ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - The Washington Redskins have selected defensive end Brian Orakpo of Texas with the 13th pick in the NFL draft, another move to bolster their weak pass rush.
The Redskins entered the offseason knowing they needed to upgrade their defensive front: They ranked last in the NFC in 2008 with only 24 sacks. So Washington began free agency by landing All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth with a $100 million, seven-year contract.
And now the Redskins add Orakpo, a 6-foot-3, 263-pound rusher.
There had been speculation the Redskins would try to move up in order to pick Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez, whom they brought to town for a two-day visit. But he went fifth overall to the New York Jets after they got the pick in a deal with Cleveland.
