Draft day arrives; rampant unease in DC

The NFL draft is tonight; the first round will be broadcast in prime time for the first time ever.

Most Washington Redskins fans are understandably nervous as can be about the draft. There are rumors abounding that the Redskins will do a number of things:

1. Acquire OU's Sam Bradford. AOL Fanhouse reported that the Redskins are the only team in discussion with the Rams for the first overall pick and generally speaking, Bradford's rights. This would be a monumental and shocking move for the Redskins, who are generally quiet in terms of blockbuster trades on draft day. Bradford would likely sit behind Donovan McNabb for a year, learning the ropes, then take over once McNabb's time is up in DC. The consequence of this scenario is the Redskins miss out on a left tackle prospect which they desperately need.

2. Draft Tennessee safety Eric Berry at No. 4. The Washington Post's Rick Maese speculates that Berry could be the pick because he is close to the very top of the Skins draft board and is a game-changing player in the mold of Ed Reed. A lot of people are decrying this possibility because the Skins have more pressing needs than safety, namely O-line. But consider Reed. The Ravens picked him 24th; do you think they'd pick him 4th and pay him 4th pick money, after all he's done? Yes. But the unknown value of Berry may prevent the Skins from pulling a move that would be shocking as well.

3. Draft an offensive tackle. This option has the fewest detracting elements. The Skins are in dire need of o-line help. There is a great left tackle prospect, Oklahoma State's Russell Okung, staring at them. There is little chance a team before the Skins picks him, though the Lions just may.

My brain tells me Russell Okung is the pick. The Redskins have huge holes on the offensive line, without other substantive picks to help address that issue.

But my heart, still heavy from the tragic loss of Sean Taylor, thinks Berry could be the most talented player in the draft. The comparisons to Ed Reed also don't mention Berry was a hitter at Tennessee; he is almost a perfect cross of Taylor's hitting (though not quite as outlandish) and Reed's ball skills. He could be the NFL's next dominating safety and does not have the kinds of concerns that LaRon Landry had coming out of college. In fact, drafting Berry to play free safety could allow the Redskins to shift Landry to his natural strong safety position. The move could work and may yet happen.