Any analysis of the Washington Redskins' draft would be incomplete without also examining their first-round gamble. With defensive lineman Leonard Williams available, the Redskins selected offensive lineman Brandon Scherff fifth overall, believing they added a cornerstone right tackle. They had better be right.
By passing on Williams, a chic pick among analysts as the best player in the class, the Redskins potentially opened themselves up to they-bungled-the-draft-again criticism. The Redskins not only need Scherff to become a tone-setter as a rookie, they're also counting on him to help revive quarterback Robert Griffin III's moribund career and redefine the image of a once-successful franchise that has become a laughingstock as much for infighting as ineptitude on the field. As if all that weren't enough, Scherff, who may be better suited to play guard, is now linked with Williams. Their careers could serve as a referendum on whether new Washington general manager Scot McCloughan shined or flopped in his first big test.
That's a lot to put on Scherff. Fortunately for the Redskins, he has broad shoulders.
The consensus No. 1 offensive lineman in the draft, Scherff was considered a top-10 pick, so it wasn't shocking that McCloughan selected the former Iowa standout a little higher than expected (it was widely believed the New York Giants would have picked him ninth). And right tackle has long been a weakness for Washington, which is undergoing an image makeover under McCloughan, who plans to build a big, tough roster like those he helped construct for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
That established, McCloughan's move provided the draft's first eyebrow-raiser. Picking one spot behind the Redskins, the New York Jets quickly chose Williams, the difference-maker from USC who has the look of a perennial All-Pro.
Wisely, Scherff hasn't looked backward. He's smart enough to realize nothing good could come from fueling the debate. He'll gladly leave that for others.
"Just gotta come in and do what you can," Scherff said matter-of-factly Saturday during rookie minicamp at Redskins Park. "Whatever they ask me to do, I'm gonna do."
That's a positive approach. But a cynic could argue that Redskins management, desperate to justify its enormous investment in Griffin, passed on potentially the draft's top player to take one who could help Griffin the most.
Here's something about which there's no debate: After consecutive poor seasons, Griffin must get his head back in the game, and the offensive line is better with Scherff.
At 6-feet-5, 320 pounds, Scherff is bigger than every player on Washington's line except Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams. Talent evaluators say he's also a fierce run blocker who possesses the combination of character and drive that McCloughan seeks in players. As long as Griffin is Washington's starter, the team must rely on its running game, two Redskins coaches told me last season. Clearly, Scherff fits McCloughan's vision of the new-look Redskins.
There are questions, however, about whether Scherff can pass protect well enough to play tackle in the NFL. Scherff's arm length -- a key in evaluating a lineman's ability to block edge rushers -- is a little shorter than most teams would prefer, which the Redskins acknowledge.
A guard early in his college career, Scherff mostly has played left tackle. Washington head coach Jay Gruden expects Scherff "to take some lumps" moving from the left side to the right. "But the good thing about Brandon," Gruden continued, "is he's a very focused individual. He studies very hard, he takes coaching extremely well. ... He's going to continue to get better."
The thing is, in the court of public opinion, it won't be good enough for Scherff to merely be solid if Leonard Williams is spectacular.
No NFL decision-maker worth his salt would pick a player projected as a right tackle over a disruptive defensive lineman expected to emerge as a dominant pass-rusher. For Washington, the worst-case scenario would be if Williams becomes a monster and Scherff ultimately moves inside because he struggles against the rush. As two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan will tell you, teams win championships with great tackles, not guards.
Reportedly, the Redskins had Scherff rated higher than Williams. Revealing their concerns about Williams would provide fodder for interesting post-draft conversations, but it really doesn't matter.
If general managers were always correct in their assessment of players, there wouldn't be so much front-office turnover. Remember, many people thought Ryan Leaf would be a superstar. They're all just opinions.
Although McCloughan's record is better than most, he has had clunker drafts, too. McCloughan's predecessor, team president Bruce Allen, had an awful 28-52 mark in five full seasons as general manager. It's hard to imagine McCloughan would fare as poorly. How could he?
Out of the gate, though, McCloughan may have made a career-defining choice in picking Scherff over Williams. The Redskins know it.
"Where you draft a guy, [and] who you draft him in front of, none of that matters at this point," Gruden said. "All that matters is that they're on our team."
In Scherff, the Redskins got the guy they wanted for their team. We'll soon find out if he was the one they needed.