*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Redskins Unlikely to Trade Down and Pass on Chase Young
Updated Feb. 24, 2020By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Whenever a team is picking high in the first round and already has a young franchise quarterback, there is naturally going to be trade speculation around that pick. This year, the Washington Redskins are in the top spot for quarterback-needy teams to get to as the Redskins have the No. 2-overall pick, where two top-10 quarterback prospects will be available with Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon’s Justin Herbert – assuming LSU’s Joe Burrow goes first-overall to Cincinnati.
There are a number of reasons why it would make sense for the Redskins to trade down. They have significant needs on their roster, including offensive tackle, wide receiver and cornerback. That trio of positions happens to have good depth in the 2020 NFL Draft and quality prospects for Days 1 and 2. Washington also is without its second-round pick after trading it to the Colts last April when Washington moved back into the first round for defensive end Montez Sweat.
The top consensus prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft is Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, and that position is not a need for the Redskins. On top of just having drafted Sweat in the first round, Washington still has veteran Ryan Kerrigan and another good young pro in Matt Ioannidis signed to a reasonable contract. With first-round picks used in 2017 and 2018 on Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne, the Redskins also are set on the inside of the defensive line after spending significant resources. Thus on the surface. there seems to be a lot of reasons for the Redskins to look to move down with a team that wants Tagovailoa or Herbert.
However in speaking with sources with the Redskins, they say it is unlikely they trade down. They won’t just give the pick away, and the team would require a massive package to move down that would probably need to include multiple first-round picks and more picks on the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft, similar to what Washington dished out to move up to the second-overall pick for Robert Griffin III in the 2012 NFL Draft or what Philadelphia gave up in 2016 to get the second-overall pick and take Carson Wentz. The Redskins do not believe that any team is willing to pay what it would take to move up to the second-overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Miami Dolphins have the draft-pick resources with three first-round picks, two second-round picks, a high third-round pick, and two 2021 first-round picks to move wherever. However, sources with Washington don’t believe Miami is willing to give up what it would take to move up. Even staying at the fifth-overall pick, the Dolphins are highly likely to have one of the three top quarterback prospects get to them as the Redskins at No. 2 and the Giants at No. 4 are not in the market for a quarterback. Having both of those teams trade down, or one of them trade down and the Lions taking a quarterback at No. 3 seems unlikely, according to team sources. Therefore, team sources believe the Dolphins could stay at No. 5 and one of the quarterbacks will probably get to them.
I reached out to Dolphins sources, and they thought it was more likely that the Dolphins keep all their picks to rebuild their roster rather than trading picks away to move up for a quarterback. The Dolphins added those picks to draft their type of guys and load up their roster with players who fit head coach Brian Flores. Miami is believed to be targeting Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but sources feel the team is comfortable with Oregon’s Justin Herbert as a fall-back option.
On top of not believing a trade partner is out there, the Redskins love Chase Young. They feel they could have the makings of an elite defensive line. When asked about the difficult proposition of getting four consecutive years of first-round defensive linemen signed to second contracts, Washington sources said that will be challenging, but the organization could maybe figure out a way and deal with it when the time comes. From that conversation, it sounds like Washington is crazy for Young and it would take a ton for the team to pass on him.
The Redskins will listen to offers if there are any, and they aren’t closing the book on moving down. But they will need to be blown away to do it. At this time, they don’t believe that any team will be willing to pay the price and Washington is thrilled with the prospect of adding Chase Young to go with Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne and Montez Sweat for the long haul. A lot could change in the final weeks before the 2020 NFL Draft, but right now, it sounds like Washington is planning on sticking at No. 2 and picking Young.
