The Redskins didn’t get a quarterback in the draft, but perhaps the guy they wanted was on the roster all along.
Coach Mike Shanahan strongly endorsed John Beck’s ability to start in the NFL; he even said Beck was his No. 1 rated quarterback coming out of college in 2007. Keep in mind that the only three QBs drafted ahead of Beck were JaMarcus Russell, whom some teams may have kept off their board for off-field issues; Brady Quinn and Kevin Kolb. None of these players have thus far done much in the NFL. And Russell is out of the league.
Still, Beck was tops on Shanahan’s board.
“It wasn’t even close,” Shanahan said. “He has everything you look for in a quarterback. No. 1 you have to love the game, you have to have the mindset. What I’m looking for is a guy first to work and last to leave. You’ve got to be able to run this offense at a very high level. He can do things with his legs that a lot of quarterbacks can’t do.”
Shanahan said they could still opt to make a trade or sign a veteran free agent quarterback. But, if not, Beck has a chance to become a starter. Donovan McNabb is the only other quarterback signed on the roster and he’ll likely be traded or released. And Rex Grossman is a free agent, though he could return.
“I have a lot of confidence in John Beck,” Shanahan said. “I think the world of him.”
