Dwayne Haskins has the right approach to Redskins quarterback role

Dwayne Haskins doesn’t believe his draft status entitles him to be the Redskins starter in 2019, but he is ready for the opportunity if it comes along. 

The worst thing a rookie quarterback in the NFL can do is to assume he’s going to win the starting job by default. The second worst choice he can make is to be satisfied with a season on the sidelines. Fortunately for the Redskins, Dwayne Haskins isn’t doing either of those things.

Instead, the former Ohio State star insists that he’s ready to compete with Case Keenum and Colt McCoy for the starting position. Haskins plans to “prepare like [he’s] the starter” even if head coach Jay Gruden isn’t prepared to hand him control of the Washington offense when Week 1 arrives. That’s the perfect attitude for a rookie signal caller to bring into his first season in the NFL.

Keenum is the player most people believe will start the 2019 season as the Redskins’ starting quarterback. He’s got the most experience of the three players vying for the position. He also represents the safest option of the three for Gruden. Keenum isn’t the sort of quarterback that’s going to go out there and lose you games.

He also isn’t the type of dynamic signal caller that can step out onto the field and galvanize an offense. That’s also a quality McCoy likes. Only Haskins has the upside inside Washington’s quarterback room. His high ceiling makes him a really good bet to get meaningful snaps before the season ends in the nation’s capitol.

The real question isn’t whether or not Haskins will play in his rookie campaign, but rather when he’ll be inserted into the starting lineup. The timing of that move depends on the quality of Keenum’s play and the performance of the team on the whole. If Washington can stay in the playoff hunt for most of the campaign and Keenum is giving them decent production, it may be hard for Gruden to pull the trigger on a quarterback change.

If, on the other hand, either Keenum or the team overall start to wobble, fans are going to start chanting Haskins’ name from the stands. Ironically, it’s also a move that Gruden may gravitate towards to help extend his tenure as the team’s head coach. If Haskins looks like the potential answer at quarterback then Daniel Snyder might be inclined to let Gruden stay to help his young quarterback continue to grow into his full potential.

At any rate, Haskins’ current attitude regarding the quarterback battle in Washington is sheer perfection for the franchise. His humble nature should endear him to his teammates and coaching staff. More rookie quarterbacks should learn from the way Haskins is approaching the 2019 season.