Quarterbacks that Washington Football Team can add to replace Dwayne Haskins

NFL Draft options

Without knowing exactly where Washington will pick, it’s hard to prognosticate exactly which QB prospects they’ll have a shot at. We’ll get the obvious out of the way and say that Trevor Lawrence won’t be available, but here are some of the other early-round options they could consider.

Zach Wilson, BYU. Wilson has been an electric playmaker this season and had an absurd 33 TDs compared to three INTs playing for the Cougars. He has the raw upside to become a playmaker at the quarterback position, but it may take him time to develop at the next level. That, plus reported character concerns surrounding Wilson, could make Washington shy away from him — if they even get into range to draft him. Wilson seems likely to be the second or third QB off the board this year.

Justin Fields, Ohio State. I can already hear people groaning at the thought of another Ohio State quarterback, but remember: Scout the player, not the helmet. Fields does have a great skill set including a powerful arm and excellent mobility. However, he is still raw, as evidenced by his performances against Indiana and Northwestern this year, and needs some time to develop. His ability to read the field has to improve and his mechanics could use some refinement. The tools are all there, though, so he will be an option for Washington (though they may not be in range to get him).

Trey Lance, North Dakota State. Taking an FCS quarterback with just 19 games worth of experience is a big risk, but Lance’s upside might be worth it. In 2019, his lone year as a full-time starter for NDSU, he threw for just under 3,000 yards, 28 touchdowns, and unbelievably, he didn’t throw a pick. Even more impressive, he added 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.

Lance is explosive, athletic, and has a bit of Deshaun Watson in his game. But after playing just one game in 2020 because of the pandemic, it may take Lance to get back up to full-game speed. He could easily become a strong starter, but he probably needs to sit for a year before getting on the field. That said, his upside is as good as anyone in this class not named Trevor Lawrence, so if he’s available, Washington could take a chance on him.

Mac Jones, Alabama. Here’s one of the more underrated quarterback prospects in this draft. Jones has a solid arm, reads the field well, and makes very few mistakes. He’s a great pocket passer and while he’s not very mobile, he can move around enough to make plays. By all accounts, Jones is a good leader and his accuracy, ball placement, and ability to fit balls into tight windows are top-notch. He should be considered an option for Washington early in the draft, and in my book, he looks like a first-round pick.

Kyle Trask, Florida. Trask’s biggest strengths are his accuracy, ball placement, and touch throws. His biggest weakness is his lack of athletic ability and merely-average arm strength. While Trask may lack the ceiling of the other quarterback prospects, he has a very high floor and should pan out as an NFL-level player and potential starter. Washington has to at least keep an eye on him, because he may be able to run the type of offense the team wants efficiently and effectively.

Some other mid-round options at the position include Desmond Ridder, Kellen Mond, and Jamie Newman. All of those players have upside but probably need longer to develop than the early-round guys.