Could it be Tua?

[Boone]

Tua has a history of serious injuries playing behind one of the best OL in college. How the heck do they think they can draft him here and expect him to be anything but chum in the water?

Also, Alex Smith is going to attempt a comeback. Make no mistake about that. Whether he makes it all the way back or not is up for debate, but he is our 2nd QB if he does. There is your competition. Not some broken down QB who came from playing on a superstar team.

Tua is an amazing talent and I think that would be evident no matter who he'd played for in college. The injury concern is obviously real and would have to be a big consideration. And yeah, Smith is the massive 'X' factor, although I can spin that another way. If Haskins can't beat out Smith coming off a horrific injury and at his age, that might speak pretty emphatically about whether he's ever going to be a great NFL QB. Just sayin'...

 

[Oldguyfromchester]

Lots of posts about not wanting to give up on Haskins. Why not? Does anybody seriously believe Haskins is in Tuas class? I get the injury thing . It's worrisome. But if he is ok physically I just don't think you pass on a potential generational qb. And yes, the It factor does matter. With few exceptions all the great ones had it.

 

[Boone]

I think I’ve said this before, but I can’t remember. I know I’ve had discussions with family about this. The problem with drafting a QB this year is that you don’t really improve the team that much. Will Tua or Burrow be an upgrade over Haskins? People seem to think so, but you don’t really know. However, you have now used your most valuable draft pick to marginally at best improve your team. Tua would still be a rookie going through all the rookie growing pains. Meanwhile, you haven’t addressed the other positions that need improvement, such as the O-line, TE, and pretty much the whole defense. I know you can’t improve all those positions with 1 pick. But you can improve one of them. I just don’t think it’s smart to draft a QB in back to back years when you have so many holes to fill. Unless you think this team is close and is just a QB away. But I thought that guy got fired. Are we (collective we) longing for the days of that guy and want his philosophy back?

The bigger thing though is that this is lying season. Everyone will lie about what they want to do to drive up the value of their pick, to get teams to take other guys, etc. it’s hard to imagine the Redskins being this coordinated in a lie like this, but I’ve learned that during this time of year to believe none of the rumors. Some will turn out to be true. But I just don’t believe them now.

I think that sums up how most feel. There is only one reason you would ever draft a QB two years in a row. You got it wrong the first time. I agree with the next challenge to that idea - which is 'how can we know?'. I don't think anyone can. But if you're a HC or GM-in-waiting, if you don't absolutely believe Haskins is special, and you're sitting there at #2 with the chance to draft a QB who you think will be great (not just one 'having potential'), you can understand considering it. The idea makes fans uncomfortable. I'm not sure those of us comparing it to a Bruce Allen move are on target though. The Bruce Allen move is bringing a solid system QB in his late 30's

Those arguing that it would be 'organizational incompetence' to do it - well, maybe... but it wouldn't be Rivera's incompetence - he had nothing to do with drafting Haskins. Incompetence, if in his assessment Haskins will never be a strong NFL starter, would be doing nothing about it.

The bottom line in the NFL is that if you don't have a QB, you aren't going anywhere. Nothing else much matters until you have one. And if they don't believe they have one in Haskins, they will make a move.

Odds are very good that this is draft smoke and nothing more.

 

[Boone]

What we need to do now is float a rumor that the Skins have received interest from a couple teams in trading Haskins for a #1 pick this year.

Ron Rivera doesn't take this job if he has any real doubts about Haskins developing into a legit starter. He stated from the beginning that his first order of business in building a team is to lock in on a franchise QB. At the time he took the job Tua was not in the conversation--his recovery from the injury was still a big question mark. Joe Burrow wasn't an option--he was/is going to Cincy (poor bastard). The QB on our roster Ron looked at when evaluating this team and weighing taking this job? Dwayne Haskins.

For me, unless something has happened between the day Ron took the job and the last day or two that has totally convinced him he was wrong about Haskins, and that he can't win with him, we're not drafting Tua. The silly season is in full swing and we're happily throwing chaff in the wind.

That all sounds right... although it's possible that Rivera has had his sights on Tua all along. The 'media' and Twitterverse may have been spinning the 'Tua will never play again' nonsense up until a couple months ago, but even I, a rehab nurse with an ortho background, knew that was false. Wouldn't be hard for Rivera to get better info if he were factoring into a new job decision.

The only thing that may 'have happened' since Ron took the job is him getting to know Dwayne Haskins. That either resulted in him being even more confident that the young man's character and intelligence was just what he needed, or it had the opposite effect. You have to give the new regime a lot of credit - if it's all a snow job, they are doing one helluva job, because they've convinced the media that it's plausible they'd draft a 1st round QB 2 years in a row.

 

[Boone]

One thing no one has really mentioned or possibly thought about. In all likelihood if this is a big snowjob to increase the value of the #2 pick, that gives more credence to the idea that the Redskins are looking to get a big payday to trade down. I know ... 'due diligence' and all. But teams that are 100% sold on who they are taking with an ultra high pick usually don't bother with disinformation campaigns. It makes me question the notion many insist is a fact, that 'the Redskins are taking Chase Young at #2 - period'.

 

[Boone]

 

[MisterPinstripe]

One thing no one has really mentioned or possibly thought about. In all likelihood if this is a big snowjob to increase the value of the #2 pick, that gives more credence to the idea that the Redskins are looking to get a big payday to trade down. I know ... 'due diligence' and all. But teams that are 100% sold on who they are taking with an ultra high pick usually don't bother with disinformation campaigns. It makes me question the notion many insist is a fact, that 'the Redskins are taking Chase Young at #2 - period'.

I think they are open to trading down, but it would take a huge haul which only Miami would give them and is unlikely..unless Detroit wants Tua and they are convinced enough to swap picks to get him.

 

[Elephant]

I think they are open to trading down, but it would take a huge haul which only Miami would give them and is unlikely..unless Detroit wants Tua and they are convinced enough to swap picks to get him.

What about San Diego at the #6 pick? A lot of talk about San Diego going after Tom Brady, but what then? Tom has 2 years tops...if he doesn't get crushed. Drafting Tua to come in and rehab, get the game under his feet, while Tommy Terrific runs the show a couple of years would be a great situation for the kid. It'd give him all the time he'd need to get well, physically while learning from one of the greats.

 

[Bulldog]

Brian Mitchell:

Don’t draft injury prone players.

The Redskins of all teams given recent history should avoid adding these guys.

 

[Bulldog]

Smith is 36 years old and shouldn’t be a factor in the decision making of this team come draft day

 

[Elephant]

The precedent for drafting another QB in consecutive drafts with a change in coaching and philosophy was set last year when Arizona dumped Rosen for Kyler Murray. In all appearances, it looks like the correct move. Move on from the mistake as fast as you can, unlike the lingering effects of RG3 here.


Would Tua be the correct move for us? I think he's a far better QB than Haskins ever will be, but I am afraid with all the other needs we have right now, drafting the oft injured Cowboys' fan would be a mistake. I'm still in the trade down category, but if we end up with little ole Chase Young I'd be OK with it...and if we ended up with a risky, exciting, dynamic, great young QB in Tua Tagovoiloa, I'd be just fine with that too.

 

[MisterPinstripe]

What about San Diego at the #6 pick? A lot of talk about San Diego going after Tom Brady, but what then? Tom has 2 years tops...if he doesn't get crushed. Drafting Tua to come in and rehab, get the game under his feet, while Tommy Terrific runs the show a couple of years would be a great situation for the kid. It'd give him all the time he'd need to get well, physically while learning from one of the greats.

I just personally think if they are going to trade down they will want picks from this draft and only the Dolphins can provide the capital. Plus at 6 you could miss out on Young, Simmons, and Okoodahahagdhs.

 

[Fear The Spear]

I really don't like the idea of giving up on Haskins for a guy like Burrow who had one fantastic year in college. Haskins also had one great year in college, has continued to show improvement AND Burrow couldn't beat him out at Ohio State.

I'm no expert in the matter, but it's my understanding that Haskins did not truly beat out Burrow, and it would be a stretch to say that.
I think Burrow made the transfer to LSU before even getting the chance to directly compete with Haskins, and he originally lost his job due to injury, and not performance.

 

[MikefromOH]

Smith is 36 years old and shouldn’t be a factor in the decision making of this team come draft day

except it does

he is under contract for a lot of money and was a winner when he was playing. His age shouldn't be a factor when deciding the best QB for the job.

 

[Elephant]

I'm no expert in the matter, but it's my understanding that Haskins did not truly beat out Burrow, and it would be a stretch to say that.
I think Burrow made the transfer to LSU before even getting the chance to directly compete with Haskins, and he originally lost his job due to injury, and not performance.

This is mostly true, but the feeling was that Haskins had proved himself on the field after Burrows got injured, so he was going to get the nod going into the 2018 season. It is way more nuanced than many are trying to suggest, but Haskins did make the most of his opportunity when given.

 

[Boone]

I couldn’t care less if it’s true. Good lord - look at what Haskins did after being named the starter! Now maybe that was a fluke season, but he had one of the best seasons ever for a college QB. I get Burrow literally eclipsed it, but Haskins season as a full time starter at OSU was incredible.

 

[Beetlejuice]

The injury history goes back to a question I asked several weeks ago. Would a team full of average/slightly above average talent with no real injury history perform better than a team full of superstars with a history of chronic injuries or a very serious injury in their past?

A lot of NFL teams make the chronic mistake of going for the big name who was great at one point prior to a bad injury. It almost always comes back to haunt them. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone who came into the league with an injury history that suddenly saw it disappear in the NFL.

Rashaan Salaam had a string of injuries in his college career before a phenomenal junior year. He went to the NFL, started off hot, and the injuries came back like wildfire within a couple of seasons. 4 years into his career, he was out of the league after being touted as the next superstar RB.

Ki-Jana Carter was treated like the messiah entering the NFL draft. Everyone wanted him. In his HS days and freshman year at Penn State, he had a lot of minor injuries that didn't seem to have much impact on his running, but they were constant. They went away for a few years, and he was phenomenal. When the Bengals took him with the 1st pick, they thought they had themselves a Barry Sanders type back. But he tore his ACL and was never the same, and was barely a blip on the NFL radar by the time he gave it up.

Robert Griffin III - we all know his past and what plagued him after coming here.

These are just a few examples of how you can seemingly have all the talent in the world, but if you have an injury history, or a major injury at some point, you're never the same. That's why I want nothing to do with Tua. The injuries will come back to haunt him, it's only a matter of time.

 

[Elephant]

I couldn’t care less if it’s true. Good lord - look at what Haskins did after being named the starter! Now maybe that was a fluke season, but he had one of the best seasons ever for a college QB. I get Burrow literally eclipsed it, but Haskins season as a full time starter at OSU was incredible.

I'm not minimizing what Haskins did, just trying to dispel the notion that Haskins flat out beat Burrows for the position when it is far more involved than just that...I tire of revisionism. I have repeatedly heard that Joe Burrow is a backup to Haskins, that he was beaten out...when there is far more to it.

 

[Boone]

I hear you. I just think at some level it's a silly debate. College success, as we all know, only provides a tenuous glimpse of what success will be in the pro's. The pro game is so different, it's very difficult to know which guy's skills will translate. The positives, if we are looking for one with Haskins based on his NFL career to date, are 1) he has the arm to make all the throws, and 2) he got better with almost every game he played which suggests we don't know how high his ceiling might be.

The irony is that Burrow will enter the NFL with the same questions that have lingered with Haskins. Was he a one season wonder, or is he as good as he looked at times at the college level?

 

[Henry]

except it does

he is under contract for a lot of money and was a winner when he was playing. His age shouldn't be a factor when deciding the best QB for the job.

And that's a no on Smith.

There is no way a 36 year old with 17 leg surgeries should be a significant part of the QB equation of a 3-win team in the process of a major rebuild. If he thinks he can play, and he can stay on the field for a game or two, I could see the Redskins keeping him around as a backup, simply because his ridiculous contract keeps us from cutting him. But I seriously hope you or the team aren't suggesting he has any kind of a chance to start for this team. That would be, in my opinion, a terrible step backwards.