Redskins fans rejoice after what many thought would be an unpleasant debacle quickly became one of the better draft stories. While the team is not out of the woods yet when it comes to acquiring talent, they have taken a great first step. Bruce Allen’s “winning off the field” quote is certainly starting to materialize.
There was no secret that the Redskins needed and in all likelihood would draft a quarterback. If you could throw a football, you had a chance to be Washington’s quarterback. They had been linked to any and every quarterback available via trade, draft, or otherwise. Before Kyler Murray was 5-foot-10 and just over 200 pounds, Dwayne Haskins was believed to have been the top quarterback prospect.
Even after Murray was dubbed the number one pick overall, it was assumed that Haskins would be next in all likelihood to the Giants. The great thing about sports is that nothing is certain be it preseason, regular season, postseason or offseason.
The Giants did, in fact, take a quarterback. But not Haskins. Rather it was Daniel Jones, who the Redskins had been heavily linked to in the hours pre-draft, going to the Big Apple. Surely Haskins would go to Cincinnati, Denver, or Miami, but as stated, nothing is certain.
Haskins practically fell into the lap of the Redskins.
If you missed the above point, it is that nothing is certain. Having picked Haskins in what seems to be a steal, the Redskins were far from finished. Fans were shocked as the news broke the Redskins traded back up into the first round. With pick number 26, the Redskins filled another glaring hole by picking Montez Sweat.
Two first-round talents, two positional needs filled; the Redskins certainly earned credit. Haskins has the makings to be a decent NFL quarterback, standing at 6-foot-3 and a solid 231 pounds. Not the new age running quarterback like Robert Griffin III, Russel Wilson, or Lamar Jackson, Haskins throws with noteworthy accuracy, averaging a completion rate of 70 percent.
Montez Sweat, on the other hand, is the surprise pick for the team. Sweat is 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds. The knock on Sweat is conflicting reports on health and his size. Sweat is a bit slender, but that is nothing a few reps in the gym. However, the noteworthy factor this defensive end has is speed. Sweat ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. That is crazy speed … receiver-like speed.
Call it luck, scheme, or divine intervention, the Redskins wound up with not one but two players they were not projected to obtain, and that pair will help them immediately. Though there will be no second round pick, the Redskins do have two 3rd round picks.
A solid draft from the Washington brass from here on out would be more than ideal but no matter what, the Redskins have made a smart, savvy decision.
