No. 21

Pick by Hogs Haven Aqib Talib Cornerback Kansas

Editor's Note -- OUR THOUGHTS GO OUT ONCE AGAIN TO THE FAMILY OF SEAN TAYLOR AND THE ENTIRE REDSKINS' ORGANIZATION AND FAN-BASE.  PERHAPS IT IS SYMBOLIC THAT THE 'SKINS OWN PICK #21.

Selecting with the 21st overall pick in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins select Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib.  Skin Patrol, who runs a fine Redskins blog over at Hogs Haven, explains the decision-making process in Washington's war room:

  This pick was not easy to make. I am personally not that high on Aqib Talib because I think the stars aligned a bit for Kansas last year, and question whether that success had more to do with schedule then it did with the uncharacteristic increase in talent at, for instance, cornerback. I'm an admittedly fickle man, and rely heavily on anecdotes, perhaps to a fault.

Two issues militated my decision towards Talib over Branden Albert. On a personal note, I'm bigger on Albert because I think the offensive line is in a more dire situation in the long run, whereas I view the problems with the secondary as being somewhat temporary. However...

1. The idea of opening the season without Carlos Rogers felt too similar to 2006's secondary, which proved absolutely disastrous. While much of the '06 collapse can be attributed elsewhere -- a failing defensive line, perhaps -- there was little question that we were simply outmatched against opposing receivers. If our secondary remains absolutely healthy, I think Branden Albert is the better pick. But then again, if our entire offensive line (Rabach, Kendall, Thomas, Samuels, and Jansen) all remain healthy, Talib is the better pick. The difference is that Carlos Rogers is injured right NOW, and I am not all that confident that Shawn Springs will remain healthy all season. He's at least as likely to get injured as any number of those offensive linemen. Furthermore we've proven better capable of succeeding with a few injuries on the offensive line as it is constituted now (2007) than we have with an injury depleted secondary (2006).

2. The pick more closely traces what has been said by the team recently, per Bram Weinstein at Covering The Redskins: CB is starting to look like a possible early round target.. The team likes Kansas CB Aqib Talib and should he be available, he could be the first pick.  Greg Trippiedi at Hog Heaven thinks we're good at the three most valuable offensive line positions for the immediate future. In sum, I think we're better at the offensive line than we are in the secondary, but recognize that both are needs.

Were it just me making the pick, I'd go Brandon Alberts. But there was sufficient support for Talib among Hogs Haven reader(s) for me to go that direction, and it appears the team is open to the idea as well. Hopefully we can snag a quality defensive linemen or offensive linemen in the 2nd round.

Regarding Talib's immediate role with the 'Skins, I think he comes in as a nickel back behind Springs and Smoot, which is fine. He will push both those guys to get better and will get an opportunity to learn the defense without being forced onto the field prematurely. He also puts us in a better position to rest and evaluate Rogers' injuries, so that the team won't even be tempted to bring him in prematurely. While there is the possibility that Carlos returns soon and Shawn Springs remains healthy throughout the season, thus devaluaing Talib significantly in his first year, having him around in 2009 will permit us to move forward in the secondary without Springs, whose presence looks less likely on the roster every year.

From there, we move to the stats, measurables, and all the other fun stuff.  At 6-1 and 202 pounds, Talib is immediately the biggest CB on the roster and virtually a clone of Shawn Springs (6-0, 200) who is on his last NFL legs and has been less-than-happy with the team in recent years.  Even if the Front Office All-Stars were to offer him a contract, I'm not sure he'd accept.  Drafting Talib is an insurance policy for Springs leaving, while also patching up the short-term secondary while former-first rounder Carlos Rogers recovers from a knee injury that ended his season a year ago.

Talib ran a 4.44 at the Combine, which is not great but is not shabby either.  His 38 inch vertical was half an inch short of Rodgers-Cromartie's for second, and he tied Cromartie for the best CB broad jump.  All that says that while he might not have the best overall speed, he's got quite a burst and is, dare I say it, explosive.  The biggest knock on him is that he might gamble for the ball too much, but that ball-hawking mentality is sorely lacking in the secondary, especially at the CB spot.  He has some experience at WR and returning punts, which might be a good place for him to contribute early on.
The other options outside of Albert (Phillips, Groves, among others) would feel like a reach.  I agree with Skin Patrol that while the offensive line needs to be upgraded, picking Albert (who would probably be a backup going into the season) seems like a bad move.

The combination of Talib, Smoot, and Rogers (with 4th year guy Leigh Torrence) make for a good, young (Smoot's the oldest of the 4 at 28 years) combination for the Skins to build around.  Add in last year's 1st rounder S LaRon Landry, and you've got quite a talented defensive backfield.

Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

Opening the year without Carlos Rogers is a scary thought, but this pick still confuses me. I read over the pick explanation a few times and I really feel like the 'Skins came into this draft without much aim. A quick look at Washington's roster by even the casual fan will show that they have ignored their defensive line for far too long. Andre Carter did have a nice first year in DC, but opposite Carter is an aging Philip Daniels and many project players. The team is also lacking a solid tackle next to Cornelius Griffin. Drafting a defensive lineman here could have been seen as a reach, with our best available player being UNC's tackle Kentwan Balmer or Quentin Groves (DE) of Auburn. Neither player is a top 21 pick in our mind.

The selection of a cornerback who can double on special teams is solid, but not extremely necessary. I would have liked Washington to take a defensive lineman here, or even a wide receiver (Devin Thomas?), but Talib is a high ranking available player (6th prior to this pick) and will fill a need now and in the future.

Grade: B-  ::  Aqib Talib Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1.  LB Dan Connor, 2.  CB Antoine Cason, 3.  QB Brian Brohm, 4.  LB Jerod Mayo, 5.  QB Joe Flacco

That's all she wrote for today.  We'll be back bright and early tomorrow morning with the pick from Blogging the Boys, whose Dallas Cowboys are now on the clock.