a pass protector will completely change the 'Skins offensive line. I see him as a high impact player who will start at left guard in his rookie season.

Grade: B  ::  Chilo Rachal Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1.  LB Shawn Crable, 2.  RB Jamaal Charles, 3.  WR Earl Bennett, 4.  TE Fred Davis, 5.  QB Chad Henne

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, once again represented by the fine folks at Buc 'Em, are on the clock.  Their pick will be posted later this afternoon at 6PM eastern.  Stay tuned!