Redskins remain conflicted

Too close to call.

That was the message Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs delivered yesterday as the final hours ticked away before today’s start to the NFL Draft, where the Redskins are scheduled to pick fifth.

Washington officials, after planning to determine the order of their draft board Thursday night, were still debating yesterday whether to put tight end Kellen Winslow II or safety Sean Taylor as their top choice.

“We went as far as we could go last night and started back in today,” Gibbs said when asked whether the top of Washington’s board had been finalized. “It hasn’t been the easiest thing to do, because several of the players we’re considering there, it’s tough to separate them. We’re still working. I think I have a better feeling today.”

Sometime shortly after noon today, the Redskins will add an impact player in the draft’s early portion. However, the debate between Miami stars Winslow and Taylor, the uncertainty of the draft’s first four picks, and the possibility of a trade down (almost certainly not up) leaves the club’s move somewhat shrouded.

The bulk of evidence suggests that Washington will select Winslow, who is rated by a number of talent evaluators as a likely Pro Bowl performer in seasons to come. Besides being somewhat more highly rated than Taylor, Winslow fills a more certain need for Washington — the depleted position of H-back.

The Redskins have two other picks — in the fifth (139th) and sixth (180th) rounds. If Washington picks at No.5 and doesn’t trade back for more picks, its next selection won’t come until tomorrow afternoon.

Still, the combination of Gibbs’ return from 11 years of retirement and such a high pick have created considerable intrigue. Nearly 50,000 people have signed up to attend the Redskins’ annual free draft party at FedEx Field today; the previous high attendance was 19,000 in 2000.

Gibbs, speaking after a press conference to introduce newly signed linebacker Michael Barrow, played down the possibility of a trade. He said a number of teams contacted Washington yesterday but that none of the proposed deals piqued his interest.

“Most of the [calls] I got today were too far out of what we thought would be a reasonable thing for us,” Gibbs said. “They were too far back for us to do some of the things we want to do.”

Of a trade being any more likely, the coach said, “My guess would be no. [But] I think you’re prepared for that, and that’s why you spend so much time.”

Redskins officials have spent the past few days, besides assembling a final draft board, plotting strategies depending on what other teams might do. With quarterback Eli Manning trying to pressure the San Diego Chargers into trading the No.1 pick, the top four selections should remain in flux until Washington selects.

A hot rumor in recent weeks had the Redskins moving up to the Oakland Raiders’ No.2 slot to get Iowa tackle Robert Gallery — a trade that likely would require dealing current left tackle Chris Samuels to Oakland.

But vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato dubbed trading up “highly, highly unlikely,” and sources familiar with the Redskins’ draft preparations said the club is focused on Winslow and Taylor.

Trade-down rumors also started to float in recent days, but Gibbs’ comments seemed to set a floor for how far Washington would move back. In addition, sources said Washington probably wouldn’t be able to pass on Winslow or Taylor if either were available at No.5.

Winslow, the son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, caught 60 passes for 605 yards last season, and some talent evaluators believe he could be better in the NFL than Jeremy Shockey, Winslow’s former Miami teammate who went No.14 to the New York Giants in 2002. No tight end has been selected in the top 10 since Rickey Dudley (Raiders) in 1996.

Taylor, like Winslow, is so highly rated at an oft-overlooked position that teams are willing to spend a top-10 selection. He could be the highest drafted safety since Eric Turner (Cleveland Browns) in 1991. Last season Taylor had eight interceptions, running three back for touchdowns. Cerrato described Taylor as “a 230-pound corner playing free safety.”

Who will Washington take if both are available? Gibbs seemed genuinely conflicted yesterday, and not even the newest Redskin, a former Hurricane familiar with both rising stars, was prepared to answer that question.

“I don’t think you can go wrong with any guy from the University of Miami,” Barrow said with a laugh. “You talk about ’Quarterback U.,’ ’Linebacker U.’ — I always felt like we’re ’NFL U.’”

Note — The Redskins announced days and times for the remainder of their preseason schedule. After opening against Denver in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 9 (Mon., 8 p.m.), Washington will play host to Carolina on Aug. 14 (Sat., 8 p.m.), play at Miami on Aug. 21 (Sat., 7:30 p.m.), at St. Louis on Aug. 27 (Fri., 8 p.m.), and play host to Atlanta on Sept. 3 (Fri., 7 p.m.).