It was always going to be hard for those in charge of NFL draft grades to dislike what the Washington Redskins did in the 2019 NFL draft.
The Redskins trumped expectations by showing patience at the right times and aggressiveness at others. Dwayne Haskins at No. 15 and Montez Sweat in the first round after a trade up — plus serious upside with potential late-round steals — have the Redskins looking good in the post-draft grades department.
Touchdown Wire: A
As Touchdown Wire points out, the rumors about Dan Snyder didn’t seem to amount to much. If Snyder did take over — maybe he should more often. Smooth, calculated picks and a good grade.
There were rumors that Redskins owner Dan Snyder had taken over the draft and wasn’t listening as much to his coaches and executives as he should have. Wouldn’t be the first time that happened, but if it happened this time, it’s all good. No panic moves here—Washington let the draft come to them and got two of the best overall players in this class. Getting Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the 15th overall pick could make a lot of enemy teams regret passing on him for a long time—yes, Giants, we’re talking about you—and the addition of Mississippi State edge-rusher Montez Sweat with the 26th overall pick gives the team a truly dynamic presence opposite Ryan Kerrigan. And I have absolutely no clue how North Carolina State receiver Kelvin Harmon lasted until the sixth round, but the Redskins snapped him up, too. For a team that has all too often been impatient to a fault when the draft comes around, this was a different—and highly successful—change of pace.
USA TODAY: A-
Patience is the name of the game from the USA Today grades. The Redskins stood tall and impressed with their first-round haul.
Pre-draft reports out of the nation’s capital forecast a draft night train wreck. But the ‘Skins not only averted the rumored disaster, they showed atypical patience and potentially walked away with two first-round blue chippers in QB Dwayne Haskins and OLB Montez Sweat. Maybe the only person who didn’t appreciate this draft was last year’s second rounder, injured RB Derrius Guice. But who can fault Washington for its new Bryce Love insurance policy? Even late picks like fifth-round C Ross Pierschbacher and sixth-round WR Kelvin Harmon could contribute early and often.
NFL.com: B+
The Redskins get some notable praise from NFL.com for pairing Haskins with college teammate Terry McLaurin. And the Bryce Love pick isn’t a point of contention if he can get healthy, either.
Draft analysis: The fact that they did not have to move up to get Haskins was a major bonus. His arm is live and he has the ability to distribute the football to all parts of the field. Given the murky future of Alex Smith, finding Haskins waiting for them at No. 15 could prove to be franchise-changing. Finally, Washington traded up to grab Sweat, who will be a fine pass rusher if his heart condition does not prevent him from reaching his potential. They really needed depth at outside linebacker, where Sweat fits quite well. I am generally not enamored with giving up future second-round picks, but this guy’s talent is worthy of taking that sort of chance.
Haskins’ arm and McLaurin’s speed will team up to make big plays in Washington as they did in Columbus. If Love’s burst can return over the next year, Washington found a strong contributor in the run game. Martin and Pierschbacher fill a major need in the interior offensive line for the Redskins. Brailford is a pass rusher who was a value near the end of the draft.
Sports Illustrated: B
Does the draft mean Jay Gruden is on the hot seat? Sports Illustrated says so and maybe — how long will the front office put up with losing after spending a top-15 pick on a franchise passer?
That sound you hear is Jay Gruden’s seat sizzling. Washington went offense with five of its first six picks, including QB Dwayne Haskins with Pick 1 (15th overall). Gruden is an offensive wizard, and if that wizardry doesn’t make immediate magic, owner Dan Snyder (who some believe was behind the Haskins pick) could hastily declare that it’s the right time to bring in a fresh coaching staff. You can bet the possibility of this scenario has already unfolded in the back of Gruden’s mind. He knows that the pressure to play Haskins will begin with Case Keenum’s first interception—nay, Keenum’s first incompletion. Gruden also knows that Haskins is a project, needing refinement in his pocket poise and precision accuracy. It’s a tough spot for a coach, but such is life in the NFL.
Giving Haskins a familiar target like Terry McLaurin was wise. The addition of tailback Bryce Love in Round 4 makes you really wonder about the health of last year’s second-round pick Derrius Guice, whose rehab from last August’s torn ACL was reportedly delayed by an infection. Perhaps the Redskins, who have now drafted a running back nine years in a row, saw Love as simply great value considering he was taken before the team addressed its most immediate need, left guard. That was done by picking Wes Martin, who will compete with flamed-out ex-Giants left tackle Ereck Flowers. The more agile zone-blocker will get the job.
As for the one pick that did not go offense—Washington traded back into Round 1 to snatch pass rushing dynamo Montez Sweat, who fell because of a heart condition. The hope is Sweat will correct the defense’s deficiency off the right edge, where 2017 second-rounder Ryan Anderson has not developed and where veterans Preston Smith and Trent Murphy have been lost in free agency each of the last two years.
SB Nation: A-
Does it matter if luck played into the equation? Maybe. SB Nation liked that Haskins slipped and also was happy to see a major hole in the pass rush filled by an aggressive move back up for Montez Sweat.
Sometimes the draft is about getting lucky. That was the case for Washington when quarterback Dwayne Haskins slipped all the way to No. 15. To fill the need at pass rusher, Washington jumped back into the first round to get another player in free fall with Montez Sweat. He can stand up and rush the edge.
Washington smartly paired Haskins with college teammate Terry McLaurin, a speedy receiver who does all the small things. A couple years ago, some thought Stanford running back Bryce Love would be a top-64 pick. Then a torn ACL killed his draft stock. If he’s healthy, he gives Washington a shifty runner with a history of explosive plays. It’s a big risk considering Derrius Guice has his own ACL issues, though.
Wide receiver Kelvin Harmons was straight-up theft in the back part of the sixth round. But this is a theme of these grades: Where was the cornerback?
Pro Football Focus: Excellent
Pro Football Focus dishes one of the highest possible honors, liking the first-round move and also pegging Kelvin Harmon as a massive steal.
While there was speculation that they might have to trade up to get Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, Washington stayed put at No. 15 and still got their guy. Haskins finished the pre-draft process ranked 10th on the PFF draft board. Drawing striking similarities to Sam Bradford, Haskins was fantastic throwing at the short and intermediate levels in his lone year as a starter at the college level.
“Getting him here at 15 is an absolute steal; one of the steals of the draft. He has a lot of promise.” – Pro Football Focus’ Lead Draft Analyst Mike Renner
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