Redskins Saturday Spotlight: Finding the next developmental quarterback

Daniel Jones – Duke

The title of the article lists the subjects as ‘developmental quarterbacks’, but if Daniel Jones continues to piece together different parts of his game, a very weak 2019 quarterback class could push him up into the first two rounds.

At 6-foot-5, 220, Jones is a perfect fit for the prototypical NFL quarterback mold. He’s a quarterback who can make plays with his arm and his legs, and when he runs, he puts down his shoulder and fights for extra yards. It can lead to injuries, but Jones is a true leader of the offense, a player others can rally behind. He has over 1,000 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns over the last two and a half years. In the Redskins’ offense, which values both strong-armed quarterbacks and mobile ones, Jones would be a good fit.

As a passer, Jones is developing. He has a powerfully elastic arm, and on the field, he’s very confident in his abilities. As of now, in college, he sometimes forces throws, especially in the red zone, and that confidence can get him into trouble in certain situations. But it’s hard to deny one thing: He has ability, and he can use it.

Jones has fairly solid mechanics in the pocket; his upper body and lower body move together well, and he squares his shoulders before throwing. He’s inconsistent under pressure, but he’s quick to react and adapt when things go south. His footwork is gaining polish, but his jittery feet can be detrimental to his base at times.

From a processing standpoint, things are less clear with Jones. He’s a smart player who’s always aware of in-game circumstances, but in the pocket, his progression and anticipation isn’t yet where it needs to be. It’s clear that he doesn’t have a solid grasp on what he’s seeing yet, and that’s okay; the field is a complex thing with so many moving players. But if he doesn’t improve in that regard, it could lead to problems down the road. He also taps the ball while he waits, and Redskins fans know well that this could lead to fumbles.

All that considered, Jones may have the most potential out of this group, with Tyree Jackson and Brian Lewerke in second and third place. But all of these quarterbacks are listed as ‘developmental’ for a reason. They’re not quite ready for the lights yet, but they all have traits worth molding, and toolsets worth tinkering with. As the dichotomy suggests, although the NFL is a team game, quarterback takes precedence over all other positions. It takes an investment of confidence, and an even greater investment of time, to make a great quarterback.

Who will the Redskins invest in next?