Ron Rivera has a lengthy rebuild ahead of him with the Redskins. He can accelerate that rebuild by trading out of the No. 2 pick in April’s NFL Draft.
The Redskins have the No. 2 overall selection in the NFL Draft because they have one of the weakest rosters in the league.
This also means they have a lot of holes to fill. Turning the second-overall pick into multiple choices that can help cure the talent-starved roster is the right move for Washington.
Passing on a premium prospect like Chase Young isn’t a risk-free move. The radio waves in the nation’s capital would light up with fans expressing their disapproval of trading premium quality for quantity. The higher-ups with the Redskins should ignore that noise and do what’s best for the long-term health of their franchise.
Things would be different if the Redskins needed a quarterback. In theory, the organization still believes Dwayne Haskins can develop into the franchise signal-caller they desperately need. If Washington isn’t ready to give up on Haskins, they need to strengthen the roster around him to improve his chances for success.
Currently, Terry McLaurin is the only above-average offensive skill player on the team. Haskins needs better weapons to reduce the degree of difficulty he faces on every throw. That doesn’t necessarily mean Washington has to spend a high pick on another receiver. It could choose to strengthen their options at tight end, or focus on a big-bodied wideout in the middle rounds. An influx of new picks after trading the No. 2 pick would give the Redskins more chances to draft a future star to grow with Haskins.
There’s also a lack of talent along the offensive line charged with protecting the second-year quarterback. It’s unknown if Trent Williams will ever play another snap for the franchise. That potentially leaves Rivera and his coaching staff to depend on Donald Penn and Morgan Moses at the two tackle positions. Both positions represent opportunities for significant upgrades. Neither player was very good last season and their age makes both tackles candidate for regression in 2020.
As a result, spending a first-round pick on a tackle would be a wise investment for Washington. There isn’t a tackle prospect in this class worthy of being drafted second. There are several intriguing options that should be available in the middle of the first round. Trading the No. 2 pick and still getting the chance to select someone like Andrew Thomas or Josh Jones would be a solid win for the Redskins’ front office.
An additional middle-round pick or two could also do a lot to reinforce Washington’s talent on the interior of their offensive line. Ereck Flowers was better than expected last year, but he’s still a below-average starter at left guard. Brandon Scherff is arguably the team’s best offensive lineman, but he’s headed for free agency. His departure would leave the Redskins’ offense woefully short of talent at the guard position.
It might be disheartening for Redskins fans to consider passing up the chance at a high-profile star at No. 2, but it’s time for the organization to pay for their past sins. That means the right call for Washington is to trade down and add more picks in this year’s draft. That won’t win the popular vote, but it will give the franchise a much-needed infusion of talent.