The Case For Case: What Case Keenum Means For The Redskins At Quarterback And Beyond

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Steve Thomas

March 15, 2019

Late last Thursday afternoon, as the news of the trade between the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos involving quarterback Case Keenum began to leak out, fans prematurely lost their collective minds. Our visions of Kyler Murray streaking down the sidelines or Josh Rosen tossing touchdown passes for the burgundy and gold in 2019 were vanishing faster than the Redskins fan base and we were ready to riot. But as the trade became official and the terms were released, Keenum and a 2020 seventh round pick for our 2020 sixth round pick, with the Broncos also eating half of Keenum’s 2019 salary, we doused our torches and those of us who kept our receipts returned our pitchforks to the Home Depot and went about our days. This wasn’t a bad deal at all.

This trade was a safe move. Prior to the deal, Colt McCoy was the only quarterback on the roster and he was coming off a season-ending broken leg. The Redskins could have made a desperate move, such as overpaying a free agent like Teddy Bridgewater or Ryan Fitzpatrick. They could have reached for a quarterback with the 15^th pick in the draft or even traded that pick for Rosen. But they didn’t. They went out and made a sensible, inexpensive and calculated move to get a guy who was going to be cut for very little compensation. Now, if nothing else, they have stability at the quarterback position.

The team has made it clear that there will be a competition for starting quarterback this season and the playing field couldn’t be more level. Keenum and McCoy are essentially the same player. Both are mobile quarterbacks with limited arm strength, both need help from their supporting cast and both make the same amount of money. Keenum is new to coach Jay Gruden’s offense but has been effective in similar systems. McCoy has the advantage of having been in the offense for six seasons but can’t stay healthy. It’s likely that both players will see significant playing time this season but health will ultimately be the deciding factor and Keenum will win out.

The Redskins would be wise to use free agency and the draft to invest in playmakers and shore up the offensive line. Keenum showed in Minnesota that if he has help, he can put up big numbers. That said, he wasn’t propped up by the Vikings offense. Kirk Cousins was unable to replicate Keenum’s success despite working with the same weapons. Keenum, unlike Cousins, consistently makes the right decisions, which is a big plus for the Redskins. Similarly, the Redskins defense showed last season that it is capable of holding opponents in check when the offense limits mistakes. Surrounding Keenum with dangerous receivers and a strong running game will maximize both his ability and the Redskins chances.

The big question is whether the Redskins are done making moves at quarterback. Trading for Keenum affords them the luxury of exploring trades without feeling the pressure to overpay or drafting without having to reach for a player they don’t love. If the Cardinals decide to make Josh Rosen available, Keenum could also be used as a trade chip, as he played for Arizona’s Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech. If the team chooses not to trade, then the fifteenth pick in the draft is still theirs in the event a quarterback slides to them, or they are free to select another Alabama defensive lineman.

If the team doesn’t make any more moves at quarterback, it doesn’t bode well for Jay Gruden. Gruden is heading in to a make or break season and needs to win now. Keenum and Colt McCoy can keep the team competitive but will most likely not lead this team to the playoffs, which is where Gruden needs to get in order to keep his job. Maybe the Redskins draft a developmental player for Gruden to groom, but if they don’t, the writing is on the wall.

So, what does this move ultimately mean for the 2019 Redskins? Are they trying to win now or rebuild? Keenum certainly doesn’t answer that question. Is Jay Gruden’s job in jeopardy? Maybe but Keenum isn’t going to help him save it. What we have here is a mediocre team acquiring a mediocre quarterback. It’s foolish to expect the results to be anything other than mediocre.