During his introductory news conference on Friday, Washington Redskins new general manager Scot McCloughan underscored his major mantra:
The draft. The draft. The draft.
"I honestly think (the) draft is the lifeline of an organization," McCloughan said. "... The thing I liked about what we did in (San Francisco), what we did in Seattle: we drafted our own, molded our own and re-signed the ones we wanted to re-sign."
McCloughan grew up in that mold of Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson, who focused on cultivating the draft and keeping their own players, mostly eschewing free agency. The new Redskins GM said that while he has a slightly different view on free agency, the focus will be on the draft.
"... I think the best-case scenario is you draft and mold your own and re-sign your own. But free agency is still there to be used, make a roster strong -- can't lose sight of that," he said.
It's not a methodology the Redskins have employed overwhelmingly under owner Dan Snyder.
Instead, Washington has often won free agency with splashy signings.
Albert Haynesworth Jeff George, Bruce Smith, Adam Archuleta, Deion Sanders, Jeremiah Trotter, Antwaan Randle El, Jason Taylor, DeAngelo Hall, Rex Grossman, Pierre Garcon, Tracy Porter, Jason Hatcher, Ryan Clark, DeSean Jackson, etc.
Those are just a few of the free agents signed under Snyder. Some have worked out well (DJax was well worth the price). Others have been all-time busts.
McCloughan has been responsible for some fantastic drafts with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks that helped propel each franchise deep into the playoffs.
If he brings that sort of draft haul to Washington, perhaps we will no longer talk about the Redskins being big winners in March and instead winners in January.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast previews every Divisional Round game and breaks down the Manning-Luck matchup. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
