Although Washington signed Ryan Fitzpatrick and extended Taylor Heinicke this offseason, the team remains in need at the sport’s most important position. The franchise may be prepared to trade up for a quarterback.
Ron Rivera is interested in moving up for a passer, according to ProFootballNetwork.com’s Tony Pauline. Washington is believed to be high on Trey Lance, but there may be a catch. The WFT is not overly interested in giving up a mountain of draft capital to climb from No. 19 to No. 4, but Pauline notes a quarterback sliding to around the No. 8 spot would be appealing to the franchise. However, a climb to the Falcons’ No. 4 slot should not be entirely ruled out.
Three QBs will be gone by No. 3, and the Falcons are in play to select the fourth. No draft has begun with four straight quarterbacks going off the board, and the Falcons are also interested in dealing down the board. Many believe, however, Atlanta will select Kyle Pitts. The Bengals will not take a quarterback and do not sound too interested in trading out of their No. 5 slot. Trading in front of the Broncos (No. 9) could behoove Washington, and it will be interesting to see if the Panthers (No. 8) pull the trigger on the fourth- or fifth-QB prospect. That scenario is not off the table, even after Carolina acquired Sam Darnold, though the Panthers now loom as a team that could trade down.
Washington also may have to compete with the Bears, though Pauline adds that, in addition to trade-up rumors, they will be in the mix for a second-round quarterback. It cost the 49ers two future first-round picks and a 2021 third-rounder to move up nine slots this year. Should one of the top five QBs slide toward the bottom of the top 10, that would still require a considerable haul — given the value these passers are carrying. Lance not being the 49ers’ pick at 3 could prompt Washington to make its move. Justin Fields is expected to be available beyond No. 3 as well.
Rivera said Friday the team’s offseason moves — such as signing Fitzpatrick, Curtis Samuel and William Jackson — created more flexibility going into the draft.
“I think [execs] Martin [Mayhew] and Marty [Hurney] and their guys really helped put us in a position where we’ve got to really look at drafting best player available, but always keeping in mind what we feel the true need is,” Rivera said, via NBC Sports Washington. “I think what our front office did and what we were able to do in free agency really helped us. I think we freed ourselves up because of what they did.”
Washington has Fitzpatrick signed for 2021; he will turn 39 later this year. Heinicke is signed through 2022, and Kyle Allen could be under team control through the ’22 season as well. He is attached to an ERFA tender. However, none of these players profiles as a long-term option. Washington, after missing on its past two efforts to acquire a true QB solution (Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins), may be keen on addressing the issue in Rivera’s second draft.
Would they really go for Fields? That would be ballsy. If he flops, its going to be a tough pick to explain. I know Haskins’ problems don’t necessarily reflect on Fields, but still. This team’s record drafting QB’s is pretty shaky. They are probably better off going another direction.
I don’t trust any QB from Ohio State. System success doesn’t translate to the NFL.
See you can’t judge a QB just on his college team…. they’re has been QBs come from worse college teams and have worst stats in college and go on to perform better in the NFL, Fields has serious Potential, but you’re right, OSU has a stigma with QBs and not working out. But almost every single other position they’ve produced elite players.
Cannot believe anything that you are reading right now…
This article was brought to you by #5 Over all pick, the Bengals…. Sewell, Pitts, Chase, or QB #5 is for sale….. Just got a call from WFT — Trust me
Fact!! Just broke up with Haskins and they’re banging on the doors to get back in to Shawshank
Well, I would agree with markdavisbarber that about 90% of the draft related news is intended as a smoke screen.
Washington needs to gice Heinicke a fair shot.
Get him another TE outside Thomas and lets see what he can do.
Sure up the oline and defense otherwise.
What has Heinicke done to earn a ‘fair shot’? He’s a 28 year old undrafted third stringer who has not exactly sparkled in his limited action. He’s been around the league for six seasons and couldn’t even crack the starting lineup in the XFL.
Is this an overreaction to his playoff performance, which wasn’t all that good, either?
I’d prefer to have Heinicke and my picks over Lance, Fields or Jones and no first next year most likely. You’re gambling either way, but one requires less of a buy in.
Rct admits redskins arent good
So course logical decision is to trade 2022 draft picks to get the 3rd, 4th best QB in the draft, which isnt projected to be a very good draft class outside Lawrence.
So you suggest the redskins trade future draft picks, 1st round, which could wind up being top 10 if not top 5 next year? Smart plan.
Pass. Roll with Heinicke
Keep your picks, sure up your football team.
Heinicke performs well ok
Heinicke performs poorly you didnt trade away your draft picks to move up in the draft to get a QB.
Why would it be a bad idea for Washington to trade future draft picks currently? See texans
Your own argument is the redskins are bad lmao. So why should they mortgage the future instead of rolling with Heinicke?
They traded a future first in that become #4 overall
They traded another future first that became #3 overall
Of course there are other options besides trade all your picks or roll with Heinicke.
Fitzpatrick starting?
Redskins should focus on 2022 draft position. Theyre not a QB away.
Options are pretty limited in that department this year..
I’d prioritize LTOTF and linebacker if I were them, and the secondary after that. They also do need TE depth. The presumed weakness of the 2022 QB draft class is driving a lot of this chatter.
That’s exactly what it is, CKA. Some teams are panicking now, and someone will do something really foolish I expect. I think it’s shortsighted though because doesn’t someone surprise almost every college football season? This time next year there will probably be a QB everyone loves, too. The only QB in this class I would mortgage my future for if I were a GM is Lawrence, and the Jags aren’t trading that selection so…
Here are a few options:
1. Trade for Bridgewater. The “Team” went 5-1 last year with Alex Smith providing steady but unspectacular play at QB. Bridgewater could provide similar but improved performance over Smith.
2. Trade for Minshew. More accomplished than Heinicke and still pretty cheap.
3. Draft a QB outside the 1st round. I’ll go out on a limb and say Ian Book reminds me of Alex Smith in a lot of ways. But no matter what, you can’t rule this out as a option and believe in Heinicke.
Mr. Osbourne,
Bridgewater and Minshew work best at this point as bridge QB’s or high-grade QB2’s. The WFT already have both in Fitz and Heinicke, respectively, and even Allen is arguably a legit QB2. They’d be redundant, and Minshew doesn’t enjoy the confidence of the rest of the team the way Heinicke now does. Switch out Heinicke for Allen and a Day 2 rookie, maybe (trading Taylor in the process), but I don’t think switching him out for a Minshew would sit well with either the team or the fanbase.
Yeah, I really don’t trust rct’s take on his playoff performance over that of Tony Dungy, PFF or myself, now that I’ve watched the game four times.
I’ve been a fan of Heinicke since 2015, but I stand by the evaluation I’ve had of him all these years, that his ceiling is as a top quality QB2, not as a starter. Spend the next decade as a QB2, then go into coaching, and he’ll probably be a HC by the time he’s 50. Honestly, I think he’d be a heck of a mentor for someone like Lawrence or Wilson if the Jags and Jets don’t already have that job filled.
I think whomever drafts Lance will be disappointed. Just not enough college game experience. Just because a person is a good athlete doesn’t mean they will be good players.
Reminiscent of Dwayne then, eh!?
There’s one, maybe two sure fire NFL quarterbacks in this draft. Everyone else is a big risk. Oh sure, the top 5 will all be in the league in some capacity, but do you really want to give up 2 or 3 quality picks (i.e., starters) just to pick up the next Marcus Mariota/Josh Rosen?
Don’t forget Sam Darnold, J Winston, Goff, & Wentz. All of them come to mind as well.
Last year’s collapse by Dallas and Philly has made Washington think they are more competitive than they really are. This kind of thinking makes teams do stupid things. Washington should continue their rebuild with foundational players. If they want to trade up a bit to get a quality starter that’s one thing, but playing the QB lottery isn’t the way to go.
I actually like their roster and think they’re just a QB away from being a legitimate contender. (Obviously a few other teams could say that too, but I like their offensive skill position talent better than the Bears’, for instance.)
I don’t think they’re panicking into picking a guy because they seem comfortable with Fitzpatrick for a year, but if a guy they like is still available and the value is good, they might as well go for it. At least Fitz is a decent enough stopgap option that they don’t need to play someone immediately.
I think they’re more than just a QB away – LB, S, LTOTF, TE2, maybe more – but I like their roster, too, and would say that they should only take a QB if one of them falls so close to them that they don’t have to drop too much draft capital to move up. 12-15 might do it, but they could still be better off hunting for a LT or getting the best safety or outside linebacker in the draft if they fall to them, or close enough.