Redskins: 2019 NFL Draft top ten quarterback big board

I don’t doubt that Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins has the capability to succeed in the NFL, with the right circumstances in play. But he’s not a sure thing as a prospect, and while his floor is relatively high, he doesn’t offer the desired upside that’s often coveted from first-round quarterbacks.

Haskins, mentally, is adept, and he’s already an expert when it comes to dissecting the short and intermediate ranges. His accuracy is very good from zero to ten yards, and as a distributor, he can lead a team to victory, and keep the offense efficient and on-schedule.

When things go off-schedule, however, Haskins isn’t nearly as surgical. His accuracy is less consistent further down the field, and while he occasionally drops good deep passes, he doesn’t have the arm strength to drive the ball past deep coverage. As a result, he pushes such passes, and lacks consistent accuracy in those situations.

When the pocket collapses, Haskins’ other limitations show as well. He’s not much of an athlete, and his merely serviceable arm isn’t elastic enough to make the needed throws when rolling out. He’s mobile enough to manipulate the pocket, but asking him to make the necessary plays in high-pressure situations, and asking him to elevate his game when his supporting cast isn’t doing the trick, isn’t ideal.

With a good supporting cast, Haskins can be a distributor capable of leading his team to the playoffs. But when the competition is higher, and when the best players put their teams over the top, Haskins doesn’t have the skill set to suggest he can be that player for a team. He can be a solid starter, and he’ll give his team a chance. But in the NFL, winning it all is all that matters. And Haskins, for a first-round pick, might not achieve that goal.