Arizona Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt has recently confirmed that star wideout Anquan Boldin is indeed on the trading block. League sources expect him to be traded next week before the NFL draft. Boldin's discontent in Arizona stems back to last offseason, when the 'Cards inked fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald to a monster 4yr/40M deal and refused to negotiate something similar with Boldin. Back then, the Redskins explored  trade options to acquire the 2003 Offensive Rookie of the Year, but nothing materialized. Today, the 'Skins are still starved for receiving options: starters Moss and Randle El are at best #2 options on other teams, and the jury is still out on '08 draft picks Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas.

The 'Skins would like to draft a tackle with the 13th overall pick, however, all three premium choices, Eugene Monroe, Justin Smith, and Andre Smith, most likely won't fall to them. Expect Washington owner Dan Snyder, a man who loves instant gratification and flashy dealmaking, to make another go at Boldin -- I wouldn't be surprised if Snyder and Vinny C would be willing to part with their 13th overall pick for him.

The upside on such a move would be an immediate and unquestionable upgrade at receiver -- Boldin and Moss would represent one of the league's best possession/speed combos. However, there is a considerable downside to such a deal: Boldin will be 29 in October, his cap hit would be enormous, and the 'Skins have glaring needs at OT, DE, and SLB.

If I were in charge, I'd pass on Boldin and utilize the draft, a concept that has been anathema to the Dan and his side-kick Vinny Cerrato in recent years. If none of the top three OTs are available at 13, Ole Miss OT Michael Oher could be a possibility; he has top-ten potential, but there is a discernible lack of consensus among scouts league-wide regarding his true potential. Other smart options for the 'Skins at pick 13 would be DEs Aaron Maybin or Tyson Jackson, from Penn State and LSU respectively. These guys would be great replacements for the departed Jason Taylor, lining up alongside Andre Carter and the newly acquired Albert Haynesworth.

Also, the 'Skins have been looking hard at USC QB Mark Sanchez, who many scouts believe would be a number one pick in next year's draft if he were to stay in college for another season. Current starting QB Jason Campbell is in the last year of his contract and the 'Skins are at best resigned to a wait-and-see approach in terms of re-signing Campbell, for whom they traded 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks in the 2005 draft. Personally, I think the chances are slim that Sanchez will fall all the way to 13; Seattle (4th overall) has been quietly sizing him up, the Jags (8th overall) might want a successor to 31 year-old David Garrard, and he'd be a perfect fit in McDaniel's offense in Denver (12th overall).

Finally, there are plenty of linebackers at the top of this draft and the 'Skins need to replace Marcus Washington. Top-shelf options (probably unavailable at 13) include Wake OLB Aaron Curry and Texas OLB Brian Orakpo, and more realistic choices could be USC 'backers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews.