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FanSided

Redskins don’t need a quarterback early in the 2019 NFL Draft

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 24: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass against the Denver Broncos in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 24: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass against the Denver Broncos in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Yes, Alex Smith got injured and may not be ready for the start of the 2019 NFL season. No, that doesn’t mean that we should overreact and assume that the Redskins will take a quarterback early in the draft.

It’s too early to really know anything about what a team might do in the NFL Draft. We’re still just about five months away from the selection fest, and the 2018 regular season is still in full swing. That said, there are plenty of mock drafts that are dropping at this time of the year, and some are mocking quarterbacks to Redskins in the first round.

To me, that seems like a bit of an overreaction.

Recently, FanSided’s Brad Weiss released a mock draft that had the Redskins selecting 21st overall. With the pick, Weiss has the team selecting Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins. Weiss offered an explanation for the pick and said the following of the selection.

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"When it comes to the Redskins, they have to start thinking about their future at quarterback, as Smith’s career is in serious jeopardy. They may want to draft a signal-caller in the first round in 2019, and a guy like Dwayne Haskins has all the talent to be a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.Haskins has had a monster season for the Buckeyes, leading them to an 11-1 regular season record, a blowout win against Michigan, and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Redskins need to find an answer at quarterback moving forward, and they just may roll the dice on the big fella from Ohio State."

This is a fairly solid argument. However, it seems more likely that Smith is going to attempt a comeback anyway. And while the Redskins would love to get some help in their quarterback room, acquiring a first-round talent at the position poses too much of a risk.

Smith is on a hefty contract right now, so if he continues to play for Washington, he will get paid. While it might be nice to add legitimate competition for him, Haskins is far from proven and will need some work before starting in the NFL. Sure, he has all the tools, but being forced into a starting job he might not be ready for could stunt his growth.

In this analyst’s opinion, it would be better for the ‘Skins to draft a mid-to-late-round QB this year and have that player serve as the developmental guy on their roster. That would allow the squad to roll with Smith and Colt McCoy for another year and maybe bring in a veteran stopgap to compete for the starting job if they don’t think Smith will be ready to start the year. That may not seem like the most inspiring option, but it could work.

Frankly speaking, the 2020 quarterback class is better than the one in 2019. There aren’t many sure things available this offseason, so sticking with two proven veterans like McCoy and Smith might be the better option. They can build up talent elsewhere in the draft, as the team has a lot of needs on both sides of the ball, and then target a replacement quarterback in 2020 if things don’t go well for the McCoy/Smith duo in 2019.

Next. 5 things Redskins must avoid doing in 2019. dark

It’s a bit too early to panic and say that the Redskins are desperate for a quarterback. Yes, they could use some extra talent at the position. But no, reaching for one in the early rounds of the 2019 draft doesn’t make sense. Things could definitely change in the many months before the draft, but that’s just how I see it for now.

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