And now they have what they hope is the hardest-hitting safety tandem in the NFL.
The Redskins selected Landry with the sixth overall pick. Coach Joe Gibbs said he did not receive any serious trade proposals, despite what the team considered was its dream scenario. With both Brady Quinn and Adrian Peterson still on the board, they had hoped someone would want to trade up to take one.
But nobody did and they went with the highest rated defensive player on their board.
''This is someone who will take a big portion of the salary cap,'' Gibbs said, ''so our feeling with this pick is that you need to pick someone who you think can play for you for a long time and has a chance to do some outstanding things.''
The Redskins liked that Landry started 48 of the 52 games he played at Louisiana State. That gave them a large body of work to scout. For example, because teams rarely passed over the middle against them last fall, they had the LSU video staff break down passes over the middle from the previous two years.
''He was very decisive,'' Gibbs said of Landry. ''When he makes up his mind to go, he doesn't hesitate.''
Landry intercepted 12 passes at LSU and had 16 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. He was known for not only his big hits, but also his sure tackling. Considering Redskins safety Sean Taylor is not the surest of downfield tacklers, that will be a welcomed strength in the secondary.
Last season, Taylor and Adam Archuleta both allowed big plays because of their unsure tackling.
Gibbs said Landry and Taylor are similar in some ways.
''Both can run and cover a lot of field,'' Gibbs said. ''And both are proven they can be interceptors. One thing for us is we need to get Sean back to picking balls off. Both of them are ballhawks.''
Said Landry, ''I think that will be the best safety combination ever.''
Another factor: Landry's brother, Dawan, a fifth-round pick by Baltimore last year who wound up starting at safety. The Redskins talked to the Ravens' coaches about Dawan Landry.
''He worked himself silly,'' Gibbs said. ''They said they'd be surprised if the apple falls far from that tree.''
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