ST. LOUIS — The Washington
Redskins have acquired former first-round pick Adam Carriker from the
St. Louis Rams in an extremely low-cost deal that provides an option
along the defensive line if Albert Haynesworth is traded.
The Redskins got a great price Tuesday
for the 13th overall pick in 2007. They swapped fifth-round picks with
the Rams, moving down 28 spots in that round, but in a swap of
seventh-rounders Washington actually moved up three spots.
"Adam is a guy who our staff is very
familiar with," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "He is talented and
has an incredible work ethic. We feel he will fit in our scheme and will
help us reach our defensive goals."
Carriker's career has been dogged by
injuries. He spent last season on injured reserve with a shoulder
injury.
Carriker could be the contingency plan
if the Redskins are able to trade Haynesworth, who has displeased
Shanahan by staying away from offseason workouts and a minicamp.
Haynesworth is also unhappy about Washington's switch to a 3-4 defense.
Rams general manager Billy Devaney
said the team had enough depth at the position to make the deal, and
said the draft class was loaded with "whopper" defensive tackles who
could be had as late as the fourth round. The Rams are expected to
re-sign backup Gary Gibson to augment a group headed by Clifton Ryan,
Fred Robbins and Darell Scott.
Carriker will be reunited with
defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, a former Rams head coach. Devaney
said the Redskins have been trying to trade for Carriker for a while.
"The signings we've made the past
couple of weeks we thought, you know what, this might be the right time
to do it," Devaney said. "Right now it seems like we've got a little bit
of depth. I hope we do."
Carriker was a 300-pound defensive end
at Nebraska, where he was Big 12 defensive player of the year as a
senior. He played tackle in a 4-3 alignment with St. Louis.
"He's never complained and we used
him in multiple positions," Devaney said. "He did the best he could, but
it hasn't been a great scheme for him."