Assessing Washington Redskins first-round options: QB Drew Lock

Should the Redskins draft Drew Lock?

This question demands that another question is asked: Are the Redskins a quarterback away from contention? If not, can they risk inserting a project of sorts into the starting lineup before he’s ready for the big stage?

In an ideal situation, if Lock was drafted, Alex Smith would be available to start initially, similar to the Patrick Mahomes situation in Kansas City. But Smith is not available, and he might not ever be. If Lock is drafted, he’d be the Redskins No. 1 quarterback right away. And while that experience could help his overall development, it could also set him back, as he wouldn’t have the time to sit back and focus on refining the detrimental aspects of his game.

The team could, in theory, start Colt McCoy over Lock, but that sends a message that the Redskins’ first-round quarterback isn’t ready. That brings back memories of Shuler, and Ramsey, and Campbell. More likely than not, Lock is the Day 1 starter if he’s drafted. And as much as his potential is enthralling, he’s not ready to start on Day 1, with his pocket game in its current state.

If the Redskins feel good about Lock’s progression in 2018, and if Alex Smith is available as a mentor presence, despite his injury, then there is reasoning to draft Lock in Round 1. He has the biggest upside of any quarterback in the 2019 class, and he has the right mentality to learn and improve wherever possible. In time, he could become a franchise quarterback.

But if Lock would be on his own in D.C., then the first-round pick is better spent elsewhere, because there’s nothing worse than a wasted investment at quarterback. It can set a team back for years, as the Alex Smith contract may have already done for Washington. Drew Lock brings monstrous potential to the Redskins draft board, but also has bust potential, if placed in the wrong situation. If you draft Drew Lock, you get a prospect with franchise upside. But are you willing to take the risk?