NFL Rumors: Redskins Plan On Taking A Quarterback?

On the subject of whether or not it’s a good idea to draft quarterback because of the problems created from the current lockout, Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan doesn’t see the labor situation affecting the teams intentions of drafting a quarterback at some point in the upcoming draft.

“No, that doesn’t bother me,” Shanahan said, via Mike Jones of the Washington Post.  “I think everybody’s in the same situation, bringing in a rookie quarterback or even a veteran quarterback. I don’t care what it is, if someone’s not familiar with your system, it’s going to take some time.”

Despite the fact that many draft experts have this years crop of quarterback prospects listed below a number of other players, there is a good chance that quarterbacks will be taken pretty frequently in the early rounds of the draft which could create some great value picks for teams that already have a solid quarterback in place.

The Redskins have the No. 10 overall pick which makes them a long shot for either Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton. Washington’s problem is that the next best quarterbacks, Jake Locker and Ryan Mallet, are rated as late first-round, early second-round picks so taking them that would be seen as a reach. They could trade down and acquire another draft to make up for one of the picks that they sent to Philadelphia in return for Donovan McNabb and still get one of these players later in the draft.