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Jay Gruden: Redskins Will Take a 'Hard Look' at QB with 1st-Round NFL Draft Pick

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistMarch 26, 2019

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden smiles while speaking at a news conference at Redskins Park, Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, in Ashburn, Va. The Washington Redskins ended their season Sunday with a 24-0 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Andrew Harnik/Associated Press

Washington holds the No. 15 pick in this year's NFL draft, and according to head coach Jay Gruden, the team will explore quarterback options with that selection, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

From talking to #Redskins coach Jay Gruden, the Skins are going to take a hard look at the top QBs. They’ll bring them in for visits and consider taking the right one at 15. That adds an intriguing dynamic.

Washington already traded a sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for veteran quarterback Case Keenum and a seventh-round selection this offseason, though Keenum isn't a long-term solution.

The question will be which quarterbacks are available at No. 15, assuming Washington doesn't trade up.

In his latest mock draft, B/R's Matt Miller had Oklahoma's Kyler Murray going No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals, Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins No. 6 to the New York Giants and Missouri's Drew Lock No. 10 to the Denver Broncos.

Miller projected Duke's Daniel Jones for Washington, though he added the team could go in a different direction if the Cardinals draft Murray and put Josh Rosen on the trade block:

"There is a theory among NFL evaluators that Washington could be the team to trade for Josh Rosen if the Arizona Cardinals make him available. That would give the team a starting quarterback and long-term answer at the position while likely costing just a second-round draft choice.

"Without predicting trades, the Redskins go after the NFL-ready, poised Daniel Jones from Duke. He's a smart, sharp passer who is ready to hit the field on Sundays after being well-coached by David Cutcliffe in college."

So Washington will have options. Clearly, however, further addressing the quarterback position should be a primary focus for a team that has gone 7-9 in each of the past two seasons.