2019 NFL Draft Mock 3.0: What if the Redskins traded back?

It’s all theoretical at this point, but if the Redskins were to trade back, it would likely be the cause of a quarterback slipping. This trade back features the Gruden brothers, a few “hey mans”, and a swap of first-round picks.

The official terms of the trade? The Raiders get the No. 15 overall pick and the Redskins second-round pick, while the Redskins get the Raiders two remaining first-round picks and an early fourth-rounder, something they could certainly use to remedy their lacking depth.

So who is Jon Gruden trading up for? And why is trading up? Doesn’t he already have Derek Carr?

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Yes, Gruden does have Derek Carr. But does he actually like Derek Carr? That’s the question that needs answering, and I’m not sure the answer’s yes. Carr was average for most of last year, and he’s made a bit of noise this offseason, proclaiming his desire to… *checks notes* fight Stephen A. Smith.

To put it simply, Carr isn’t helping himself often these days, and Gruden’s early overhaul of the Raiders’ roster showed that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get “his guys” in the building. He’s got ten years to do it. Chances are he’s not too concerned about the short-term repercussions of making a quarterback change that might be necessary.

This takes us to the Senior Bowl, where Gruden was the coach of Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. Lock smiled when Gruden was name-dropped in an interview, and the two seemed to share a rapport with one another over the course of Senior Bowl week. Lock would go on to have the strongest performance of any signal caller in the game itself, showing off his redeemable traits in a preparation-strained situation.

Lock isn’t a perfect quarterback prospect; some outlets have his value dipping outside of Round 1, as his footwork is a very serious concern. But Lock has very good athleticism for a quarterback, and his arm talent is easily second in the 2019 NFL Draft class, only to Kyler Murray’s. Lock is also very charismatic; he has the quarterback mentality that not only wins teammates over, but also might earn the favor of a coach like Jon Gruden. Lock has the unique traits that make a quarterback worth gambling on, and Gruden, never one to back away from the bold choice, might jump at the chance to acquire his guy.

In this situation, Carr would either be cut, traded, or held onto for another year, if his contract proves to be too much for possible suitors. Per Spotrac, the dead cap incurred by the release of Carr decreases from $27.4 million in 2019 to just $5 million in 2020, so Gruden, if he was sold on Lock, could draft Lock, integrate the quarterback into the system in 2019, whilst waiting out Carr’s contract, then release or trade Carr in 2020 and move onto the next steps in getting his next era rolling. It makes just enough sense where it’s worth theoretical consideration. And with Jon Gruden, nothing is off the table.