It all seemed to work out perfectly fine for the Washington Redskins. After days of speculation that the team might look to move up in the 2019 NFL Draft for a project quarterback, owner Daniel Snyder and Co. landed a true gem.
Washington nabbed former Ohio State signal caller Dwayne Haskins with the 15th overall pick after seeing the New York Giants reach for Duke’s Daniel Jones much earlier in the first round.
This represents a major coup for Washington after speculation that the team’s front office had no idea what it was doing.
Haskins joins a depleted Redskins quarterback room that includes injured veterans Alex Smith and Colt McCoy as well as a journeyman in the form of Case Keenum.
There’s every reason to believe Haskins could even compete for a starting job as a rookie in 2019. To get that type of talent towards the middle of the first round is a steal.
The 6-foot-3 Haskins put up some absurd numbers in his only season as Ohio State’s starter. He completed 70 percent of his passes for 4,831 yards with 50 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.
These statistics coupled with Haskins’ tape tells us a story of a potential Pro Bowl performer.
“His athletic limitations could keep him pocket-bound, but he has the arm talent, confidence and pocket savvy to become a good NFL starter if he’s protected and given the time to develop early on,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein wrote about Haskins leading up to the draft.
The fact that Washington was able to land Haskins without moving up into the top 10 lends credence to the idea that Snyder and president Bruce Allen actually knew what they were doing.
Then again, mistakes by other teams picking in the top 14 could mean that the Redskins lucked out.
Either way, this pick could very well be the steal of the first round. Props to the Skins for pulling it off and proving naysayers wrong.