At the time the NFL draft class seemed to have potential, if only because there were so many picks. In 2011, the Washington Redskins, through trades, turned six picks into 12 and hoped the class would provide a strong base. Four years later, only two and possibly three players will remain from that group. It was yet another wasted opportunity, one they hope to avoid under new general manager Scot McCloughan.
It's not as if every pick was a bad one, but the top end of this class only produced one quality starter. At the time, in terms of talent, the draft was considered in the C-plus/B-minus range by many analysts. But in the end it produced one solid starter, one core special teamer and an oft-injured backup. When two of your first three picks are misses, that's a bad sign.
LB Ryan Kerrigan (first round): He's in line for an extension, if not during the season then before free agency in 2016 (when his contract will be up). Kerrigan has been what they hoped for: a hard-working, productive player. He should have made the Pro Bowl this season.
Verdict: Hit. He'll be here a while.
DL Jarvis Jenkins (second round): He received initial interest from Arizona and Miami and a couple other teams, but Jenkins remains a free agent. He'll go somewhere and be a backup end. The Redskins had maintained contact with him initially, but signed Stephen Paea to start at left end.
Verdict: Miss. The injury didn't help, but he never developed into the sort of player they desired.
WR Leonard Hankerson (third round): Signed with Atlanta in free agency. Just couldn't stay healthy or he'd have helped them as a No. 3 receiver.
Verdict: Miss. Injuries derailed.
RB Roy Helu (fourth round): Signed with Oakland. Was a fine third-down back, but the Redskins seemed to want more. In the end, they did not want to re-sign him.
Verdict: Hit. Helu can be a productive player, with flaws, who has several more years left. They'll just be spent elsewhere.
DB DeJon Gomes (fifth round): Cut before the start of the 2013 season and claimed by Detroit. He was placed on injured reserve this past season for a neck and shoulder injury and subsequently released with a settlement. He's unsigned.
Verdict: Miss. Never developed.
TE Niles Paul (fifth round): Re-signed before free agency started; serves as the No. 3 tight end and has been a core special teamer. Not flashy, but a decent third option at tight end.
Verdict: Hit. A fifth-round choice who receives a second contract after switching positions? That works. He's not a stud and his in-line blocking will never be a strength, but he contributes and is a core special teamer. The question: Can he build off his 39 receptions in 2014?
RB Evan Royster (sixth round): He rushed for 416 yards in three seasons with another 180 yards receiving. He was cut last August and did not play in the NFL last season. He's now a licensed real estate agent.
Verdict: Mixed, with a lean toward a miss. Lacked any sort of burst, but hung around for three seasons. Ignore the name from his college days; he was a sixth-round pick so not a lot was expected. Still, if he'd been better on special teams he could have hung around.
WR Aldrick Robinson (sixth round): Cut in December and signed to Baltimore's practice squad. He signed a future's contract with the Ravens in January.
Verdict: Miss. Kept waiting for his speed to turn him into a quality receiver. Lacked the desire or instincts to be a returner.
CB Brandyn Thompson (seventh round): He went back and forth between the active roster and the practice squad as a rookie. But he was cut before the 2012 season and since then has only played in the Canadian Football League.
Verdict: Miss.
OL Maurice Hurt (seventh round): He played in 21 games with nine starts in 2011-12, but he wasn't very good. He was hurt in 2013 and first was on the physically unable to perform list and then on injured reserve. Hurt did not play for any team last season.
Verdict: Miss.
LB Markus White (seventh round): Played in three games with Washington in 2011-12 and two more with Tampa Bay in '12. He's now playing in the Canadian Football League.
Verdict: Miss.
NT Chris Neild (seventh round): Still a free agent. The Redskins would like him back but he also wanted to see if another team could give him more chances. As a backup nose for a team that will be hybrid defensively, Neild will play maybe eight snaps a game. For a team in a more power-based division he could play more.
Verdict: Hit. Injuries have hurt him far more than performance.