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NFL Draft: Redskins confirm QB in the mix at No. 15 overall

By Bryan Perez

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 21: Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden reacts after a fumble recovery for touchdown by Preston Smith in the fourth quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on October 21, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins won 20-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 21: Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden reacts after a fumble recovery for touchdown by Preston Smith in the fourth quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on October 21, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins won 20-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Whether it’s a pre-NFL draft smokescreen or a rare moment of truth, the Washington Redskins admitted quarterback is in play in the first round.

The Washington Redskins traded for veteran quarterback Case Keenum this offseason in an attempt to move on from life after Alex Smith’s gruesome leg injury at the end of 2018. But Keenum’s addition doesn’t mean the team will shy away from selecting a quarterback in the 2019 NFL draft, according to Washington’s Senior Vice President, Doug Williams.

“We were able to trade for Case but that does not put us out of the realm of picking a quarterback if there is one that we like at 15,” Williams said via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

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This isn’t exactly earth-shattering news, but it is surprising that a team would be so open with their potential strategy just a few days before the draft gets started.

The Redskins have been connected to just about every quarterback in this year’s draft, ranging from Dwayne Haskins to Drew Lock and even Daniel Jones. They’ve been considered one of the favorites to trade for Josh Rosen, assuming the Cardinals do, in fact, select Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick.

Williams’ draft reveal could also be a powerplay to force a team like the Giants to move up in the first round for a player like Jones. If the Redskins want one of this year’s top defensive prospects to drop to their first-round pick, getting New York to panic and trade up is a good way of accomplishing that goal.

All that said, it’s hard to believe Keenum is Washington’s long-term answer at quarterback, and with Jay Gruden facing an unstable future, drafting a first-round rookie could be what’s needed to buy him and the rest of his staff an extra year or two.

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