The Giants have already turned the page to their future at quarterback with Daniel Jones and gotten immediate results. So what's stopping the Redskins from doing the same with Dwayne Haskins?
Through three weeks of the 2019 NFL season, 40 different QBs have started games, a list that includes three rookies. Kyler Murray was the starter as soon as the Cardinals drafted him. Gardner Minshew has become a revelation out of necessity for the Jaguars. Jones got his chance Sunday against the Buccaneers.
Like New York did, Washington entered Week 3 with an 0-2 record and little chance of contending for an NFC playoff spot after losses to divisional rivals. Despite some competitiveness in both games, the Redskins are not about to enjoy a big turnaround with Case Keenum at QB. Meanwhile, they're wasting time not getting a good, early look at Haskins.
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Keenum, who kept the pocket warm for the Vikings and Broncos over the last two seasons, is the bridge QB du jour. He has played well this year (601 passing yards, 5 TDs, no interceptions, 111.2 rating) in relation to the struggles Eli Manning had for the Giants.
Redskins coach Jay Gruden can point to that and use the old cliche in claiming Keenum gives Washington its best chance to win games. The bottom line: Keenum is not helping his team completely overcome its major deficiencies on defense and in the running game.
Had Keenum's play resulted in wins over the first two weeks, Washington might have been able to believe he could rekindle that Minnesota magic from two years ago. But there's more evidence to believe he eventually will be the shaky, turnover-prone passer he was in Denver last season.
There's a good chance that will happen before Week 6, as the mighty defenses of the Bears and Patriots are on tap for the Redskins in two of the next three games.
The Redskins understandably did not feel confident in the idea of throwing Haskins into the fire in Week 1, just as the Giants felt with Jones. Behind-the-scenes development early in the season also can be beneficial.
But Washington no longer has much reason to go through the motions with Keenum.
The Giants rolled out Jones for a road game against an improved Buccaneers pass rush, and the rookie rewarded them with a comeback victory without the services of Saquon Barkley. Jones gave New York a new energy, and as hopeless as the team's present might seem, it's enough for the Giants to think about a brighter future. Murray and Minshew have injected that same breath of fresh air into their teams, as well.
All of those teams are on the downside of .500 this year. But in terms of getting a jump on the future, they're ahead of Washington. In the era of relative bargain contracts for rookie QBs, it's silly for non-contenders like the Redskins to think a full redshirt year makes sense.
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Gruden is on the hot seat, and he might feel like he needs to go the ol' veteran route to try to save his job. But the coach would have a better chance of staying in Washington if he were to unleash Haskins and get steady improvement out of the rookie. That would prove Gruden is the offensive-minded coach Haskins needs to reach his immense pro potential.
Washington, trying to save a season that isn't going anywhere, will be playing with emotion Monday night against Chicago. But the Redskins' attitude could quickly change from "trying to win" to "nothing to lose."
That would allow them to follow logic (and the Giants' lead) in seeing what their first-round rookie QB can do.
