They tried to trade up to draft Mark Sanchez and failed, losing out to the New York Jets, who worked a deal with the Cleveland Browns to take the Southern California quarterback with the No. 5 choice. They tried to trade up for Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo and again couldn't find a taker.

So the Redskins were thrilled that Orakpo was still there when they hit the clock with the 13th overall selection on Saturday. So thrilled that they took just 2:25 of the allotted 10 minutes to announce Orakpo as the newest Redskin.

"I was shocked that he fell," said executive vice president Vinny Cerrato. "I think the thing that helped was that if Cleveland would have stayed at five, they would have probably taken (Boston College nose tackle B.J.) Raji or Orakpo."

Orakpo was the nation's top lineman as a senior, winning the Nagurski (top defensive player), Lombardi (top lineman) and Hendricks (top defensive end) awards while recording 11.5 sacks, sixth-best in the country.

The Redskins haven't had a good, young pass-rushing end since Charles Mann's early days in the mid-1980s.

"The thing that I liked is his ability to get on the edge very quickly," coach Jim Zorn said. "If you're a slow-footed tackle, you're going to be reaching for this guy because of his initial explosion. Then what he can do is turn the corner."

Orakpo admitted he has work to do against the run in the physical NFC East against the likes of bruising runners Marion Barber of the Cowboys and Brandon Jacobs of the Giants.

"I have to be able to stop the run," Orakpo said. "That's something that I know I have to work on. I know I can, just don't pull the trigger trying to get after the quarterback too much. I have to settle down and play the run."

Although they finished fourth on defense and 19th on offense in 2008, the Redskins continued their defensive focus with their first three picks on Sunday, taking physical and fast Maryland cornerback Kevin Barnes -- whom Zorn compared to current starter Carlos Rogers -- in the third round, speedy Nebraska outside linebacker Cody Glenn (who switched from running back as a senior) in the fifth and TCU inside linebacker Robert Henson, a consistent tackler, in the sixth before choosing pass-catching Idaho fullback Eddie Williams (converting him from tight end) and big Nevada wide receiver Marko Mitchell in the seventh. The Redskins acquired the Williams pick after a trade down with the Vikings in the fifth round.

"We took care of some our needs that we were looking for," Cerrato said.

BEST PICK: The Redskins were thwarted in their efforts to move up to choose Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez and Texas linebacker Brian Orakpo, but then lucked out to have Orakpo still be there at No. 13. Orakpo will begin his NFL career at left end but is versatile enough to play strong-side linebacker. Those were the Redskins' biggest needs going into the draft and are the positions that five-year starter Marcus Washington filled the past five years (the latter often as a pass rusher on third downs). Orakpo was sixth in the nation with 11.5 sacks as a senior and should be the Redskins' best outside pass rusher.

COULD SURPRISE: The Redskins had bigger needs, linebacker and offensive tackle, at No. 80, but they still grabbed Maryland cornerback Kevin Barnes. The Redskins like their corners to play physical and the 6-foot, 187-pound Barnes is that, having caused Cal star Jahvid Best to vomit on one hit last year and forcing a fumble on another against Wake Forest that gave the cornerback a season-ending fractured shoulder blade. With Carlos Rogers in the final year of his contract, third corner Fred Smoot on the downside and 2008 rookie J.T. Tryon a horror show last preseason, Barnes could be a starter by 2010 if all goes well for him.

A closer look at the Redskins' picks:

Round 1/13 -- Brian Orakpo, DE, 6-3, 260, Texas

The Redskins biggest dilemma with Orakpo will be whether to play him at left end (where he'll begin his career) or strong-side linebacker. The son of Nigerian immigrants was the first defensive lineman picked by Washington in the first round in 12 years.

Round 3/80 -- Kevin Barnes, CB, 6-0, 187, Maryland

Barnes only started 21 games during four years for the Terps, but he showed enough to become a third-round pick. A state high jump champion in high school, Barnes has the size to cover big receivers and good enough speed (4.45) to cover the smaller wideouts.

Round 5/158 -- Cody Glenn, OLB, 6-0, 235, Nebraska

Glenn, a standout high school running back in Texas, carried just 143 times in three years for the Cornhuskers before moving to linebacker as a senior. Glenn had 51 tackles in none starts on the weak side before being suspended for selling tickets.

Round 6/186 -- Robert Henson, MLB, 6-1, 228, Texas Christian

A four-year starter at TCU, the aggressive Henson was a linchpin of the nation's No. 2 defense in 2008. Henson will begin on special teams but has a chance to one day succeed middle linebacker London Fletcher, who'll be 34 years old in May.

Round 7/221 -- Eddie Williams, TE/FB, 6-1, 249, Idaho

The Vandals' MVP with 54 catches, 687 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, Williams finished the year with a torn ACL. Since the Redskins are deep at tight end, Williams will likely be groomed behind Pro Bowl fullback Mike Sellers, who turns 34 in July.

Round 7/243 -- Marko Mitchell, WR, 6-3, 210, Nevada

Mitchell has size and speed. He caught 114 passes for 2,270 yards and 18 touchdowns during his two full years as a college starter. Has a shot to push disappointing 2008 second-rounder Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly and veteran James Thrash for a backup job.