2. Washington Redskins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Analysis by Arrowhead Addict contributor Scott Loring
By now we’ve all seen the comparisons about the Arizona Cardinals’ trade of Josh Rosen in 2019 and how it set a precedent for the Redskins to do the same in 2020. The facts are, Redskins rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins endured a very challenging rookie year, and while things can potentially improve for Haskins under new head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner in 2020, we’re projecting the Redskins to trade Haskins after drafting Tua at #2 overall.
The Redskins have done their due diligence on Tagovailoa, a dual-threat passer. He would add marked improvements to what Turner can do with the Washington offense and would allow the Redskins to operate RPO’s, play-action passes, and rollouts with significantly more skill than Haskins. In spite of obvious red flags with his below-average height (6’0”) and the broken hip last November, the pick ultimately boils down to whether Rivera and Turner believe the Alabama lefty is an improvement over what they now have in Haskins.
Keeping in mind that this regime did not select Haskins, it’s hard to imagine their view of the incumbent as being on the level with Tagovailoa. The latter’s leadership and character alone are traits that help him stand out over Haskins, and as the cornerstone of Rivera’s term at the helm of the Redskins, Tagovailoa will make last year’s first round pick expendable.
Chase Young will be a star in this league. There’s no doubt about it. He will upgrade any defense, but consider the regret if Haskins continues to flop like he did in 2019, knowing that you passed up a chance to take Tagovailoa. The Redskins already have quality parts in place on the defensive line with Montez Sweat, Ryan Kerrigan, Matthew Ioannidis, Da’Ron Payne, and Jonathan Allen. Tempting as it may be to select the pass rusher, Rivera knows he can turn the Washington defense around with the defensive front he has already inherited.
With several teams searching for a quarterback—the Chargers and Patriots, and possibly the Raiders come to mind—and a handful of others who might be pleased to bring in Haskins to back up an aging veteran at a lower-risk investment (Green Bay? Pittsburgh? Saints?), the Redskins should be able to get some value out of their 2019 first round pick. (Scott Loring)
Other Players Considered: Chase Young, DL, Ohio State