The Washington Redskins traded a 2009 conditional seventh-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday for defensive end Erasmus James. In addition, the Redskins released defensive end Dorian Smith.
The 18th overall pick out of the University of Wisconsin in the 2005 NFL Draft, James appeared in 23 career games with 12 starts for the Vikings.
James has totaled 51 career tackles with five sacks in three NFL seasons. His best season occurred in his rookie season (2005), when he set a career high in tackles (34), sacks (four), games played (15) and games started (nine).
James will be reunited with his defensive line coach John Palermo, who tutored him at the University of Wisconsin. As a senior, James earned All-American honors and was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
"We really liked Erasmus coming out of college" said Washington Redskins Executive Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato. "He is young, talented and has a great deal of potential. We like the fact that his defensive line coach at the University of Wisconsin, John Palermo, is our current defensive line coach."
James has battled serious injuries during his short career, missing all but eight games the last two seasons. In 2006, he started the first two games of the season before a torn ACL in his left knee landed him on injured reserve. James returned to the field and reclaimed his starting spot in Week 6 of last season, but suffered a second ACL injury in Week 13 against Detroit and was again placed on injured reserve. He finished the season with six tackles and one sack in six games.
Smith originally signed with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent on May 1.
