Redskins Take a Look at Notre Dame Tight End Fasano

Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano visited Redskins Park yesterday in preparation for the April 29-30 NFL draft.

The 6-foot-4, 259-pound Fasano is projected by some draft analysts as the second- or third-best tight end in the draft, behind Maryland's Vernon Davis , and is compared to Georgia tight end Leonard Pope .

Traditionally, tight ends are not highly coveted in the first round, and with the Washington Redskins' first pick not coming until the second round -- 53rd overall -- Fasano could be available.

Having acquired wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El , safety Adam Archuleta , defensive end Andre Carter and tight end Christian Fauria through free agency, the Redskins have addressed their primary offseason needs aggressively.

But this year's draft is considered to be a deep one and experts are high on Fasano in no small part because he played in the NFL-style Notre Dame offense under Coach Charlie Weis . Fasano improved each year at Notre Dame, catching 47 passes last season for 576 yards and two touchdowns.

Last week, Texas-El Paso outside linebacker Thomas Howard visited the Redskins. The 6-3, 239-pound Howard is projected on some draft charts to be one of the top five or six linebackers in the draft.

"There are a lot of good linebackers in the draft," league draft analyst and former Dallas player personnel director Gil Brandt said of Howard. "I don't think he'll be there at 53, but there are a lot outside linebackers in this draft who can run."

Redskins Notes: The Redskins have re-signed veteran linebacker Warrick Holdman , who started the first seven games of the season at weak-side linebacker when LaVar Arrington was benched. He played 14 games overall last season, and played in both playoff games against Tampa Bay and Seattle. He finished the season with 38 tackles, 23 solo and recovered a fumble. For his career, Holdman has played in 89 games, recorded 560 tackles with an interception and four sacks. Holdman, 30, had been an unrestricted free agent and appeared to be in limbo while the Redskins addressed their most pressing needs during most of the free agent period. When it became clear that the Redskins were not likely to spend on a big-money free agent linebacker, Holdman's return became more likely. Weeks earlier, the team re-signed linebacker Chris Clemons , who spelled Arrington on third-down situations last season. . . . Lloyd's agent said there was little movement on his new contract with the Redskins. Lloyd was acquired in a trade with San Francisco six weeks ago and expressed optimism that he and the club would agree on a new deal quickly. But a new contract has been slow in the making. "Neither side feels the same urgency that you saw during free agency," agent David Dunn said. "I don't think anyone is in a real hurry."

-- Howard Bryant