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NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Quarterbacks rise post-combine, Redskins land pass catcher

By Jacob Camenker

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass during the second half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass during the second half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

. Quarterback. Ohio State. Dwayne Haskins. 4. player. 28

Here’s one of the first surprise picks of this mock draft. The Raiders don’t necessarily need a quarterback. They have Derek Carr under contract and Carr was solid last year despite having minimal talent to work with in the receiving corps. Still, if the team likes a quarterback enough, they could opt to replace him.

Dwayne Haskins is a guy that the Raiders have been rumored to be interested in, along with Murray, per WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell. The primary reasoning behind this would be financial, as they could build around Haskins on a rookie deal and have more cap space to target other talented players.

Of course, offloading Carr’s contract won’t be an easy feat, but there could be a team out there that wants a veteran quarterback to lead their offense. Perhaps a team like the Bengals, Dolphins, or Giants could consider trading for Carr if he becomes available.

Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders /

Washington Commanders

If the Raiders did move on from Carr, Haskins would be a good replacement. Haskins has a very strong arm and is coming off one of the most productive seasons in Big 10 history, as he threw for a ridiculous 50 touchdowns at Ohio State.

Haskins is a smart quarterback who doesn’t like to take risks. He frequently throws short to intermediate routes and likes to avoid mistakes. He’s a pure pocket passer and has the upside needed to be a franchise quarterback.

There are a couple of issues with Haskins. The first is that his ball placement isn’t always the best, so he will need to work on that at the next level. Second, he isn’t much of a runner, so he will be limited to being a pocket passer. That isn’t an issue by any means, but it just means that he will need good protection around him in the NFL as he lacks escapability. He can climb the pocket, but he won’t be ripping off huge chunks of yards with his legs.

Haskins could end up being the best quarterback in this class. He certainly has all the tools needed to succeed. And given that he was only a one-year starter at Ohio State, he certainly will grow with more playing time. All of these factors could make him intriguing to the Raiders, so expect them to at least consider a quarterback with this selection.

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