The Redskins Favor Players with Family Ties

Laron Landry, the Redskins' 1st overall

pick is introduced at a press
conference with Joe Gibbs

With only five pick in the 2007 NFL draft, the Washingon Redskins ended up acquring players who already have relatives that have had sucess in the NFL. Washington's management official stance is betting that a good pedigree will produce sucess, for a team that was 5-11 in the 2006-07 season. Take a look four of players the Redskins have recently acquired:

• With their 1st round pick, the Redskins selected Laron Landry, safety from LSU, who is the younger brother of Dawan Landry, a strong safety for the Baltimore. Laron is expected to be a much superior player than Dawan, who was considered a special teams player for the Ravens.
  
• HB Blades, linebacker from Pittburgh was taken in the 6th round in the draft. His father was an all pro linebacker with the Seahawks and his uncle also played in the NFL. Despite his father and uncle's past sucess, his lack of size at 5'10 is the main reason was drafted so late despite being the Big East defensive player of the year.
• Jordan Palmer quarterback was taken in the 6th round and is the younger brother of the Carson Palmer, the starting quarterback of Cincinnatti. Despite his brother sucess in the NFL, most draft experts are skeptical of Jordan's career, projecting him at best to be a NFL backup. Jordan Palmer will also find it difficult to make the Redskins' active roster considering that Washington already have three quarterbacks under contract (Jason Campbell, Mark Brunell, Todd Collins).
  
• If that wasn't enough, the Redskins also signed Byron Westbrook an undrafted free agent cornerback from Salisbury , who is the younger brother of the Philedelphia Eagles starting running back, Brian Westbrook. While Byron has the potential to make the team, he will have to defy the odds considering no player from Salisbury, a division III school, has ever made a NFL roster.

Most likely, the Redskins have adopted a strategy of nepotism, the act of favoring relatives or friends rather than abilities. Hopefully, I'm wrong and the Redskins will go 19-0 and win the Super Bowl in 2008.