SB Nation - Login for mobile commenting

Hogs Haven

Redskins Draft Prep Round Four: Dwight Bentley or Chris Rainey

GAINESVILLE, FL - APRIL 9:  Running back Chris Rainey #3 of the Florida Gators runs upfield during the Orange and Blue spring football game April 9, 2010 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Al Messerschmidt - Getty Images

about 1 year ago: GAINESVILLE, FL - APRIL 9: Running back Chris Rainey #3 of the Florida Gators runs upfield during the Orange and Blue spring football game April 9, 2010 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

For the fourth round, I'm going to assume the Redskins have already addressed their needs at quarterback and at least one player along the offensive line. So the two players I'm proposing for round four are running back/receiver Chris Rainey, and small school cornerback Dwight Bentley.

Dwight Bentley, coming out of Louisiana Lafayette, is largely unknown to the masses. However, Bentley out-shone most of the corners at the Senior Bowl last week. He displayed an ability to play physical press coverage, play off-man coverage with a cushion and does a good job flipping his hips to run with a receiver on deep routes. He had a good season at the college level, showing up big against national championship winners Oklahoma State in Louisiana Lafayette's opening game this season, intercepting quarterback Brandon Weeden twice. The big knock on him is that he's a small school player and has to prove that he can play against a higher level of competition, but he did just that this week at the Senior Bowl. Bentley could come in and compete for the slot corner spot and eventually develop into a solid rotational guy in the secondary.

Chris Rainey would be somewhat of a luxury pick and come April his stock could rise to as high as the second or third round, but right now I see Rainey as a fourth rounder. At 5'8", 174 pounds, Rainey isn't going to be an every down back. He's not a guy you would want to run between the tackles all that often anyway. He's already started to draw comparison's to Darren Sproles and while he's not the runner Sproles is (Sproles is tough as a rock for a guy of his frame), I would use Rainey in similar ways. You can line him up in the slot as a receiver, or just as a running back coming out of the back field on screens and passing downs. You do whatever you have to do to get the guy 10-15 touches a game because if he gets the ball in space, he becomes an explosive weapon. Rainey is a former track star, and believes he can run in the 4.1 second range in the 40 yard dash at the combine. To help explain just how fast that is, Titans running back Chris Johnson, widely thought of as one of, if not the fastest man in the NFL, ran a 4.24 in the 40 yard dash at his combine. With that kind of speed, Rainey will burn slot corners all day long, and could take a simple screen play 50 yards for a touchdown. He can also return kicks, which would allow him to replace Banks and save us a roster spot. An explosive weapon like that on offense would be something the Redskins haven't had in quite some time.

Poll
In the fourth round, If the Redskins were picking between Dwight Bentley or Chris Rainey, who would you choose?
Dwight Bentley
219 votes
Chris Rainey
216 votes

435 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  12 comments

Comments

Where is the neither choice?

I would try to find another center in the fourth; possibly Molk.

We also have two choices in the fourth round.
WHAT?

The Skins already have a receiver who’s a little guy and can only get on the field for punt and kickoff returns. Half the guys on this list want him cut. Now you want them to consider a RB who is only a couple of pounds heavier? Don’t think so.

Chris Rainey and Brandon Banks should never be compared

Rainey’s size is closer to Moss than Banks.

+1 and comparable to Sproles, who was a dynamic playmaker for the Saints this year

probably 30# heavier and two inches. The dirty little secret is that Brandon is 5-6 and sub 150. He’s tiny.

I like the idea of rainey

Seems like what shanny is looking in terms of a “playmaker”. He could contribute at RB/WR/KR/PR

agreed

this might be a little high for him, but it would be understandable given his utility, and in real life we have that other 4th to use also.

do we have 2 6 rd picks this year

I can’t seem to confirm if we are losing our pick for hightower

The ESPN reported that the Cards beat writer has it going to Arizona, but that was from an article

written before the injury and who knows if his source was right. Right now I’m saying we probably lose it, but yeah I don’t know for sure.

Rainey is an overrated prospect even in the 4th RD.

He’s never played to his speed even at FLA averaging just 6.2 YDs per touch and that includes his rushing/rec/KR/PR. Top tier RBs average more than that per rush. Peeps need to do their homework.

You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Hogs Haven to post a comment.