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5 biggest needs Redskins will have to address in the 2019 offseason

By Jacob Camenker

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 04: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins looks on after a turnover late in the fourth quarter of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Redskins 31-23. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 04: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins looks on after a turnover late in the fourth quarter of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Redskins 31-23. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 11: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball for a nine yard gain during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 11: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball for a nine yard gain during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /

5. Developmental quarterback

The Redskins have a problem at quarterback. It’s not hard to see why. Alex Smith was efficient as he has always been during his time in the NFL, but he couldn’t ever kick the offense into high gear. Even worse, he suffered a bad broken leg and is now out for the season.

Smith’s recovery may take a long time. He may not even be ready to start the season. While many have been comfortable with the idea of anointing Colt McCoy as the temporary starter, he didn’t do much to back that up in his first start since 2014. He threw three picks against Dallas and made far too many mistakes as a starter.

Obviously, it’s premature to say that McCoy is not the answer or at least a more than capable backup. But if the 31-year-old can’t play well against the Eagles or show some improvement, it is going to be very hard for the Redskins to justify going into next season with Smith and McCoy as the only two quarterbacks on the roster.

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That said, the Redskins are probably going to look to acquire a young passer to develop as a third-string player. They have had that in recent years. Nate Sudfeld was the guy before the team waived him ahead of the 2017 season. This year, it was Kevin Hogan who almost made the roster as third-stringer before being claimed by the Denver Broncos off waivers during final cuts. The ‘Skins will almost certainly bring in another developmental guy to try and teach for a year or two behind Smith.

It’s likely that if the Redskins go this route, they will target someone in the 2019 NFL Draft. There aren’t a lot of free agent options that would make sense, so they will probably spend a mid-to-late round selection on a QB. Of course, it’s worth noting that this isn’t a great quarterback class, and the team could wait until the stacked 2020 class to target a legitimate replacement for Smith.

If Washington does try to add a quality passer, Boise State’s Brett Rypien is a name to watch. Rypien has developmental potential and has ties to the Redskins organization as his uncle, Mark Rypien, quarterbacked the team in the 80s and 90s. He would be the perfect guy to bring in and try to develop and at the worst, he could be a quality backup. Expect him to be the target if the ‘Skins go after a quarterback.

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