Sean Gilbert

The Washington Redskins say they got a jump on the college draft this year.By trading their first-round pick -- the sixth in the draft -- to the St. Louis Rams for defensive lineman Sean Gilbert last week, the Redskins say they got a better player than any collegian they could have drafted at that spot."

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins, needing an offensive tackle in case oft-injured Jim Lachey does not return, traded their second- and third-round picks in yesterday's NFL draft for the Dallas Cowboys' first-round choice -- the 30th in the round -- and selected Penn State's Andre Johnson.The Redskins, who traded their first-round pick (sixth overall) April 8 to the St. Louis Rams for defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, acquired Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 309-pounder, by giving the Cowboys the 37th and 67th picks overall.

HERNDON, Va. -- Steve Emtman broke the bank, Quentin Coryatt settled for being No. 2 and Sean Gilbert wound up being the odd man out in the third slot.That's how the best three players in the National Football League's 57th annual draft came off the board yesterday, as the rest of the teams jockeyed for position while making a raft of trades.The Indianapolis Colts, who had the first two picks, wound up selecting and coming to terms with Emtman and Coryatt on four-year deals worth a total of at least $16 million.

FROSTBURG -- In the span of four days in February, the Washington Redskins changed everything. They changed the look of their defensive line, the expectation level of their team and the pecking order of the NFC East.On Feb. 23, the Redskins signed unrestricted free-agent defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield to a six-year, $36 million contract.On Feb. 26, they traded first- and third-round draft picks for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson, the Cincinnati Bengals' disgruntled franchise player, and immediately signed him to a five-year, $21.4 million contract.

David Klingler, the University of Houston quarterback, has become the hot player as the draft gets within five days. And the place to go to guarantee getting Klingler is the Washington Redskins' spot at No. 6.The hot rumor flying around draft rooms yesterday had the Super Bowl champs taking Klingler themselves. Don't count on it. The Skins instead seem intent on trading that pick for veteran defensive help and are trying to create a market and then an auction for Klingler, by far the best quarterback in another down year for quarterbacks.

With Michael Westbrook rocking Norv Turner's usually tight Washington Redskins ship by attacking teammate Stephen Davis and Sean Gilbert still holding out, the atmosphere is not right for a nationally televised season opener tonight against the Carolina Panthers.Now Turner can only hope his team is ready."We haven't had a great continuity in the preseason," said Turner. "So there's a little uncertainty."Westbrook has everything it takes to be a great wide receiver, but he hasn't been able to escape controversy since he was the team's No. 1 draft choice in 1995.

What's new: Washington's 6-foot-5, 316-pound defensive tackle Sean Gilbert has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Sunday's 10-3 victory over Chicago. Gilbert had one sack, six tackles and three quarterback hurries for a two-week total of two sacks, 17 tackles and six hurries.Also, the Redskins announced yesterday the signing of defensive back Chris Hayes to the practice squad. Hayes, 5-11, 200 pounds, was selected in the seventh round of last spring's NFL draft by the New York Jets after starting the final 27 games of his collegiate career as an outside linebacker at Washington State.

From Berwanger to Emtman.That could wind up being an appropriate title for the history of the NFL's collegiate draft.Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman Trophy winner, is known to trivia experts as the first player selected in the NFL's first draft in 1936. He was so overwhelmed with the honor that he passed up pro football for a business career. There wasn't much prestige or pay in playing in the NFL in those days.Steve Emtman, the University of Washington defensive tackle, is likely to be the first player selected today by the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL's 57th draft.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- Joe Gibbs has had better days. The Washington Redskins coach was short on gas and money yesterday.Gibbs' day got off to a bad start when his NASCAR driver, Dale Jarrett, was in the lead in the DieHard 500 in Talladega, Ala., when his car ran out of gas. He wound up 23rd.Then when Gibbs called roll when the veterans were due to report at training camp last night, his quarterback (Mark Rypien), his best defensive back (Darrell Green), his best offensive lineman (Jim Lachey)

TAMPA, Fla. -- It doesn't take much of a football genius to figure out why the Washington Redskins went south in November.Running back Terry Allen, who had 17 touchdowns when the Arizona Cardinals left town Nov. 10, hasn't scored since.Wide receiver Henry Ellard has been limited to eight catches in the past four games.Fullback Marc Logan has accounted for just 10 yards total -- rushing and pass-catching -- in the past three games.Defensive tackle Sean Gilbert hasn't had a sack since the third game of the season.