When the morning of the first round of the NFL draft arrives, it means that analysts who have been publishing mock drafts for months finally have to put their pencils down.
The “final” versions of several experts’ mock drafts Thursday almost invariably predict the Washington Redskins will select a quarterback in the first round, although the specific prospect varies.
So who will the Redskins take at No. 15? Here’s a quick overview of what folks at ESPN, CBS Sports and elsewhere think will happen.
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
“This was the toughest pick of the bunch,” Kiper wrote, noting that his mock did not project trades up or down. But he noted Lock’s “high ceiling.” The Missouri quarterback is one of four universally projected to go in the first round.
Todd McShay, ESPN: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
McShay has Haskins as the second quarterback off the board; in his mock, no quarterbacks were taken from picks 2 to 14. “Haskins is an extremely accurate pocket passer who could learn behind Case Keenum and Colt McCoy and become an effective franchise QB,” McShay wrote.
Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
“(Josh) Rosen would make a ton of sense,” Cherepinsky wrote, referring to the Arizona Cardinals’ second-year quarterback who could be traded if they take Kyler Murray first overall. “If (the Redskins) can’t get Rosen, they’ll have to select a quarterback with this pick (or one that they trade up for).” Cherepinsky also noted that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s son went to high school with Haskins.
Charley Casserly, NFL.com: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
The former Redskins general manager is an analyst for NFL Network. He caught criticism earlier this year when he said Kyler Murray sparked “the worst comments I ever (heard) on a high-rated quarterback, and I’ve been doing this a long time,” targeting Murray’s study habits and leadership skills. Casserly writes that Jones is “the most pro-ready QB in the 2019 class.”
Chris Trapasso and R.J. White, CBS Sports: Trade up to No. 3 for Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Apparently, the editors at CBS Sports told their mock-drafters they could project trades, whereas Kiper and McShay did not use any. These two CBS Sports analysts both found a Redskins trading partner — the New York Jets. The Jets are widely rumored to want to move down from No. 3 to collect more draft capital, and reports have linked them with Washington.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.