When evaluating a QB prospect in the NFL, a number of intangibles come into play. Arm strength, accuracy, footwork, height, the list is endless. One of the bigger signifiers of success in a potential NFL QB though, is attitude.
Dwayne Haskins — who the Washington Redskins selected with the No. 15 pick in April — has an attitude, and he isn’t afraid to let it show.
“I just don’t like defenses,” Haskins told reporters, via Redskins.com. “So I want to be able to be the most prepared to rip them apart.”
After a standout season with Ohio State in 2018, in which he finished 3rd in the Heisman voting, this type of sentiment should come as no surprise from Haskins. His 50 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 5,000+ yards and 70% completion percentage tells you all you need to know: Haskins like to make defenses look stupid.
It’s one thing to make college defenses look lost in space, and another to see that level of production translate to the NFL. If Haskins wants to continue his passion project of making defensive coordinators scratch their heads, then he’s going to have to put in the work,
“The biggest thing is applying the meetings to the field,” said Haskins of this past weeks’ Rookie Minicamp. “We’ve put in 50 plays so far, so there’s a lot of stuff going into it. It’s just fun to be able to throw the ball around again, and you’re going to make mistakes, but the biggest thing is rebounding from them.”
There’s obviously a marked difference between college play and NFL play, and many start prospects in the NCAA are never able to navigate the transition to a new league gracefully nor successfully. The roadmap is there for Haskins to become a well-known QB in the league, he just has to work for it.
“I’m just looking forward to getting better and putting the work in, pushing the guys around me, and just hopefully I can contribute this year.”
