ASHBURN, Va.- The Washington Redskins utilized two first round picks to grab a highly sought after quarterback and a pass rushing specialist in this years 2019 NFL Draft held last Thursday through Saturday in Nashville.
Ohio State Quarterback Dwayne Haskins was the Redskins 1st pick and the 15th overall pick in the first round.
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| Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins Courtesy OSU AD |
The selection of Haskins marks the third time in the last five years that the Redskins have selected an offensive player in the first round, joining the selections of G Brandon Scherff (2015) and WR Josh Doctson (2016). It marks the team’s first time making three offensive first-round selection in that length of time since the 2000-02 drafts, when the team selected T Chris Samuels (2000), WR Rod Gardner (2001) and QB Patrick Ramsey (2002).
“We’re excited to have him,” head coach Jay Gruden said following the first night of the draft. “Great kid, great player and very smart. I had a chance to talk to him at the Combine. We flew him in here, had a long talk with him, went to dinner with him and spent a lot of time with him. We feel really good about where he is as a player and where he’s going.”
Haskins, who had a record-setting season for the Buckeyes in 2018 with 50 touchdown passes and 4,831 yards passing. A Heisman Trophy finalist, Haskins is the fourth Ohio State quarterback drafted since 2000, and the first since Cardale
Jones was chosen in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Buffalo. Recent Ohio State quarterbacks drafted also include Troy Smith (5th round by Baltimore in 2007) and Craig Krenzel (5th by Chicago in 2004).
"Expectations are to work as hard as I can, do all I can and be a part of this position [group] and this franchise,” Haskins said. “I'm looking forward to contributing in any way possible and just get down and work. I'm just excited to be a part of something special and be a part of a team again. I am looking forward to calling the Redskins my home. Things will come and I'm just going to do everything I can to be ready."
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| Mississippi St LB Montez Sweat Photo Courtesy MSU Athletics |
The Redskins had the luxury of two first round draft picks and used their second pick to draft Linebacker Montez Sweat from Mississippi State with the 26th overall pick.
Sweat is the 11th defensive player selected by the Redskins in the first round since 1999, joining CB Champ Bailey (1999), LB LaVar Arrington (2000), S Sean Taylor (2004), CB Carlos Rogers (2005), S LaRon Landry (2007), DE/LB Brian Orakpo (2009), LB Ryan Kerrigan (2011), DL Jonathan Allen (2017), and DT Daron Payne (2018). Nine of the 10 defensive players selected by the Redskins in the first round in that time frame have earned at least one Pro Bowl selection during their career.
Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden was pleased with the pick. "I think when you watched him as a player throughout his college career and then you watched him at the Senior Bowl and Combine. The measurables are second to none as far as an edge rusher, outside linebacker-type player. If you’re 6-foot-6, run a 4.41 forty and you have the production he had at Mississippi State and you performed like he did at the Senior Bowl, it just is a perfect fit for us. Losing Preston like I said and to go alongside with Ryan Anderson, Ryan Kerrigan, obviously Cassanova McKinzy. I think it’s a perfect fit for us.”
For his career, Sweat recorded 101 tackles (29.5 for loss) and 22 sacks over 26 games.
"My emotions were going everywhere, Sweat said. " It was low-key a series of some doubts like, 'Why am I dropping so far? 'What's going on?' I was just wondering what's going on and then the Redskins called me and they changed my whole persona, everything, the way I was feeling. Now they definitely have a winner in me."
Check back for more Redskins Draft coverage.....
Quarterback Colby Childs had a solid night going a perfect 4 for 4 passing for 100 yards including a 46 yard touchdown pass to Danny Lyman. Childs also rushed for 41 yards on six carries and scored twice on runs of 3 and 6 yards.Lyman had a solid night playing offense, defense and special teams. Lyman had 38 yards on three carries, 2 receptions for 82 yards, 19 yards on a kick off return, 4 tackles and a pass defended.
