2019 NFL Draft: 5 Teams that should draft Kyler Murray in first round

1. Washington Redskins 

Washington is the team that makes the most sense to take a first round risk on Kyler Murray. Murray is the type of homerun shot that a team like the Redskins with limited options should take a swing at.

The ‘Skins unexpectedly find themselves in the market for a QB this offseason thanks to Alex Smith‘s career-threatening leg injury he suffered against the Texans in November. Smith’s football future is in serious doubt with a lengthy rehab facing the soon-to-be 35-year-old. Chances are slim that Smith is able to play at all in 2019.

Washington invested a significant amount of money into Smith last offseason after acquiring him from Kansas City. Before his injury, the Redskins led the NFC with a 6-3 record. Post-injury, Washington won only one of their final seven games as they slipped out of the playoffs and down to the No. 15 pick in the draft.

His injury puts the team in a precarious position with no QB on the roster showing promise of being a viable starter for a team eager to break into the postseason. Colt McCoy took over after Smith’s injury, but he was knocked out with a season-ending injury as well that really got the ‘Skins desperate to the point of pulling Mark Sanchez and Josh Johnson off the street. Sanchez was unsurprisingly ineffective, and while Johnson was better, Washington can’t trot him or McCoy out under center next season and expect to compete in the NFC East.

But they’re also short on options thanks to being mostly cash strapped. They are slated to have roughly $20 million in cap space this offseason, and already have a big chunk of change tied up in the QB position thanks to the contract they signed Smith to post-trade. They can’t release him to free up space because of all the guaranteed money he has left – he would carry $42 million in dead-cap if he’s released this offseason. Smith’s cap hit is over $20 million for 2019, likely taking them out of the market for one of the better veterans who could be available.

That leaves Washington looking at the 2019 draft. The slate of quarterbacks behind Dwayne Haskins, who the Redskins have no shot at drafting unless they trade up, has been uninspiring. Duke’s Daniel Jones, Missouri’s Drew Lock, and West Virginia’s Will Grier carry a lot of risks, without the massive upside to risk spending a first round pick on.

Murray completely changes the complexion of the first round, and his upside might outweigh the risks that he brings with him. He would be far from an ideal fit in Washington’s system, but if you bring in a player of Murray’s caliber then you do whatever it takes to fit the offense to their skill-set.

The Redskins have a roster good enough to be a playoff team in 2019 if they can find the missing piece under-center. Murray could be that missing piece, and Washington should grip up on the bat and take a big cut in hopes of landing a guy who can not only be their QB-of-the-future, but could also push them over their immediate playoff humps.