The Washington Redskins traded up from pick #53 to pick #35 today, and selected linebacker Roger "Rocky" McIntosh from the Miami Hurricanes.

Although I am a Florida State fan, and the Redskins just added their fourth Hurricane, I still love this pick.  Rocky is exactly the player they needed at outside linebacker and will fill the void Lavar Arrington left when he paid the Skins four million to buy out his contract. 

McIntosh is a versatile linebacker who possesses the ability to play all three linebacker positions.  The Redskins prefer players like McIntosh, who can play multiple defensive positions.  Other defensive players who can play more than one position include Lemar Marshall (Inside and Outside Linebacker) and Andre Carter ( Outside Linebacker and Defensive End.) 

For the third consecutive season the Redskins traded up in the draft to select a player they felt was too good to pass up.  Two seasons ago Washington made the move to the third round to draft Chris Cooley, last season they traded into the first round to draft Jason Campbell, and today they traded into the second round to draft McIntosh.  Cooley has turned into a star in Washington, well worth the picks given up to obtain him.  Jason Campbell is the future at quarterback in Washington; but the jury is still out on whether or not he was worth the extra picks.  

McIntosh is a player the Redskins had targeted from the beginning and felt he would not be available by their original pick at #53.  When the second round began and linebackers Demarco Ryans (Alabama) and D'Qwell Jackson (Maryland) were selected, the Redskins knew it was time to make a move.  In order to move up the Redskins forfeited a second round pick next year, their current second round pick #53, and one of their three six round picks in this years draft.  Although it may seem a steep price to some, Joe Gibbs' track record with choosing players since coming to Washington is nearly flawless, and Rocky McIntosh will continue this trend.

"Hey everyone, come and see how good I look!"

(The above quote is by Will Ferrell in Anchorman.  If you have not yet seen that movie, then you have yet to truly laugh.)