Redskins Fourth Pick: Offensive Tackle Chad Rinehart

Some of what you need to go with what you don't

The Redskins used their fourth pick in the 2008 draft, third round 96th overall, on offensive tackle Chad Rinehart from Northern Iowa, Chad was considered one of if not the premier player in the Gateway collegiate division. This is a good pick and the Redskins are making up for overkill on day one.

From nfl.com's profile of Chad:

Height: 6' 5" (whoa)
Weight: 320 lbs (a good start)

Pros: decorated and experienced, manhandles opponents, durable and able to play with pain, maintains balanced while engaged, can play guard in addition to tackle, adaptable with a quick learning curve, quick off the line and can seal the corner in one on one, can sustain inside blocks to create creases for the runner, team leader not afraid to challenge underperforming teammates.

Cons: plays bent at the waist and with a slow lateral step may ultimately be a better guard than tackle at the pro level, must learn to sustain outside blocks while play develops, will get behind play if beaten off snap.


Curly R quick take: a good pick, too early to know where Chad will play, the team may plug him is at tackle but keep an eye on what he can do at guard. Somewhat moot where he might play because the Redskins need help at tackle and at guard. This was a smart pick by the Redskins, their line was devastated in 2007 with injuries all along the line and with only Stephon Heyer in the pipeline for the future of an aging line (current average age of 2007 season opening offensive line: a shade over 32 years old), a versatile guy like Chad is a great thing to have. Hopefully won't crack starting lineup meaning the Redskins will be able to get one more year out of their workhorses before starting the changing of the guards. And tackles.



Washington Redskin Chad Rinehart from here.