Skip to content

Gruden: Redskins could draft QB, would expect immediate impact

Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Washington Redskins own the 15th pick of this month's draft and could use it to select a quarterback. The team lacks a long-term option at the position, but head coach Jay Gruden isn't interested in a lengthy learning curve.

"There is no developmental process here. This is not Triple-A baseball; we're (not) trying to develop a pitcher here," Gruden said, according to John Keim of ESPN. "We're trying to win a game right now. If we draft a quarterback in the first, second, third, or seventh rounds and he's going to start Day 1, we expect great things from him."

The Redskins traded for starting quarterback Case Keenum, but the journeyman has just one year remaining on his contract. Alex Smith is under contract until 2022, but he's recovering from a gruesome leg injury suffered in 2018. Backup Colt McCoy is also recovering from a broken leg.

If Washington does identify its quarterback of the future in this year's draft, he'll arrive in D.C. with plenty of expectations.

"Players will expect great things from him," Gruden said. "Ryan Kerrigan is not expecting us to come out and 'let's build for the future.' We've got to win now.

"Josh Norman, same way. Landon Collins did not come here to be good in 2034. They came here to be good and compete to win a Super Bowl this year."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox