There’s no mystery that the Redskins are the only team without a first round pick in the draft and the likelihood of trading into the first round is slim to none. But hey, the team quote, unquote ‘mortgaged’ the future for last year’s second overall pick.

How’d that end up working out?

Well, the pick paid immediate dividends. It produced the consensus NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, the team’s first NFC East Championship since 1999 and a playoff berth.

Credit the coaching staff and front office for being proactive and making a deal the Rams couldn’t refuse in order to move up and take QB Robert Griffin III. Franchise quarterbacks with Griffin III’s raw talent and ability come around once in a blue moon and the team did what they needed to do to snatch the Heisman trophy winning quarterback.

There’s absolutely no reason to be discouraged that the team’s first selection will come on day two of the draft. And hey, impact players can be found in the second round, especially in a deep draft like this one.

Here’s a list of a few of the players selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft who started and produced immediately for their respective teams.

1. LB Courtney Upshaw (Baltimore, pick #35)
2. DT Derek Wolfe (Denver, pick #36)
3. OT Mitchell Schwartz (Cleveland, pick #37)
4. CB Janoris Jenkins (St. Louis, pick #39) – Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidate
5. OT Cordy Glenn (Buffalo, pick #41)
6. OT Jonathan Martin (Miami, pick #42)
7. WR Alshon Jeffery (Chicago, pick #45)
8. LB Mychal Kendricks (Philadelphia, pick #46)
9. LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle, pick #47) – Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidate
10. S Tavon Wilson (New England, pick #48)
11. DT Kendall Reyes (San Diego, pick #49)
12. DT Jerel Worthy (Green Bay, pick #51) – Redskins pick

*In 14 games played, the defensive tackle compiled 14 tackles with 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

1. LB Zach Brown (Tennessee, pick #52)
2. LB Lavonte David (Tampa Bay, pick #58) – Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidate
3. CB Casey Hayward (Green Bay, pick #62) – Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidate

In fact, every finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with the exception of Panthers LB Luke Kuechly, was drafted in the second round. That’s a good sign that great talent can be found in the second round seeing as the main needs for the Redskins are on the defensive side of the ball.

Furthermore, six of the ten players nominated for Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year were selected after the first round. Only Griffin III, QB Andrew Luck, RB Doug Martin and LB Luke Kuechly were picked in the first round.

Moral of the story, there will be talent on the board that can help fill a need when the Redskins pick 51st overall.

Check out yesterday’s Mock Draft Update for more on players who experts expect the Redskins to consider this April.

Last year, the impact player of the draft was quarterback Robert Griffin III, who joined forces with running back Alfred Morris for immediate rookie impact.

This year, the Redskins will again be looking for a player that can come in and contribute right away. The difference this year is the team will have to wait until the second round to find said player. But have no fear: a playmaker can be found at number 51.

With the release of CB DeAngelo Hall, it goes without saying that the roster is pretty slim in the secondary which means the team will certainly need to address the position in the draft, barring any trades or free agent signings.

The good news for Redskins fans is that this year’s draft is incredibly deep in the secondary with talented players across the board. Consensus among NFL experts is that this draft class has upwards of double-digit safeties and cornerbacks with NFL-starter caliber skills whom could have an immediate impact and should be available deep into the second round.

The uncertainty is what order they will come off the board. So let’s go ahead and take a look at our updated Mock Draft Tracker and a few players the experts think the Redskins may have their eye on.

DraftTek – David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State – Updated 3/17/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “Amerson is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft. His play making and ball skills are reminiscent of Asante Samuel. However, unlike Samuel, Amerson isn’t nearly as fluid out of his breaks or as technically sound in the fundamentals of the position. Amerisont is tall, physical, and some may project him to free safety because of his size, but it is likely that some team will take a chance on Amerson as a cornerback if he can prove that his foot quickness and fluidity are up to par.” Click here for Amerson’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Sean Smith

Last Week: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

Fanspeak.com – Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State – Updated 3/18/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “Taylor is a physical and athletic cornerback looking to be the sixth Boise State defensive back to be drafted by NFL teams over the last eight years. He missed most of the second half of 2011 with a stress fracture in his leg, but returned with a vengeance during his senior year by excelling in man coverage on downfield routes. Since he remained helathy during his senior year, Taylor is poised for a second day or mid round selection, but he would be wise to improve his play against the run when in space.” Click here for Taylor’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Drayton Florence

Last Week: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

NFL Draft Geek – Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma – Updated 3/19/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “Though shorter than most top safety prospects, Jefferson’s leadership skills, physicality around the line of scrimmage and his coverage skills will entice teams to pick him early in the 2013 draft.” Click here for Jefferson’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: T.J. Ward

Last Week: Eric Reid, S, LSU

WalterFootball.com – Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut – Updated 3/19/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “Wreh-Wilson is a tall, tough corner, with some ball skills. His length and short area quickness makes him an intriguing prospect, but his inability to quickly flip his hips and his lack of deep, recovery speed will likely limit him to a zone-based scheme.” Click here for Wreh-Wilson’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Derek Cox

Last Week: Matt Elam, S, Florida

What are your thoughts about the players featured in this week’s Mock Draft Tracker?

Check back next week for new updates in our weekly mock draft tracker series as we inch closer to April’s draft!

The NFL Scouting Combine is complete and national pundits have updated their draft boards to include their most recent evaluations of the prospects. Many of the more well-known draft boards only offer opinions on the first round of the NFL Draft, and considering that the Redskins don’t pick until the second round (51^st overall), well, projecting the first thirty two picks simply doesn’t address the interests of Redskins fans.

So, we searched the internet for those next level mock drafts that provide a broader scope and offer complete analysis on how this year’s draft may unfold.

Although opinions on the exact players that the Redskins will draft vary, the common consensus remains that the Redskins will address needs in the secondary when the team selects at number fifty one.

Updated with the most recent projections, here’s the first installment with some of the players who experts around the league predict could be wearing the burgundy and gold come April.

WalterFootball.com – Matt Elam, S, Florida – Updated 3/6/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “Elam is one of the higher profile prospects at his position due to his onfield emotion and energy when lining up big hits in the open field. The junior thrives when his nunmber is called, and Elam was very visible since he frequently lined up in the box at strong safety. However, when looking beyond the splash plays, Elam lacks urgency to his game and can be seen standing around while others make the play. That combined with his tendency to launch himself at ball carriers rather than make form tackles may cause some evaluators to be a bit apprhensive. But, if the Gator can harness the electricity he flashes, Elam could end up being one of the top safeties in this class and is a potential first-round pick.” Click here for Elam’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Quintin Mikell

Fanspeak.com - Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International – Updated 3/4/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “One of the hardest-hitting safeties in the 2013 draft class, Cyprien offers enough range to be reliable in box coverage while displaying an aggressive mentality againt ball carriers and receivers. He plays smart, and that might be the most improtant trait when looking at safeties. However, despite it being unique, Cyprien doesn’t have a very well known name … yet.” Click here for Cyprien’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Jordan Babineaux

NFL Draft Geek - Eric Reid, S, LSU – Updated 3/1/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “The next SEC safety on which scouts have their eye, Reid brings the size, athleticism, intelligence and toughness to become an impact player in coverage (14 passes defended in the last two seasons) as well as against the run (91 total tackles) at the next level. The junior can get too overaggressive with his angles, but if Reid can rein in the athleticism, he has plenty of range to make plays all over the field.” Click here for Reid’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Mark Barron

Football Fan Spot - Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut – Updated 3/1/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “Wreh-Wilson is a tall, tough corner, with some ball skills. His length and short area quickness makes him an intriguing prospect, but his inability to quickly flip his hips and his lack of deep, recovery speed will likely limit him to a zone-based scheme.” Click here for Wreh-Wilson’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Derek Cox

DraftTek – Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers – Updated 3/6/2013

Scouting Combine Bio: “Teams that value physicality and tackling ability from their corners will surely like Ryan. He’s an active, physical player that often finds himself around the football. He’s not the fastest, and will need to clean up his technique in order to be successful at the next level, but he is still likely to be a second-day selection.” Click here for Logan’s complete combine profile.

NFL Comparison: Dunta Robinson

We won’t stop here as this will be the first of weekly mock draft updates as we inch closer to April’s draft.

Out of the players above, who do you think would be a good fit in the Redskins secondary?

(AP Photo)

This time last year, the Washington Redskins were in the middle of all draft speculation. The team was slated to select from the number five slot as quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Janoris Jenkins had been linked to a spot in the Redskins locker room.

On March 14th, the team made a trade with the St. Louis Rams that shook the foundation of the franchise and sent shock waves across the league, trading away three first-round draft picks along with a second-round selection to move up to the number two slot to eventually select Griffin III.

It’s safe to say one year later that the trade will go down as one of the best moves in team history as Griffin III stabilized a position that has been a revolving door since the team’s Super Bowl XXVI victory in 1992. The risky transaction paid dividends for the team the moment Griffin III put on his number 1o jersey. His presence changed the attitude of the entire organization as they rode the momentum of the move all the way to an NFC East title.

One of the first-round selections that the Redskins gave up was this years pick, leaving the team without a selection until the second-round. While some might think that the draft does not carry as much importance without an opening round selection, this year’s draft may have even more significance as the Redskins look to add pieces to the puzzle in hopes of getting over the hump and into Super Bowl XLVIII.

One position that the team will explore over the next few weeks is the offensive line as they will look to add protection for Griffin III, Alfred Morris, and the league’s reigning rushing attack kings.

Find out about several possible lineman that the Redskins could pursue with the 51st overall selection and what some experts are saying about their draft stocks here:The 2012 NFL Draft brought a plethora of experienced offensive lineman that were all highly ranked in mock drafts.

Seven lineman were selected in the second round last year and all played a key role in their team’s high flying offensive attacks. Every second round selection saw at least 10 game of action in the trenches.

Mitchell Schwartz (Cleveland), Johnathan Martin (Miami), and Kelechi Osemele (Baltimore) all started every game for their respective teams. Osemele protected Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco during his incredible run to Super Bowl XLVII MVP.

Cordy Glenn (Buffalo) and Jeff Allen (Kansas City) paved the way for running backs CJ Spiller and Jamal Charles to have career years pounding the rock.

In last week’s NFL Scouting Combine, 58-of-333 invitees were offensive linemen.

While the Redskins talent evaluators closely evaluated each and every move of all 58 men, chances are guys like Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, and Chance Warmack will not be as monitored as closely as they are projected to go long before Washington is goes on the clock.

Predicting where players will go in the draft is an impossible science to master. While experts can usually hang their hats on predicting the first few picks correctly, after several players are taken off the board well before their prediction slot, mock drafts become obsolete.

Still though, there are many lineman who have been linked to a second round selection.

Alabama has created a dynasty of epic proportions over the last few seasons as they have claimed the BCS Championship in 2009, 2011, and 2012. The Crimson Tide has seen players such as Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Julio Jones, and Dre Kirkpatrick  continue to find success in the professional ranks after their college careers ended.

Lineman Barrett Jones and DJ Fluker, however, have been in Tuscaloosa throughout the entire run to glory.

Jones is the epitome of versatility. He has seen action at right guard, left tackle, and center and won a national championship starting at each position. His experience along with fantastic zone-blocking skills could be a perfect fit in Coach Mike Shanahan’s scheme. NFL.com ranks him at an 85.3.

Fluker is a physical specimen that has an unmatched level of physicality. His 87-inch wingspan is simply unheard of and prevents defenders from getting an outside edge on him. NFL.com states that Fluker also “Flashes footwork to reach linebackers at the second level, who can’t separate from him once he locks on” and gives him a 85.5 grade.

Sticking with the SEC, Larry Warford of Kentucky and Dallas Thomas of Tennessee are two lineman who could be coming to Washington next year to help the Redskins defend their NFC East crown.

Warford has turned heads recently after stringing together several games showcasing his ability en route  to an Associated Press Third Team All American selection this year. Despite checking in at 6’3″ and 333 pounds, his speed and agility may be his biggest assets.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has stated that he believes that Warford is one of the most underrated prospects in this year’s draft. He comes into the draft with a 85.3 rating.

Thomas flashed his ability against some of the best players in the country during the year, catching the eye of several scouts. He has the versatility to play on either side of the line and shows a level of flexibility that is uncommon for men his size.

His profile on CBS Sports states “Thomas plays with excellent knee bend, giving him the base to handle powerful bull rushers, as well as the spring to easily move left and right to remain square to quicker pass rushers. Thomas has an explosive punch that he uses often to knock defenders back in the running game. He steps up quickly to seal off the reeling defender and erase him from the play.” With an 82.7 grade and as a projected second round pick, he could be on the Redskins radar.

Oday Aboushi’s draft stock has skyrocketed since his impressive display of power during the Senior Bowl. The 6’6″ tackle out of the University of Virginia could be the next Caviler to be drafted as the school has produced a long list of players who have a reputation of longevity and production. His 78.1 ranking places him 11th overall among line prospects.

Keep close attention to these guys at their respective pro days, as one of them could be selected as the next piece of the puzzle in the Redskins’ quest for the Lombardi Trophy.

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Nonetheless, our plane touched down earlier today in Indy, fresh off of an ice storm that impacted much of the Midwest Thursday night into Friday morning. But despite the bitter cold temperatures outside, we ventured over to Lucas Oil Stadium to catch the 2013 NFL Combine.

The five block trek through the city streets was worth the energy and excitement palpitating through the hundreds of media that were gathered together upon our arrival.

Today, kickers and punters took the field to show off their talents and abilities to NFL scouts representing all 32 teams. But as exciting as coffin corner punts are, we naturally turned our attention to the running backs and wide receivers who reported to the stadium today.

For the first time, these former college stars experienced a taste of what an NFL interview room feels like. The vibe inside was electric. The media were firing questions. Coaches, scouts and GMs were deep in analysis. And the athletes were prepared.

This was really the first time that media from around the country were able to see these college stars up-close and personal. And you can be assured that, like sharks in the water, each media member was in a feeding frenzy trying to breakdown each player’s answers as they took the podium.

We can only imagine that for each player there must have been an overwhelming feeling in what seemed to be a charged atmosphere. But beyond that speculation, the players handled themselves pretty well and there’s not much to report from today’s interview process. The real excitement will come when these players take the field tomorrow.

Over the next few days, we’ll try to bring you a little different perspective from this year’s combine. Our efforts will not necessarily be dedicated toward, for lack of a better term, ‘overanalyzing’ players who’s draft stocks may or may not climb and/or fall, but instead to bring you all the behind-the-scenes coverage that you may not get without watching boring NFL Network coverage for, well, 24 hours.

We know that Redskins fans lead busy lives and the truth of the matter is that a lot can change over the next two months before April’s draft.

Yes, we’ll talk about the players here and there in relation to the Redskins needs. And yes, we’ll bullet point the top storylines from around the league each day that we’re here. But we’ll also give you exclusive and unique Redskins content with a twist that no other media outlet will.

Why? Because we care about our fans and we want you all to dominate this Monday’s water cooler talk around the office.

Today’s headline news and tomorrow’s breaking news (in a 2-minute drill format):

1. Larry Michael caught up with Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen in part one of a six part series from the NFL Combine in Indy. Check it out here.
2. See what else the Redskins GM had to say about the team’s needs here and stay tuned for more coming soon!
3. Earlier today, Dr. James Andrews told the NFL Network that QB Robert Griffin III’s rehab after surgery is “way ahead of schedule.” Click here for the full interview with Dr. Andrews (with video).
4. NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock discussed where the Redskins might turn with the 51st overall pick.
5. Changes are being considered for new sideline concussion test procedures. Stay tuned as we get more clarity on these developments.
6. Tune in for the Redskins (and Google’s) first-ever Combine Google Plus Hangout, featuring Redskins.com’s Brian Tinsman, CSNWashington’s Tarik El-Bashir, and Bleacher Report’s Will Carroll. The Hangout will take place on the official Redskins Google+ Page live Saturday at 12:30pm and will feature fan questions, news and team analysis from Indianapolis.
7. Look for a photo album tomorrow detailing the sights of the 2013 NFL Combine and stay tuned for more Redskins coverage!

For more complete coverage, be sure to follow Redskins social media. Here’s how:

- Facebook – www.facebook.com/redskins

- Twitter – www.twitter.com/redskins

- Google+ – www.google.com/+washingtonredskins

- Foursquare – www.foursquare.com/redskins

- Pinterest – www.pinterest.com/redskinsdotcom

- Instagram – http://instagram.com/redskins

- Redskins YouTube Channel

- Download the Official Redskins Mobile App

With the start of the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine today in Indianapolis, Redskins fans can officially shift their focus to the long road to the NFL Draft.

The Scouting Combine was originally designed to provide teams with medical information on the players they might one day invest thousands of dollars in. Now, the Redskins will join the other 31 teams in attendance to mentally and physically poke and prod each of the 333 invitees in what has truly become the world’s most public job interview.

Wall-to-wall coverage of the Combine begins on the NFL Network Saturday morning at 9 a.m., and runs through next Wednesday evening. You can catch every 40-yard dash, 225-pound bench press, and three-cone drill in real time. You can watch as some NFL dreams take root, while others are stomped out.

Helping you and I understand the results and gauge the importance of the Combine is Redskins Director of Player Personnel Scott Campbell, who is now entering his 13th season with the Washington Redskins.

As was highlighted in yesterday’s post, Campbell and his staff deserve huge credit for the scouting work that went into last year’s landmark draft. However, there is much more to be said by the soft-spoken director of college scouting, as he prepares for one of the biggest days of his NFL calendar.

Check out the rest of his interview below:
As was mentioned previously, Campbell was raised in a football family. For him, there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to be immersed in the NFL culture.

“I wanted to be a coach like my Dad,” Campbell told Redskins.comTV.

Football was in his blood, but Campbell found his true calling in talent evaluation, where he was able to accurately project talent at the NFL level.

But that hasn’t always made for a glamorous lifestyle.

“I’ll head out in the middle of August to different college camps and come back [to the facilities in Ashburn] around Thanksgiving,” he said with a quiet smile. “I base that off of how our scouts have graded the players, the rising seniors, and I’ll take the top 150 players and start looking at the schedule to work it out so I see as many players as I can.”

The biggest source of pride for all scouts is finding the college diamond in the rough and turning them into a valuable NFL player. Perhaps no player personifies that better than sixth round pick Alfred Morris, who capitalized on opportunity, catching the eye of the Redskins’ scouting department and paying off well beyond his 173rd selection.

In retrospect, Morris’s NFL.com draft profile doesn’t quite do him justice as one of the best backs in the league last season, finishing with 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie:

Morris doesn’t have NFL speed and will need to define himself more as a runner if he wants to make enough of an impression in a camp. He has the natural ability within the tackles to be successful, but at the NFL seams and holes are harder to come by and arm tackles difficult to avoid. Morris will need to prove himself as a thumper early, or else he will just be considered a situational back who doesn’t possess enough quality traits to deserve a roster spot.

I guess he had more quality traits than anyone could have predicted.

Morris racked up the third-most rookie rushing yards in NFL history, trailing only the great Eric Dickerson (1983 Rams) and George Rogers (1981 Saints), finishing as an All-Pro selection.

So how can one explain the unexpected production of a sixth-round pick? The answer is simple:

1. Great scouting: The Redskins scouts did their homework and studied the ins and outs of Morris’s game. They recognized the potential this 5′ 9″, 218-pound, relatively unknown talent from Florida Atlantic University possessed and his running style fit what the team was looking for scheme-wise.

2. Morris seized the opportunity: Morris took control of his destiny. He was given the opportunity to prove himself and he took full advantage of his reps during training camp and the preseason. From there, the coaching staff’s decision was easy to make him the feature back.

(AP Photo)

Bottom line, Morris’s work ethic, mentality and determination to become an impact player in this league wouldn’t allow him to be denied.

It’s the ability to find those hidden treasures, players who fit the scheme and who have a will-to-win mentality that’s key to building a winning franchise and bringing the winning tradition back to the Redskins.

As the talent level grows year-by-year, Campbell’s job increasingly becomes more important. It’s his job to do his due diligence researching every player that has the potential to play in the NFL.

You can just about guarantee that Campbell and the rest of the staff have a notebook on all 333 players at the combine, even the most obscure of names. But by this time in the process, the Redskins know the individual talents of each kid and have narrowed their focus.

“We focus on certain guys. We have draft and free agent boards,” Campbell said. “The players who we liked and went undrafted, we’ll bring in for a tryout. There are about 40-50 tryout players.”

And as he sat under the bright lights of the TV Studio at Redskins Park, Campbell exuded a clever confidence that he and the other scouts have done their research and are focused on building upon the 2012 NFC East Championship team.

Check back over the next week as Redskins.com keeps you up-to-date with Campbell and the rest of the Redskins’ scouting team, live from Indianapolis.

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(AP Photo)

Today marks a special day for one member of the Washington Redskins.

This individual is relatively new to Redskins Nation, as he has only been part of this historic franchise for less than a year. His impact in his stint so far has been nothing short of amazing.

He is a former Heisman winner, the reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowler, a captain, and the creator of the 2012 sensation known simply as “Griffining”.

The man of course is none other than quarterback Robert Griffin III!

23!!!!!—
Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 12, 2013

Robert was born on February 12, 1990 in Japan to a military family, but spent the majority of his upbringing in Texas where he attended Baylor University before hearing his name called by Commissioner Roger Goodell as the Redskins had selected him to take the reigns under center.

In case you can’t remember all the birthday boy’s accomplishments in his time at Redskins Park, relive some of the moments here!

On April 26, 2012, Goodell stood behind the podium at the center of the NFL universe and utter words that Redskins Nation won’t soon forget.

“With the second pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins select Robert Griffin III.”

From that moment a star was born in the nation’s capital. The impression he left off the field was just as incredible as what he did on it. His popularity rose to unprecedented levels as his jersey was the top seller for the year.

In his debut, Griffin III lit up the Saints defense. On his first career touchdown pass, he connected with Pierre Garçon on an 88-yard strike to while getting knocked over. As he sat  up to see if Garçon had gone the distance, he pointed two fingers high to the sky and “Griffining” was instantly born.

In week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings, Griffin III showed everyone that his arm isn’t his only weapon as he showed his lethal speed, shredding the Vikings defense on a 76-yard touchdown scamper.

And finally, he capped off his history-making season by giving back to the fans by providing them with their first home playoff game in 13 years.

The fans aren’t the only ones who have become infatuated with this young man. His teammates know firsthand just how good he is and want to wish him well on his 23rd birthday!

Safety Jordan Bernstine:

Happy bday QB @RGIII!👌👌 have a good one brotha.—
jordan bernstine (@JBernstine) February 12, 2013

Wide receiver Pierre Garçon:

Hey @RGIII, happy 23rd birthday youngster… http://t.co/5Ae0ClSV—
Pierre Garcon (@PierreGarcon) February 12, 2013

Cornerback Richard Crawford:

Happy bday brotha @RGIII http://t.co/rXOCFBly—
Richard Crawford Jr (@Rich_Crawford6) February 12, 2013

Happy birthday once again, Robert we hope you have a great day! Comment below to personally wish him a happy birthday!

With only so many people in the Redskins organization able to travel to New York City for the NFL Draft, it’s all hands on deck to make sure things are covered.  With the help of the fine folks in the Redskins Public Relations department (and the Associated Press), we were able to feed you images of the Redskins presence in New York, including the eventual pick of Robert Griffin III.

For even more Redskins coverage, photos and quotes from tonight, be sure to follow the official Twitter feed (@Redskins).  Images like RGIII’s official draft card are exclusive to Redskins.com and the related media platforms.

Without further adieu, relive the night through photos.  Merry Griff-mas Redskins Nation:

The age of green room phone reactions–like the one seen above by 2011 rookie Ryan Kerrigan–has come and passed, according to Josh Katzowitz of CBSSports.com.  

One of the more anti-climatic elements of television draft coverage in recent years, has been the introduction of cameras to the green room at Radio City Music Hall.  Instead of waiting to hear the name of the player about to be announced on stage, the excitement was neutered by cameras rolling on the celebratory phone call.

By the time commissioner Roger Goodell reached the podium, the talking heads had already exhausted topics of conversation on the designated pick.  But quoth the NFL, nevermore.

For tonight, the mystery of the NFL Draft will be in full effect, and the Redskins’ top pick will remain top secret.  By head coach Mike Shanahan’s estimation, the No. 2 overall pick is one-tenth of a percent a mystery.

AP Image

Once upon a time, Redskins defensive end (and amateur blogger) Adam Carriker was one of the top prospects in all of college football.  Just five seasons ago, he awaited the exact same uncertainty that many top prospects face going into tonight.

His between his junior and senior seasons at Nebraska, Carriker was named the team’s MVP, along with the NCAA’s Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik awards.  He tallied 134 tackles despite starting only two full seasons, and piled up 20.5 sacks in his career.

But Carriker explains in his latest blog post on ProInterviews.org, that the titles and totals were less important than his game tape.  The way he performed on film was the true essence of his NFL job application and résumé.

Everything he had ever done as a football player led up to Draft Day:

Draft Day is something that athletes dream about their whole lives.  It is the culmination and reward for all the hard work that we have put in up to that point.

The truth is, an athlete starts preparing for Draft Day during their very first day of college.  From the first day of college, everything you do is gearing you up for your professional career.

Just like non-athletes prepare for the professional world in their fields of study, future NFL players study the gridiron.  The path to the NFL Draft is the interview process that most young professionals enjoy.  But most young professionals don’t have the world watching as they get hired:

Draft Day was here, and I was so nervous! I had butterflies in my stomach like I was about to go play an actual game. All of the hours of hard work were about to pay off.

I had no idea where I would go. I could go to an east coast team, west coast team, mid-west, north, or south. I had absolutely no say and no idea where I would end up.

Carriker was enjoying a Draft Day party in Washington state with his family, and 12 players had been taken off the board.  As the Rams got on the clock, his phone rang, silencing the party-goers at his house:

I actually got a little light-headed, and I couldn’t believe it. We paused the phone conversation so we could watch the commissioner announce it on television.

Later that day, I flew out and the next chapter of my life began. My life has never been the same since.

I encourage you to partake in Carriker’s full story, as it walks through the process and pressures of being a first round pick.  Five seasons after being taken with the Rams’ top pick, Carriker still vividly remembers his draft day experience.

Whoever the Redskins take No. 2 overall (don’t jinx it!) tonight, is compiling his own unique Draft Day memories, right now.