Here's five takeaways from Redskins general manager's Monday, April 27, 2015, pre-draft press conference at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va.:*
1. Monday's announcement about the decision to pick up quarterback Robert Griffin III's fifth-year option in 2016 was more of a formality.
McCloughan said the Redskins arrived at the decision to pick up the option "a while back," but wanted to take advantage of Monday's press conference setting to announce the team's intentions.
"We talked to Robert, we talked to the agent," McCloughan said. "They're very positive. There's a positive feeling in the building right now."
McCloughan said the team will wait until Monday's league deadline to formally send the paperwork in.
2. On to this week's NFL Draft, McCloughan said he's extremely interested in trying to work out deals to increase the total number of Washington picks this year from its original seven.
"We'd love to get more picks in this draft," he said. "We have our seven originals right now – I'd love to get 10-plus out of this thing."
The Redskins, of course, hold the No. 5-overall pick Thursday night, but also hold picks at No. 38 (second round), No. 69 (third round), No. 105 (fourth round), No. 141 (fifth round), No. 182 (sixth round) and No. 222 (seventh round) overall.
The first-year Redskins general manager said his crew will have its entire plan in place Thursday when they enter the war room, but won't be above changing plans if the right trade offer comes their way.
"A lot of times when they're calling us to move up to our spot and we're moving back, we have the leverage," he said.
If that offer comes for the No. 5 pick, however, McCloughan cautioned that "the last thing you want to do is take yourself out of a really good football player."
"You get too cute with yourself and move back too far and all of a sudden, I've got 10-15 guys who I want to pinpoint, who I think can come in on the first day and start," he said. "You go too far back and you lose out on some of those guys. So you've got to be careful."
3. Once again, McCloughan's plan is not to draft based on need. That includes along the offensive line.
Because the Redskins utilized the free agency period to add five new faces on defense, the team still has questions along its offensive line. But McCloughan reiterated his stance that he simply wants to add "good football players" to the team.
"You always have injuries, trade opportunities and stuff like that, so if you can just keep stockpiling good players, the organization is going in the right direction," he said. "It's pretty much with any position, especially offensive line – big guys, intelligent guys, competitive guys."
Asked specifically about what he looks for in prospect offensive linemen, McCloughan said "it's not about the one guy."
"It's all five guys working together," McCloughan said. "I think it's a big man's game, and I think size and strength and like I said passion, toughness is very important up front. If you can control the line of scrimmage on either side, it's a pretty good start."
4. If the Redskins go with a pass rusher at No. 5 overall, McCloughan hopes, more than anything, they simply have the "ability to get to the quarterback."
Sounds simple, doesn't it? And even though McCloughan supplied that answer with a smile, he knows that good pass rushers can come in "all shapes and sizes."
It's their on-field skillset that matters most, however.
"Again, I like big guys, long guys, length, but you need to have speed and you need to have quickness but you also need to have power," he said. "If you get all three, now you're talking about a really good prospect."
McCloughan said some prospects offer one or two of those qualities, which doesn't necessarily boot them off his big board.
"It doesn't make them not a prospect for us, it's just a different value in the draft for us," he said. "But I think it's very important to have physical traits that allow you to dominate a guy one-on-one and get to the quarterback."
5. …And, back to the current roster, McCloughan said the Redskins are yet to receive any "official" trade offers for quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan addressed the media on Monday, April 27, 2015, three days before the start of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Yes, the Redskins on Monday announced their intention to bring back Griffin III for his fifth year option, but that doesn't, as of yet, affect the status of Cousins – who is also entering his fourth season in 2015 – or, for that matter, fellow quarterback Colt McCoy, who re-signed with the team this offseason.
"The thing I like about Kirk is the same at Colt, and with Robert, is they're young quarterbacks," McCloughan said. "We will always take phone calls for any of our players. If it's a win-win for the organization, we will definitely consider it, but we're not trying to force the hand."
Speaking on Cousins specifically, McCloughan said: "He's a young quarterback. He's had success in college, he's had success in the NFL. You can't give up on those guys too early."
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