The Patriots.  The Colts.  The Eagles.  The Giants.  The Chargers.  The Steelers. What do all these teams have in common?  Well, two things stand out.  1)  They usually play deep into the playoffs.  2) They annually build their respective teams through the NFL draft.

Now, let's look at the Washington Redskins since Daniel Snyder purchased the club prior to the 1999 season.  Only two playoff berths, constant roster turnover with more head coaches than false promises from Capitol Hill.  And oh yeah, Snyder believes championships are built from free agency instead of the draft.  

As the Steelers polish their second Lombardi trophy in four seasons, the Redskins could start the 2009 season with 20 players of age 30 or older.  That translates to greater than one-third of the overall roster.  

I'm not suggesting the older players lack heart or grit.  However, championships are won up front in the trenches.  32,29,32,33,?.  Those four numbers and question mark represent Chris Samuels, Derrick Dockery, Casey Rabach, Randy Thomas and a HUGE vacancy at the starting Right Tackle spot.

You gotta think NFC East pass rushers Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware are licking their chops to line up against that front five.

So entering the NFL draft, you would expect that the Redskins would have made an early attempt to address the offensive line depth.  Right?  Hardly.  

So let's examine the Redskins execution in the most recent draft:

Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache was smiling as the Redskins took only 30 seconds to grab a defensive playmaker with the 13th overall pick.  Texas DE/OLB Brian Orakpo addresses a need and gives the defense a legitimate pass rusher off the edge.  Orakpo represents the first Defensive Linemen drafted in Round One since Kenard Lang was taken 17th overall in the 1997 draft.  (Five head coaches ago.)

In Round 3, the 'Skins drafted Maryland CB Kevin Barnes.  Barnes gives veteran Fred Smoot some competition at the 3rd CB spot.  With the 80th pick in the draft, you want a player who can make a weekly contribution in his rookie season.  A tall corner at 6-0, Barnes is capable of doing so.

Here are the remaining the Redskins draft selections:

Round 5  Cody Glenn, OLB Nebraska - A converted tailback, Glenn replaces veteran Khary Campbell as a special teams LB.

Round 6  Robert Henson, ILB TCU - Linebacker was an obvious team need.  Henson bolsters special teams.  At 6-0 244 lbs, he possesses the size to possibly compete for significant playing time down the road at Inside Backer.

Round 7  Eddie Williams, FB Idaho - Had he not tore his ACL late in the season, Williams would have been selected somewhere in the middle rounds.  Williams is a candidate to be stashed on the Injured Reserve this year.  With Mike Sellers fresh off a Pro Bowl appearance, Washington can practice patience with Williams.

Round 7  Marko Mitchell, WR Nevada - Mitchell could potentially be the sleeper of the Redskins Day 2 selections.  He doesn't possess top vertical speed, but he looks like the jump ball threat this team has sorely lacked for years.  Started out at Mesa Community College.  6-3, 218 lbs with big hands.  If Malcolm Kelly's knee ailments persist, Mitchell could find his niche in Coach Jim Zorn's West Coast Offense.

Key Rookie Free Agent Signing:  Edwin Williams, C Maryland - Williams gives the team a capable reserve behind Rabach.  They targeted the local product late on the second day of the draft.  Projected anywhere from Round 5-7, Williams signed his rookie contract a few hours following the completion of the draft.

Grade:  C+

This grade serves not to attack the players selected but more about the lack of 2nd and 4th round picks.  The bust that was DE Jason Taylor cost the team its second round draft pick.  Its fourth round pick was used to acquire departing Left Guard Pete Kendall.  Kendall started for two years and toughed it out with arthritic knees.  

However, the Taylor trade stings.  The 44th overall selection should have netted the Redskins an upgrade at Right Tackle, a rookie starter.  Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt and Connecticut OT Will Beatty both were drafted after the Dolphins used the Redskins pick to grab West Virginia QB Pat White.  Loadholt and Beatty both would provide Redskins fans with more peace of mind than either Stephon Heyer or Jon Jansen.

Redskins Executive Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato might play a mean game of racquetball, but he lacks the vision necessary to create a consistent NFL winner.  For this franchise to return to its glory days of George Allen and Joe Gibbs 1.0, Snyder must finally hire a football man to manage the front office.  

For a team rich in history with a diehard fan base, the Redskins deserve a position better than its current front office provides:  Mediocrity.