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Five questions the Redskins must start to answer during training camp

By Nathan Britton

ASHBURN, VA - JULY 29: Washington Redskins players stretch during the first day of training camp at Redskins Park on July 29, 2011 in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
ASHBURN, VA - JULY 29: Washington Redskins players stretch during the first day of training camp at Redskins Park on July 29, 2011 in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos stands on the field as armed forces helicopters perform a flyover during the performance of the national anthem before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos stands on the field as armed forces helicopters perform a flyover during the performance of the national anthem before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Who will emerge as the starting quarterback?

For the first time since 2012, Washington has a long term answer at QB. The question is: when we will see the new signal-caller in action for the Burgundy and Gold? The answer is uncertain due to the presence of Case Keenum.

Early in the offseason, Washington dealt future picks to acquire Keenum from Denver after a down year in the mile-high state. Keenum is only two seasons removed from a career year in which he had just missed making the Super Bowl with the Minnesota Vikings.

For Washington, Keenum fits the Alex Smith mold of game-managing QB. Week in and week out, you know what you’re getting and Keenum is a safe bet to keep a team around .500 with some help.

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Unfortunately for the Redskins, they may not be able to afford another sub .500 season. With attendance and viewership down, Owner Dan Snyder and team president Bruce Allen need to bring eyes to their product.

Insert Dwayne Haskins. Haskins was the third quarterback taken in the 2019 NFL Draft but it can be debated that he was the most pro-ready passer in the class. With local ties, a rocket for an arm, and a ceiling that has yet to be discovered, Haskins already has won Redskins fan’s hearts.

The former Bullis High School passer is close with former Redskins corner Shawn Springs and reached out to Springs to have him tell Washington to draft him. After being passed by multiple QB needy teams, including division rival New York Giants who, to many fans’ dismay, took Daniel Jones in the top 10. Haskins then dropped to No. 15 overall.

There have been many opinions on who should get the nod for Week 1 between Keenum and Haskins and even more back and forth about who will ultimately make the final call. Gruden who may be entering a “prove it” year will want whoever gives him the best chance to keep his job while Dan and Bruce may fall back into their old ways and force the shiny new toy into action.

It’s up for debate who would actually give Gruden the best chance to succeed, Keenum is a game manager with the ability to play over his head any given week. But he has even less to work with in Washington than he had in Denver. With no high profile weapons other than an often injured Jordan Reed, Keenum may have to carry the load and has yet to prove he is able to do so.

Haskins has no NFL experience and has been hot and cold during the team’s early practices. His ability to take the league by storm is there, but just like Keenum, Haskins will have lackluster weapons to help take pressure off of him. And that could very well hurt his long term development if he’s abused early.

While he was prolific in his one year of being the starter at Ohio State, Haskins has a lot to learn in order to become an every week NFL starter and there are no guarantees the transition goes smoothly year one. Training camp will provide an excellent look into who the better QB will be going into the season, and we will see who emerges as the starter heading into Week 1.

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