Will the Washington Football Team pick a quarterback on Day 2?

The Washington Football Team left the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft with a high-upside linebacker, but lacked a key need on offense.

You won’t see many people complaining about adding Jamin Davis, the linebacker from Kentucky whom the Washington Football Team selected with the No. 19 overall pick. Davis is an athletic specimen, a smart, high-character player, and ultimately gives fans a lot to look forward to on the second level.

Nevertheless, there is a feeling of emptiness on the other side of the ball, where a franchise quarterback still eludes the Washington Football Team. In theory, it would have been nice to see Washington trade up and grab a QB. But the board simply didn’t fall in their favor.

The Bears traded up to No. 11 to grab Justin Fields, swapping picks with the New York Giants. The Giants wouldn’t have been as eager to give their division rival such a deal. And if the Washington Football Team wanted to add Mac Jones, they would have needed to leapfrog the Patriots at No. 15.

Hypothetically, a trade into the top ten would have allowed the Washington Football Team to dictate their future a bit more. But that move ultimately proved too costly to entertain.

Thus, the Washington Football Team enters Day 2 with an arguably elite defensive unit, but also a gaping hole at quarterback. The hit rate regarding quarterbacks on Day 2 is far lower than the hit rate for quarterbacks on Day 1, but Washington has the optimal developmental framework. They have a veteran mentor, and a solid supporting cast.

This all begs the question: Will Washington select a quarterback on Day? And are any worth selecting?

Washington, for the time being, has picks at No. 51, No. 74, and No. 82. Luckily for them, many of the potential QB suitors — such as the Bears and Patriots — picked quarterbacks in Round 1, thereby removing them from the QB market in this range. Teams like Pittsburgh and New Orleans might be challengers, but Washington picks before both of them. If Washington wants a QB on Day 2, they’ll have a better chance of getting one in a cost-effective manner.

That said, are there options worth considering? The top two names on the board are Davis Mills and Kellen Mond. Both are fairly daunting projects. Mond is a great athlete with a stellar arm, but his development was largely stagnant over four years at Texas A&M, and it’s worth wondering if he’s maxed out as a volatile spot-starter.

Mills, meanwhile, has the opposite problem. He only started 11 games over his entire collegiate career, and only started five games in his final season. Mills is a former five-star recruit, and it’s clear that he too has very good physical traits. He’s more of a pocket passer, but he’s a mobile pocket passer, and he has excellent arm talent. But mentally, he shows plenty of room for development on tape. There are flashes of anticipation, but his eyes are an issue.

If I had to provide a preference, I’d give a slight edge to Mills, just because he has less experience, and therefore more growth potential. Mond, meanwhile, has the experience and hasn’t developed a great deal, and that’s a cause for concern. Nevertheless, both QBs have their warts. Ultimately, it’s up to the Washington Football Team to decide whether they’re worth investing in.

It was reported two weeks ago by Pro Football Network NFL insider Tony Pauline that Washington especially likes Davis Mills. Pauline specifically stated that Mills could be a target in Round 2, since it’s unlikely he’d last until Round 3.

Since Washington has three Day 2 picks and relatively few needs outside of quarterback, they have the flexibility to use one of those picks on a signal caller. But will they? That’s the golden question. What would you prefer they do? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below and stick with us at Riggo’s Rag for more draft news and analysis.