Grading the Redskins selection of Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins
By Ian Cummings
The Washington Redskins have a new quarterback.
There were rumors in the lead-up to the 2019 NFL Draft that the Washington Redskins would look to trade up into the top five to select a quarterback.
As it happened, however, the Redskins instead waited patiently at pick No. 15, watching as teams before them picked players at other positions, and as Dan Snyder’s gem, Dwayne Haskins, fell to their pick, without interruption. The Redskins selected Haskins, and he’ll be their quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Any time you can get a potential franchise quarterback without having to trade up from the middle of the first round, it’s a win. The Redskins did that by selecting Haskins. But now, the evaluation turns from the pick to Haskins himself. Is he good enough to bring the Redskins back to contention?
Haskins’ stats serve as a good first impression; in 2018, Haskins put up a Heisman-caliber season, throwing for 4,831 yards, 50 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, while completing 70 percent of his passes.
Haskins has definite potential, but how far does it go? On tape, Haskins isn’t necessarily as dominant, or as transcendent as his stats suggest. He’s a mentally adept quarterback who knows how to get the most out of every play. He makes changes before the snap and is able to manipulate safeties with his eyes, using the field to his advantage.
That said, while Haskins is the most pro-ready quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft, he has development to undergo as a mere one-year starter, and his physical upside may be limited by his below-average mobility and modest arm talent and accuracy. Haskins is very good in the short and intermediate ranges, with a structure and weapons around him. But first-round quarterbacks need to be able to elevate their unit. Can Haskins do that?
Next. Assessing Redskins rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins. dark
The tape leaves doubts that Haskins can succeed consistently outside of structure. But with his career still left to play out, one thing is certain, and only one; the Redskins got very good value by acquiring Haskins without having to trade up. Now, they can focus on giving him a supporting cast with the picks they retained. His upside is questionable, but he at least solidifies the quarterback position, and in time, he could be the long-awaited franchise quarterback Washington has needed.