The Washington Redskins should trade for their future quarterback before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Get Indianapolis on the phone. Put Miami on line 2 and St. Louis on 3. Where’s Vinny Cerrato when you need someone to make a risky move?
The Redskins finally realize what everyone else knew — Rex Grossman isn’t the quarterback for 2012. John Beck may get his chance Sunday against Carolina, but he’s a long shot, too.
Washington needs a franchise quarterback to contend, but getting one in the 2012 draft will be costly. The Redskins probably will draft somewhere between 13 and 19, so they must move up for a passer.
Unless Beck is phenomenal, coach Mike Shanahan has no choice but to overpay for a rookie. Expected No. 1 pick Andrew Luck will be insanely expensive — maybe three first-round picks. Nobody’s worth three firsts … unless maybe you’re a coach in his third year who needs to start winning before owner Dan Snyder gets antsy. The owner won’t be patient forever, and he loves quarterbacks.
But maybe there’s a way to discount the cost. Trade for a team’s No. 1 pick now before anyone knows where it will fall in the order. Offer the reduced price of two firsts based on not knowing whether it might be only the second or third pick. The Redskins then will have overpaid. It’s a risk, but it might allow the Redskins to hold on to the 2014 first-rounder. If it’s the second or third pick, the Redskins still will get a passer like Southern California’s Matt Barkley or Oklahoma’s Landry Jones.
The problem is deciding which is the worst team in the Luck derby. Indianapolis is 0-6, but the Colts certainly won’t trade Peyton Manning’s successor. If Manning recovers this season following neck surgery, the Colts still shouldn’t play him. That would put him in danger of a career-ending hit just to win a couple meaningless games, and they could lose Luck in the process.
Of the six other teams in the Luck lottery, more than half may not need him. St. Louis (0-5), Carolina (1-5), Jacksonville (1-5) and Minnesota (1-5) all have young quarterbacks, so Luck could be on the block.
But Miami is also a strong contender for the top pick given a winless opening month and a harsh division schedule. The Dolphins would keep Luck, as would Denver (1-4).
If the worst team puts Luck’s rights up for bid in April, Shanahan likely won’t overpay. It would then be three first-round picks or two plus a solid young starter like linebacker Ryan Kerrigan. No way the Redskins would trade linebacker Brian Orakpo. Say hello to Barkley or Jones.
Kerrigan was a smart pick in the past draft, but the Redskins should have taken quarterback Blaine Gabbert when he was available. He has four touchdowns and two interceptions for a 71.2 rating with Jacksonville.
It would take a gambler with the courage of Pittsburgh Phil to make a draft move now, but Shanahan truly would become George Allen’s successor with such a daring trade.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
