Redskins come out of the first round huge winners with Dwayne Haskins and Montez Sweat
April 26, 2019
The Redskins were in need for premier college talent with their first pick of the 2019 NFL Draft Thursday night. As the first round unfolded, the Redskins hosted their official draft day party at Washington D.C.’s “The Anthem,” a music venue and auditorium part of the District Wharf. It was a night filled with great anticipation, as the fans filed into the arena and the special guest started making appearances, pick number 15 could not come fast enough for the fans.
The way the draft unfolded for Washington could not have gone any better. The key indicators of projecting the options the Redskins will have at 15 was what teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins would do with their selections. After each selection went by, fans at The Anthem started to roar louder and louder. However, there was no cheer louder than the moment in which the New York Giants selected quarterback Daniel Jones, leaving Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins the only quarterback worth choosing in the first round. For the last three years, the Redskins patience (with a tad bit of luck) has paid off tremendously in the first round. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (2017, 17th overall) and Daron Payne (2018, 13th overall) both fell into the laps of Washington, without the necessity of having to trade up and giving away critical draft capital. This year, Dwayne Haskins fell into Washington’s lap, and the Redskins fans loved it.
There was no love for Josh Rosen at The Anthem, as the host asked the crowd if they wanted Rosen as their quarterback, there were nothing but boos following that question. Luckily for the fans, the Redskins selected the fans’ quarterback (and the team’s quarterback of course). At pick 15, the Redskins get a young quarterback to invest in and to mold into a franchise quarterback over the next four to five years at a great value. Haskins does come with concerns, stemming from only having one year of experience and his processing speed translating to the pro level. However, there is no rush-order on Haskins coming in and saving the Redskins, as Case Keenum and Colt McCoy can shoulder the load as Haskins continues to mature as an NFL pro. Regardless, the Redskins made a quality selection without having to lose draft capital.
The Redskins did not stop at Haskins though. Recognizing the need for edge help, the Redskins sneaked their way back into the first round; trading two second-round picks to the Indianapolis Colts for their first round pick (26 overall). The Redskins used that draft pick to select Mississippi State’s defensive end Montez Sweat, who was one of the most athletic and fastest edge rushers available in the draft. Sweat’s stock dropped after concerns regarding a heart condition; however, if Montez’s issue is a non-factor as a pro it can become a great value pick for the Redskins knowing what they have given up.
The Redskins still have holes to fill, specifically on the offensive side of the football. However, for the first night of the NFL draft, it is safe to say they were a huge winner in the first-round.