Washington Redskins: Reaching for a QB not always a mistake

The Washington Redskins need a quarterback, and reaching for one has not always proven to be a bad idea in the NFL Draft.

The Washington Redskins are in desperate need of a franchise QB and the 2019 NFL Draft could having them reaching too far, or just far enough.

Most of the reports on the upcoming draft proclaim 2019 to be a weak year for quarterbacks. Those assessments need to be taken with a grain of salt.

2020 will probably see more quarterbacks go in the first round. With the likes of Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, and a few others that will enter the 2019 season with enormous potential and promise, next year may be a most fortuitous draft for teams looking for their future QB.

However, it would be unwise to dismiss this year’s exceptional triumvirate of signal callers. Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock, and Kyler Murray would be first round picks regardless of what year they entered the draft.

And, as we know, QB needy teams have a tendency to reach for that first round talent when they find themselves in desperate straits.

The Washington Redskins quarterback situation definitely qualifies as one of desperation. But, to trade up for any of the top three would be expensive and Washington simply can’t afford it.

The Redskins already without a fourth-round pick because of the Ha Ha Clinton- Dix trade and would have to sacrifice a second or a third-round pick (probably both) in order to leap frog Miami and Denver to have a shot at one of the three.

It’s just too high a price for a team that needs those picks to address other needs.

The left guard position is going to require a high draft pick, probably a second rounder but no less than a third. As the longest lasting deficiency on this team, the Redskins can not afford to miss the opportunity to add a player with the talent of a Dalton Risner, Chris Lindstrom, or Darryl Williams.

If they wait too long and have to settle for second or third tier talent to plug that hole they will regret it all year long.

Some veterans will have to be released to accommodate Alex Smith’s salary. I think it’s time to come to terms with letting Jordan Reed go sit on another team’s bench. This guy misses half the season every year.

Due to the precarious salary cap situation the Redskins find themselves in Reed’s salary would be better spent to help retain the services of Preston Smith or Josh Norman. Of course, this means another high draft pick on a tight end.

Jeremy Sprinkle is a phenomenal talent but needs someone other than Vernon Davis backing him up and playing opposite him in Washington’s two tight end sets. This year’s tight end talent runs deep but, as we don’t have a fourth-round pick, it probably requires the use of one of our two third round picks.

Washington’s wide receiver situation is intriguing. They have six good receivers, but the lack of a proven star, and the possible departure of Jamison Crowder probably means the use of another third-round pick on the position while some of the elite talent from a rather deep WR class is left on the board.

Waiting until the fifth round is likely too late to get anyone that is capable of beating out the guys already on the roster.

Late round picks generally don’t help much when a team desires to move up in the first round. Although I suspect the Redskins would be reluctant to part with any of them anyway as they have had tremendous success in the later rounds over the past few years.

The Redskins selected Matt Ioannidis and Sprinkle in the fifth round. They picked Shaun Dion Hamilton and Robert Davis in the sixth round and got Josh Harvey- Clemons, Josh Holsey, and Trey Quinn in the seventh round. While other teams are swinging and missing with late round picks the ‘Skins have been able to find starters and solid backups.

Washington will likely look for defensive back depth, especially at safety, and some linebackers in the late rounds of the 2019 draft. This leaves them with no currency with which to purchase a higher first round draft pick.

The Redskins roster is not in nearly as bad of shape as some suggest. In fact if the draft plays out in a manner similar to what many expect, reaching for a quarterback in the first round might not only be forgivable but advisable.

If Drew Lock or Dwayne Haskins were to fall to the Redskins at it would make life very easy for Bruce Allen and his cohorts in the war room. But I can’t see that happening. It’s difficult to imagine that both Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones make it to pick number 15. Washington should take whichever QB remains.

However, it’s entirely possible that all four of them are gone. At that point people would start to get restless and the conversations would begin regarding Will Grier being too much of a reach. At this point in time the enormous five million pound elephant sitting quietly in the corner of the room will stand up, clear his throat, and remind the Redskins brass that they do not have a starting caliber quarterback on the team.

It’s a bit of a quandary. They have Colt McCoy who many of us like but has never been able to play a complete season without getting injured. And I’m assuming Josh Johnson is gearing up to back up McCoy. There is no money to pick up one of the free agent quarterback. Although I’m not sure what could really be accomplished by signing one of them anyway. It would amount to kicking the can down the road until next year. That wouldn’t go over too well with the fans or the players.

All of the team’s glaring needs can be addressed in later rounds. There will be a plug-and-play left guard available in round two. Round three will provide them with the receiver and tight end they need. Round five will have enough quality defensive backs remaining on the board that Washington should be able to reel in a safety and cornerback with their two picks.

Adding an inside linebacker in the sixth and an outside linebacker in the seventh and the team will have put themselves in position to be competitive again. But none of that holds water if they don’t take a QB in round one.

There should be no trading up or back or any other creative nonsense that derails a team that, because of its last two drafts, is in much, much better shape than anyone is willing to acknowledge.

But if round one comes and goes without a new quarterback I’ll be willing join the doubters. The Redskins absolutely cannot move forward without another QB on the roster even if they have to reach for Will Grier. To do anything other than pick a quarterback in the first round would condemn the Redskins to another fruitless season.