Redskins to host Missouri QB Drew Lock on a pre-Draft visit
By Ian Cummings
The yearly quarterback conundrum never disappoints for the Redskins, and now, they’ll be hosting draft prospects at the position, to decide whether or not their franchise quarterback is in this class.
The Washington Redskins will have to be careful and thorough in their analysis of this year’s quarterback crop. While there are some undeniable bright spots from prospect to prospect, the class as a whole has more questions than usual, and the wrong pick can send an NFL franchise spiraling into a volatile situation, or even worse, quarterback purgatory.
The Redskins, if categorized, would fall somewhere between those two states over the past twenty years. At its worst, their quarterback situation has been extremely volatile, with no future vision. At its best, they’ve been stuck with competent quarterback play, and nothing more.
In 2019, with Alex Smith‘s future uncertain and Case Keenum‘s ability limited, the Redskins will do their due diligence on the quarterbacks of the 2019 NFL Draft. Jay Gruden confirmed the team’s said interest in draft quarterbacks recently, and now, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Redskins will host Missouri quarterback Drew Lock on a pre-Draft visit.
Busy week ahead for Missouri QB Drew Lock, who leaves tomorrow for a visit with the #Redskins, followed by a visit with the #Giants, sources say. A guy who has all the tools and has shown them off in the pre-draft process.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 1, 2019
Of the realistic quarterback options for the Redskins in the 2019 NFL Draft, Drew Lock has perhaps the most upside. His best plays are punctuated by his exceptional arm talent and elasticity, and his athleticism allows him to succeed outside of structure. Combine these traits with his infectious personality, and a mentality which teammates seem to gravitate toward, and Lock seems like a coachable long-term investment who could pay off with time.
Lock’s brightest traits, however, are often overshadowed by his flaws: His footwork needs an overhaul at the next level, and his poise against pressure must improve. His accuracy can be spotty as a result of his lower body inconsistency, and against high-level competition, he never quite made the leap in college.
Next. NFL Mock 5.0: Redskins trade back, add lots of talent. dark
Lock is a polarizing prospect, but Jay Gruden is on the record describing Lock as a quarterback who the Redskins could win now with. While his evaluation may be flawed in a sense, Lock would provide the Redskins with a sense of direction, as long as they have a plan in place to give him the support system he needs.