Grading the Rookie <strike>First</strike> Second Rounder: Washington LB Rocky McIntosh

With the 2006 regular season in the books, we'll take a look back at the rookie first-rounders, and see how they fared in their first year in the league.

You won't believe this, but the Redskins didn't have a 2006 first-round pick. Something about trading it away to the Broncos during the 2005 draft so Washington could move up and take quarterback Jason Campbell with the 25th overall selection. You know, the guy who had the dishonor of sitting behind Mark Brunell while Brunell helped steer the 'Skins to a 3-6 record before head coach Joe Gibbs finally pulled the plug on that experiment (and only half a season too late!).

Instead of grading the first-rounder, we'll look at Washington's first pick in the 2006 draft: second-round linebacker Rocky McIntosh. It may not surprise you to find out the Redskins traded up to get McIntosh -- since Washington is seemingly always trading away picks -- but they felt the need to make this move because OLB LaVar Arrington bolted for the Giants in the off-season, just like MLB Antonio Pierce had the year before.

To obtain McIntosh, the Redskins traded the 53rd pick in the second round of this year's draft, the 189th pick in the sixth round of this year's draft and a second-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

That sounds like a lot, especially when you consider McIntosh's contributions this season: 16 games, 1 game started, 28 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 passes defended. And it should be noted that most of McIntosh's tackles came on special teams, currently Washington's holding tank for scrubs, rejects and Adam Archuleta.

The biggest reason McIntosh hasn't seen the field is because he's been slow to pick up the defense. From Washington Post beat reporter Jason LaCanfora's blog:

[Two general managers and a NFC personnel executive] all like Rocky McIntosh, and, while realizing he has a lot to learn, were shocked the learning curve on the field has not begun, even if just on third down. For what he Redskins gave up - swapping second rounds, giving up this year's second rounder and a sixth rounder, "You've to start to see what the kid can do," as one personnel guy put it.

To McIntosh's credit, however, he fared well in his only start (Week 16). Against the Rams, he registered 10 tackles, including a nice tackle-for-loss against Steven Jackson and, according to this article, "when he closed space on an end-around to Kevin Curtis, turning what appeared to be a potential big gain into a seven-yard play."

Despite his glacial start, it looks like McIntosh could see a lot more playing time in 2007 (and given that some Redskins' fans have seen just about enough of Warrick Holdman, this change can't happen soon enough). That said, you have to wonder if the coaches have mismanaged McIntosh in the same way they mismanaged Campbell. Would Washington's record have been any worse with McIntosh getting a little on-the-job experience? Or Campbell, for that matter? And the upside? Game experience for two young players who could use it.

Grade: D