The Washington Redskins have had an interesting offseason so far, with a lot of different headline moments. This makes them one of the more intriguing teams heading into the new year.
However, that also means they have a lot of questions surrounding them.
How will the team respond to new head coach Ron Rivera? Who will step up and take over the starting spot at tight end? Will Derrius Guice stay healthy? How will the running back position work with so many players there? Who will become the top receivers behind Terry McLaurin? Will McLaurin evolve into a true superstar?
Then what about the defense? Is Montez Sweat about to take the next step in his game? Will Chase Young be an immediate monster in year one? Can Ryan Kerrigan still give the team serious value?
There really is a lot to be answered. What are the three biggest questions for the Redskins entering the 2020 season though? Let's take a look and try to figure it out.
3. Can the Redskins protect Dwayne Haskins?
Dwayne Haskins looked great at the end of last year. And he has some young and promising weapons around him.
However, what about his protection. Washington lost Trent Williams this offseason.
Yes, the superstar left tackle did not play last year anyways, but he is officially off the team now. So do the Redskins have the talent to keep their quarterback upright and healthy?
They have a star in Brandon Scherff at right guard. Morgan Moses is reliable at right tackle as well.
The other positions are more of a tossup though. Is Chase Rouiller the best option at center? Left guard is an unknown. And as for left tackle, Saahdiq Charles has superstar potential but is the rookie ready to make an impact immediately?
The Redskins might not be contenders in 2020. But they have a chance to make major progress. That would be thrown out the window if Haskins goes down though. So keeping their young franchise quarterback healthy should be the number one priority.
Do they have the talent to protect him though?
2. Is the secondary ready to step up?
Washington's defense should be fun. The front seven is just stupid. Seriously, it's almost a cheat code.
Think about it. The defensive line boasts Jonathan Allen, Da'Ron Payne, and Matthew Ioannidis. They even have Tim Settle as incredible depth.
Then there is Reuben Foster, Kerrigan, Cole Holcomb, Ryan Anderson, Thomas Davis Sr., Jon Bostic, Sweat and Young at the linebacker position.
Sweat and Young specifically could be nasty. They have a legitimate shot to be easy 10-10 sack guys. Both have 15-plus sack potential, so 10-10 might even be a soft stance.
What about the secondary though? They added Kendall Fuller at cornerback, but he does not have a ton of help at the position. Landon Collins is a great safety, but who is locking down the other spot?
Can Sean Davis be a solid starter? Will Ronald Darby be a nice addition? What about Fabian Moreau and Jimmy Moreland? Can they take positive steps in their games?
If those answers are no, Washington could be in a little trouble. Their elite front seven should make everything easier on the secondary. They can only help so much though.
The secondary will need to step up and perform if the Redskins want to be a competitive team in 2020. If they do that, Washington could have one of the best defenses in football.
1. Can Dwayne Haskins take that next step?
Washington has to be excited about young quarterback Haskins. Yes, his rookie year was not perfect. However, look at the end of it.
Haskins threw seven touchdowns compared to seven interceptions However, he threw five of those interceptions in his two relief appearances. As a starter, the quarterback had a much better 7/2 ratio.
None of his starts were dreadful and the last few saw major improvements. A few were even some truly great starts.
And the excitement has to be building even more this offseason. Haskins has lost weight and shed some body fat. Seeing a side-by-side of Haskins after being drafted and today is incredible. He looks completely transformed.
Meanwhile, videos of him throwing the ball to receivers serve as more hype. Yes, they are just practicing with no pads, no rush, and weak coverage but still, dimes.
Can all this translate to the field though? Will the quarterback truly take the next step in his game?
If so, Washington could have their franchise quarterback of the future. And even better he could help them compete immediately.
If not though, the Redskins could be in trouble. They can't continue to restart the quarterback carousel every three years. Someone needs to stick or the team will never be great.
And Haskins definitely has the skill and potential to be the one that sticks.
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