Assessing Washington Redskins first-round options: QB Drew Lock

How Lock fits the Redskins

It’s no secret how Drew Lock fits the Redskins. He fits at quarterback.

The real question is, do the Redskins have the support system in place to put Lock on the developmental track he needs to take to have a successful NFL career? If Lock’s NFL coach would put his foot down (pun intended) on Lock’s poise and presence, then eventual returns could be worth the investment. But a concerted effort needs to be made toward fixing Lock’s footwork, because in the NFL, the game moves even faster, and Lock can’t get caught falling behind.

From a physical standpoint, however, Lock does fit the Redskins west coast scheme. He executed a good amount of screens in college, prepping him for key staples of Jay Gruden’s offense, but at the same time, he can make any throw that needs to be made on all three levels. He’s mobile enough to execute rollouts and other concepts designed to work with a quarterback’s mobility. He displayed good awareness and executions on various option plays throughout his career, and when a receiver’s open, he can hit them with a crisp, pinpoint pass.

Gruden and new offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell would need to spend time solidifying Lock’s progression work, and the need for anticipating passes would have to be emphasized. But Lock does fit what the Redskins are doing, and mentally, he could respond well to Alex Smith as a mentor, if the latter would take on that role in the event that Lock is selected.

Were he to be drafted by Washington, Lock would fall into a situation with a coach who’s developed quarterbacks before, and a quarterback in the quarterback room who’s worked wonders for his fellow signal callers as a mentor. There’s lots to clean up, but Washington is far from the worst place for Lock to come, to seek out refinement. The only condition? The Redskins need to draft a guard in Round 2 if Lock goes Round 1, because Lock does not do well against interior pressure.