By Lewis Gould
Redskins coach Ron Rivera is conflicted:
He says he’s excited about quarterback Dwayne Haskins but he’s still looking, which is why the Redskins plan to host quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow in pre-draft visits. Just in case.
Rivera told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis that hosting those two quarterbacks goes beyond doing due diligence.
“Everything is an option,” Rivera said. “We’re not closing the door on anything.”
The Redskins drafted Haskins in the first round last April, but that was a different regime. Ever since he was hired on Dec. 30, Rivera has been consistent whenever discussing Haskins: He likes his potential but is not ready to anoint him as the starter for 2020.
However, a key part of Rivera’s interviews, both with owner Dan Snyder and prospective coaches, was about having a plan to develop Haskins. Rivera pointed out that new offensive coordinator Scott Turner was with Carolina as an offensive quality control coach when the Panthers drafted Cam Newton in 2011. Turner also was with Teddy Bridgewater after he was drafted with Minnesota, and new quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese was with Cleveland when it picked Baker Mayfield.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t do their homework on quarterbacks in the draft. They could be bringing them in to create a smokescreen — and perhaps increase the value of the No. 2 overall pick. If teams don’t feel the Redskins would take a quarterback, they might be more inclined to try to trade up to No. 3.
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