Redskins Sixth Pick: Punter Durant Brooks

A punter? Really? Oh wait he's the nation's best punter.

The Redskins used their sixth pick in the 2008 NFL draft, sixth round number 168 overall, to select Georgia Tech punter Durant Brooks. A finalist in 2006 and winner of the 2007 Ray Guy award, Durant was the top rated punter in the draft. After two great picks in day two the Redskins once again filled a position that was not really a need.

From nfl.com's profile of Durant:

Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 204 lbs

Pros: kicks for major hang time and distance and consistently, quick enough to stay with coverage on punt plays, no conscience for bad kicks, angles kicks well toward sideline, a good holder on field goals.

Cons: shies away from contact on return plays, needs to reduce the number of touchback kicks inside the 20, no experience as a place kicker or kickoff specialist so cannot fill in even in emergencies.


Curly R quick take: ok so his 45.1 punting average in 2007 is only four yards longer than current Redskin punter and five year NFL veteran Derrick Frost. Is landing the best punter in the draft really a good thing? Expecially when you still needed some help at defensive line and linebacker? Or maybe another offensive lineman? One way to interpret this is some serious training camp competition for Derrick Frost, another is that the Redskins are planning on a lot of three and outs deep in their own territory.


Washington Redskins Durant Brooks: AP photo from here.