Dwayne Haskins Selected By Washington Redskins with the No. 15 Overall Pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

By Dan Hope on April 25, 2019 at 9:58 pm
Dwayne Haskins
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For the first time since 1982, an Ohio State quarterback has been selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

Dwayne Haskins ended Ohio State's 37-year first-round quarterback drought on Thursday night when the Washington Redskins selected Haskins with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

Haskins was the third quarterback to be drafted on Thursday night. The Arizona Cardinals drafted Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick, while the New York Giants selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the No. 6 overall pick.

Even Haskins could only laugh when he found out that the Giants had drafted Jones over him:

"To be honest, I'm more motivated now than ever," Haskins said in an interview with ESPN's Jen Lada after being drafted by the Redskins. "There's a bigger chip on my shoulder. The league done messed up."

Ultimately, though, Haskins still made history, as he became the first Ohio State quarterback to be drafted in Round 1 since Art Schlichter was the No. 4 overall pick in 1982, and the first quarterback from any Big Ten school to be drafted in the first round since Kerry Collins was the No. 5 overall pick in 1995.

As the second Buckeye selected in this year's draft, along with Nick Bosa, Haskins also becomes Ohio State's 81st first-round draft pick ever – which ties Ohio State with USC for the most first-round draft picks all-time.

In his lone season as Ohio State's starting quarterback, Haskins had the most statistically prolific season of any passer in school history, completing 70 percent of his passing attempts for 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns – all school records – while throwing only eight interceptions and leading the Buckeyes to a 13-1 record, including a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl win. He was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Now, Haskins – who watched the draft in Maryland with his family and friends – will have the opportunity to stay close to home and become the new face of the franchise for the Redskins, who entered the draft with as much of a need at the quarterback position as any team in the NFL.

The Redskins traded for Case Keenum this offseason, while Colt McCoy also started games for them last season, but Haskins should have an immediate opportunity to compete for the starting job in D.C. and begin making his case – while playing Jones and the Giants twice a year – that he has what it takes to be an elite passer in the NFL.

Haskins is the first Ohio State player to be drafted by the Redskins since they selected Evan Spencer in the sixth round of the 2015 draft.

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