2019 NFL Draft: Projected First Round after NFL Combine

Missouri’s Drew Lock seems to have solidified himself as the draft’s No. 3 quarterback and a likely first round draft pick. He may not make it to Washington’s pick at No. 15, but if he is on the board I think they would have a tough time passing on him.

The Redskins have a good enough roster to compete for the NFC East crown if they can get the quarterback spot figured out. They are in a tough spot after handing a lot of money to Alex Smith last offseason and then seeing him go down with a devastating leg injury in November. Smith isn’t likely to be back at any point during the 2019 season, and he may not play again.

Smith’s big contract hamstrings Washington this offseason as they aren’t likely to be able to splurge on any of the available veterans. Two of them are also already pretty much off the board with Joe Flacco being traded to the Broncos and the increasing likelihood that Nick Foles signs with the Jaguars.

Smith would cost too much dead-cap to outright cut him this offseason, so Washington is likely stuck paying his salary, leaving them with little money to solve their quarterback issue with. That leads them to the draft, where they could hope to hit big on a rookie quarterback who in the very least could be an upgrade over the meager triumvirate of Colt McCoy, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Johnson that they trotted out post-Smith injury.

Lock has a big arm and isn’t lacking for confidence, but trusting a rookie quarterback is rarely a winning proposition in the NFL. Washington will have to be patient with him, a luxury that the current regime may not have with another mediocre season likely leading to a house-cleaning in D.C.