If Ron Rivera wanted to draw intrigue about what the Washington Redskins intend to do with the No. 2, his mission has been accomplished.
At the NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday, Rivera stated “everything is an option” with the second overall pick. That included drafting a quarterback, as the team was scheduled to meet with LSU QB Joe Burrow and Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. Rivera added the meetings were more than the Redskins doing due diligence.
The Redskins drafted quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft. However, according to Michael Silver of NFL Network, there’s a “very real” possibilty the Redskins could opt for one of the top-two quarterbacks in the first round of April’s NFL Draft.
Could Haskins be this year’s Josh Rosen?
Or could Silver be the latest media victim to take Rivera’s bait?
The Redskins have been linked to drafting Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young with the second overall pick for sometime.
However, those assumptions were based on Tagovailoa’s draft stock dropping due to a hip surgery that resulted in surgery and forced him to miss the final three games of the 2019 season at Alabama.
Prognosis on his health has dramatically changed for the better. And he is expected to be medically cleared before Alabama’s pro day.
Now, the Redskins have multiple cards in the deck. They could listen to offers for team’s clamoring to jump up for the No. 2 pick to draft Tagovailoa or Burrow, whichever QB the Cincinnati Bengals choose not to select with the No. 1 overall pick.
Washington is without a second-round pick in this year’s draft. They have multiple glaring needs on the roster. Trading the No. 2 pick and passing on Young would not be so far-fetched, especially given the Redskins have Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan already on the roster at defensive end.
Then again, the Redskins could address the quarterback position. Remember, Rivera is in his first year as the Redskins head coach. He did not draft Haskins. Also, his choice of words about Haskins recently have not been endorsing to the former Ohio State Buckeye QB.
Thursday, ESPN’s draft pundit Mel Kiper suggested the Redskins select Tagovailoa over Young with the pick. His opinion was based off Rivera’s presser at the Combine.
Yet, teams’ scouting on Haskins were mixed throughout last year’s draft process. The Redskins picked him 15th overall as he slid further than outsiders anticipated. Even the Redskins organization appeared divided on Haskins.
Then-head coach Jay Gruden felt Haskins wasn’t ready as a rookie to play. In large due to his development and the fact he only played one season as a starter at Ohio State.
When Haskins finally got his chance after Gruden was fired, he struggled. The team finish 3-13 and there are more questions than answers about Haskins that remain.
Still, Rivera could be playing an ultimate poker game. The chatter from Kiper and now Silver’s report could be exactly what he was looking for to drum interest in teams wanting to trade up to get a quarterback.
The draft isn’t until April 23. Until then, there is bound to be even more chatter about the Redskins’ interest in drafting a QB and their lack thereof keeping Haskins.
