National Football League

Campbell traded to cap eventful Redskins draft

Published Apr. 24, 2010 11:13 p.m. ET

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Jason Campbell found his new home. Albert Haynesworth didn't go anywhere. The big hole at left tackle got plugged.

The Washington Redskins had an eventful NFL draft, considering they didn't have many picks. Not all the dramas were resolved and not every need was addressed, but coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen took another step in their overhaul of a 4-12 team.

``We've had a busy day,'' Allen said, ``and I believe the Redskins over the last three days have gotten better as a football team.''

The Redskins picked up five players in the lower rounds Saturday, but the big development concerned the quarterback who was shipped away. After weeks of trying to trade Campbell, the best Washington could get was a fourth-round draft pick in 2012 from the Oakland Raiders for a QB with 52 starts in the last four seasons and who was a first-round selection in 2005.

Campbell stopped attending offseason workouts and was given permission to explore a trade after the Redskins acquired Donovan McNabb earlier this month. Shanahan and Allen didn't have much leverage in talks because most teams expected Campbell to be released before training camp in July.

``Working with Jason, we were trying to find him a proper home where he had a chance to compete for the starting job,'' Allen said. ``The trade worked out to the compensation we felt comfortable with, and it was the place where Jason wanted to go.''

Campbell never played in a playoff game for the Redskins, but he was hampered by constant changes in offensive philosophy. Counting his years at Auburn, his offensive scheme with the Raiders will be his eighth in 10 years.

``If I ever put together an offense as an offensive coordinator one day, I've got a lot of plays to choose from,'' Campbell told the NFL Network. ``The only bad part about it is, it doesn't give me a chance to mature in one offense ... because you feel like you're always starting over.''

Haynesworth was also a trade possibility because he also has stayed away from offseason workouts and is unhappy about the team's switch to a 3-4 defense. Shanahan said the Redskins weren't actively shopping the defensive tackle but were receptive to listening to offers.

No deal was struck, however, and Shanahan slammed the door firmly Friday when he said: ``No, it's not going to happen. ... Albert Haynesworth will not be traded.''

That should make for an interesting scene when the Redskins hold their mandatory minicamp in June.

``We know where Albert stands, and he knows where we stand,'' Allen said, ``and we look forward to him having a productive season.''

The Redskins' new set of players starts first and foremost with Trent Williams, the No. 4 overall pick who fills the void at left tackle following the retirement of Chris Samuels. A curious story line for years to come will be to see whether the Redskins made the right choice between Williams and Oklahoma State's Russell Okung. Okung is considered to be the better player right now, but Williams is thought to have more potential because of his speed and athleticism.

The Redskins sat out Friday night's draft fun, having long ago traded their second- and third-round picks. They resumed Saturday with the selection of LSU linebacker Perry Riley in the fourth round, tight end Dennis Morris of Louisiana Tech in the sixth, and three seventh-rounders: receiver Terrence Austin of UCLA, center Erik Cook of New Mexico and tackle Selvish Capers of West Virginia.

Riley is from Georgia, but he has a couple of Redskins connections. His mother's family is from Virginia, so he grew up as a fan of the team. He also played one season at LSU with Washington safety LaRon Landry.

After swapping some lower-round picks with the Miami Dolphins, the Redskins selected Morris, who can also play fullback and H-back. He caught 38 passes for 623 yards and 12 touchdowns last year for the Bulldogs.

Another exchange of picks, this time with the New England Patriots, left the Redskins with three seventh-round selections. Austin can return punts and kickoffs - a problem area in recent seasons - while Cook and Capers could give the team some desperately needed young depth along the offensive line.