Gibbs Says Draft Status Is Unlikely to Change

Brandon Lloyd, the 24-year-old receiver who was acquired last month in a trade with the 49ers, agreed to a seven-year contract with the Redskins. (By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)

With the NFL draft five days away, Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday that it was unlikely that the Redskins would attempt to move up from their spot in the second round.

Currently, the Redskins will not pick until the 53rd spot on the first day of the draft Saturday and, thanks to a successful free agent signing period, do not approach the draft with many obvious holes. With the loss of LaVar Arrington, the Redskins have been in the market for a linebacker, but outside of re-signing Chris Clemons and Warrick Holdman the team did not make a deal for a front-line starter at the position.

"Obviously, when you're at 53, you need to calculate who will be there," Gibbs said. "I think you could always move up, and when you get through with your final calculations you have to decide if it's smart. We've had some people talk to us about it, but it is not very likely we'll be able to do something."

Lloyd Signed, Sealed

---

Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd accompanied Gibbs yesterday to officially announce the seven-year contract Lloyd signed last week with the Redskins. Lloyd was in the final year of his contract, but the Redskins had agreed after acquiring him in a trade with San Francisco last month to renegotiate his contract.

"Someone 24 years old will be playing with us for a long time," Gibbs said. "Long-term, [renegotiating] is good for us, if you can afford to do it. We've got very young guys, which means they'll be here for a while."

Lamenting Arrington

---

Two days after Arrington signed his incentive-laden seven-year, $49 million contract with the New York Giants, Gibbs said he lamented the way Arrington's career with Washington ended, and despite Arrington's clearly diminished role last season said Arrington still could have had a future with the Redskins.

"We wish LaVar the absolute best as long as he's not going against us," Gibbs said. "I don't like the fact that we have to play him twice. In his case, he had sound options. One was to stay here and be a Redskin. Another was to go on the open market. I wish our two years had gone a lot smoother. . . . He felt he needed a clean start."

Upon signing the deal, Arrington called Redskins linebacker Marcus Washington, who now is most likely poised to replace Arrington as the most recognizable player on the Redskins' defense.

"It's a great move for him," Washington said. "That's what he wanted, to stay close to home and he gets to play us twice. He's going to be up there with Antonio [Pierce]. I'm very happy for him. I think it's great."

Thomas Progressing

---

During the height of the free agent signing period, Gibbs said he wanted more depth on the offensive line but was happy with the progress made by right guard Randy Thomas, who broke his leg Dec. 18 against Dallas. He said Thomas was not ready for full contact but is hitting blocking sleds. . . . As much as Gibbs prefers full participation at offseason workouts, he said he had made an arrangement with safety Adam Archuleta, who has his own conditioning program but has agreed to alternate between Washington and his personal workout routine on the West Coast. . . .

Quarterback Mark Brunell said he hoped to raise $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society yesterday during his first golf tournament in this area. Brunell, whose foundation was a major presence in the Jacksonville community when he played for the Jaguars, said he hopes to hold the event each year at the Lowes Island Club in Potomac Falls.

Staff writer Jason La Canfora contributed to this report.