A year ago at this time, the Arizona Cardinals had hired new coach Kliff Kingsbury under the idea he would develop 2018 first-round quarterback Josh Rosen. However, with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, the focus began to be about Kyler Murray, especially with how much Kingsbury was enamored with him as a player.
Rosen had started 13 games as a rookie and struggled. However, Kingsbury declared that Rosen was “their guy” and praised him effusively for how he was handling everything. He showed up and didn’t complain. He was at every workout and was preparing the way the team wanted him to.
However, ultimately, they drafted Murray first overall and traded Rosen then traded Rosen the next day.
The Washington Redskins appear ready to go down the same path.
Last year, they drafted quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the first round. He struggled. The Redskins fired their coach and hired a new one like the Cardinals.
Washington doesn’t have the first overall pick, but they do have the second pick.
And now things are beginning to play out like in Arizona.
New head coach Ron Rivera praised Haskins for his work ethic this offseason. He called him a “good young player” and noted how much he is in the building.
Ron Rivera just told the media this is about not closing the door on anything. Called Dwayne Haskins a “good young player.” Is pleased when he does his rounds in the building, he sees Haskins. “You walk by the weight room, he’s there. You walk by the locker room, he’s there.” https://t.co/ituneSsN8Q
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 26, 2020
This sounds a lot like the Rosen situation. Kingsbury praised Rosen and his work ethic. He spoke of him as a promising young quarterback.
Now, there is also this from the Redskins. They are meeting with quarterback prospects Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa.
Ron Rivera says meeting with Burrow and Tua is not just due diligence. They’re real meetings. Rivera likes Dwayne Haskins but says all options are on table.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 26, 2020
And, according to Rivera, these are real meetings. He likes Haskins, but all options are on the table.
The Cardinals drafted Murray because they felt they couldn’t pass on the special talent he was.
Burrow and Tagovailoa are seen as top prospects. It would not be a surprise if the Redskins ended up taking one or the other with the second overall pick. They could let him and Haskins compete. They could trade Haskins.
And it is what they should do. If they view either quarterback as a future star, they should do what the Cardinals did. And if they are right, it will never matter.
It sure looks like there will be exactly zero regrets in Arizona for what they did.
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Ep. 259
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Ep. 258
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