General manager Bruce Allen said on Saturday that the Washington Football Team’s trade to acquire the No. 2 pick in this April’s NFL Draft from the St. Louis Rams would provide a “jolt” to their 2012 draft class.
Allen made his comments during a media session at the Washington Football Legends Charity Benefit Dinner and Auction at the Marriott in downtown Washington, D.C.
Allen began the media session with a statement.
“We confirmed with the St. Louis Rams that we have made a trade to acquire the second pick in the draft,” he said. “We thought it was important to get it done before free agency to allow us the proper planning of what we wanted to accomplish in free agency.
“When you know what you’re going to get with your first pick in the draft, it gives you great comfort. It allows us to execute the game plan we, quite frankly, have developed since early January.
“I want to remind everyone we have the second pick in the draft. Clearly we fell in love with two players. We believe one of those players will be a great Redskin.”
Allen would not go into details about which two players the team would target at No. 2.
Several reporters asked about quarterback prospects Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.
Allen replied: “We have done our homework on this entire draft…We feel very comfortable we’re going to get an excellent football player for the Washington Washington Football Team at No. 2.”
Asked about the terms of the trade, Allen said he was “confident” that the cost to acquire the No. 2 pick would not be prohibitive.
“It’s part of the plan we have been developing,” he said. “We had 12 draft choices last year, we have six draft choices this year, so that’s 18 draft choices, and we’re very comfortable with that.
“We understand it was a heavy price. When you bought your home, you probably wanted to pay a little less, but you like your home once you live in it.”
Acquiring the No. 2 pick also allows the Washington Football Team to continue their youth movement, this time with a potential impact player.
Said Allen: “We’re happy with what we did. We feel like our drafts of the future will take care of itself. We thought what this franchise needed, once again like last year, another infusion of youth. We put a little bit of a jolt into it with our 2012 draft.”
