As the Washington Redskins get ready for a new season, finding their starting quarterback sits atop their offseason priorities. In February, reports came out saying that the team expected Alex Smith to miss the entire 2019 season, forcing them to look for another signal caller.
This Thursday, the Redskins traded with the Denver Broncos for 31-year old QB Case Keenum, who started for the Broncos throughout the 2018 season. Keenum's performance in orange was rather disappointing, leading its former team to acquire Joe Flacco and likely target a rookie quarterback in the NFL Draft to replace him.
Keenum is the latest QB to join the NFC East and he'll do so without a guaranteed starting job. According to Ian Rapoport, he'll have to battle Colt McCoy for the top spot in the depth chart.
The #Broncos and #Redskins have agreed to terms on a trade to send QB Case Keenum to Washington for draft picks and with an adjusted contract, sources say. Broncos get Skins 6th, Washington get a 7th.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2019
This seems like a fair trade for both teams. Broncos manage to dump Keenum's salary and the Redskins get a potential starter for their most pressing need.
Should Cowboys fans be concerned about his arrival? While he does provide the Redskins with an experienced quarterback for what could've been a concerning QB room, Case Keenum didn't have a great year in Denver, throwing for 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His inconsistency cost the Broncos wins more than a few times last season. I wouldn't be concerned about him turning the Redskins into a legitimate threat in the division.
However, may not be done making moves at quarterback. Many have linked them to the Josh Rosen rumors. If the Arizona Cardinals are indeed considering trading Rosen to another team, the Redskins could be an option. After all, they need an answer for the long term future. It's tough to imagine the Cardinals moving on from the guy they just traded up to draft less than a year ago, but rumors are pretty strong to not pay attention.
“Throughout the week in Indianapolis, I didn't run into one agent, scout, coach or general manager who thought anyone but Kyler Murray would be the top overall pick.” – Matt Miller, Bleacher Report's NFL Draft writer.
Even if it's not the Josh Rosen route, the Redskins could still look for a QB1 elsewhere. Whether it's a free agent (Nick Foles, for instance) or a rookie who falls to their pick in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the last QB move Washington pulls off before the season.
For now though, Case Keenum should be the favorite to be lining up as the Redskins' starting quarterback when the Dallas Cowboys play them next season.
