Re-grading the Washington Redskins 2011 NFL Draft class
Round 7
With all of the wheeling and dealing during the draft, the Redskins were able to obtain a large bounty of four picks in the seventh round. Playing the late-round selection numbers game was an interesting strategy, but would it work? Could the Redskins find a late-round gem or two?
Boise State cornerback Brandyn Thompson was chosen early in the round and one concern about him was his smallish stature. Thompson bounced back and forth between the roster and practice that season and saw his brief career come to an end in the late summer of 2012.
Maurice Hurt, an offensive guard for the Florida Gators, was taken a few picks after Thompson. Hurt did see some playing time in 2011 and 2012, but not enough to have a huge impact. After missing all of 2013 with an injury, Hurt was out of the NFL prior to the 2014 season.
Markus White, a talented defensive end from Florida State, was added several selections later. White, an oft-injured pass-rushing specialist was thought to be a steal, but only if he could overcome the injury bug. His career never materialized and he finished the following season with a brief stint as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
Defensive tackle Chris Neild of West Virginia was the final pick in Round 7 and he had a great game in the season opener against the Giants. From 2011 to 2014, Neild was utilized as a relief option for the starters in most games and basically held his own. In 2015, he went to Houston, but was cut just prior to the season and his short career was over.
Hurt and Neild keep the seventh round from being an absolute failure, but the Redskins should’ve kept some of their earlier picks to nab better quality and not quantity in the final round.