Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins wants the weight on his shoulders

Listen to Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins speak, and you’ll hear no hesitation.

Confronted by a reporter at his draft party, met with questions about his selection to Washington, Haskins could have been overwhelmed by emotion in the moment. He could have been transfixed with shock, or immersed in the immediate celebration. But instead, Haskins turned to the NFL, and he gave them a warning.

Haskins is direct. He’s a quick thinker, and it shows. Whether it’s at a draft party, or while discussing a play from his sophomore season at Ohio State on live television, Haskins’ response is immediate. He knows what he’s thinking, and he knows what he’s going to say, every time. It’s the kind of clarity a quarterback was meant to have.

That clarity translates to confidence for Haskins. He put the league on notice at the NFL Draft. When asked about why he liked film studies at Redskins camp, per Kyle Stockpole of Redskins.com, Haskins responded “I just don’t like defenses, so I want to be the most prepared to rip them apart”. Haskins knows how to be brief. He knows how to catch your attention, but you can tell he knows what he’s talking about. They’re not just empty words. Haskins will deliver.

There’s a certain measure to Haskins’ confidence. It’s not too much. It’s not too little. It’s just right. It flows out naturally. It’s the kind of confidence teams look for in their franchise quarterback, and it’s the kind of confidence that could help the Redskins transcend their current form. But as Haskins knows, and will continue to learn, there’s a certain weight that comes with being a quarterback in Washington. A weight many have tried and failed to hoist.