Washington Redskins: Is interest in Lamar Jackson legit?

It’s draft season, which means it’s also rumor season. The latest rumor has the Washington Redskins interested in former Heisman winner Lamar Jackson.

The NFL Draft is less than two months away, which means we’ll start hearing rumors about specific teams interested in certain players. Don’t buy any of it. The latest has the Washington Redskins allegedly fancying former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville.

On the surface, it makes plenty of sense for the Redskins to be interested in Jackson. He is good. Potentially, he could be a special quarterback in the NFL. Yes, he’s a quarterback and don’t let anyone tell you any different. And the quarterback the Redskins just traded for, Alex Smith, will be 34 when the 2018 season begins. That isn’t old for a quarterback, but the Redskins must have a succession plan in place and that could begin in 2018 by drafting Jackson.

For all the reasons to why Washington should be interested in Jackson, there are other reasons to believe it’s just a smokescreen or a player the team likes, but has no interest in drafting unless he falls. The Redskins have too many needs on both sides of the ball to consider Jackson in the first round. Perhaps, they could trade down and acquire more picks and take a swing at Jackson later in the first round or with an additional second-round pick. Jackson likely doesn’t fall to Washington in the second round at pick No. 44.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

Washington fans would likely be split on Jackson. You have one faction of the fanbase who wouldn’t want Jackson just because of Robert Griffin’s failed tenure in Washington. That isn’t fair. They are different players and Jackson has shown an ability to throw the football from the pocket and read coverages. Then, you’d have the other side who’d be excited about Jackson and his unique abilities.

Drafting Jackson and sitting him behind Smith for a couple of years would make sense. He could learn head coach Jay Gruden’s offense while also learning at the feet of two pretty good mentors in Smith and Colt McCoy. Just don’t expect it to happen.

The interest in Jackson appears to be coming from someone higher in the organization. Could that be owner Daniel Snyder or team president Bruce Allen? The Redskins need to sell tickets and Jackson could do just that, but at what cost? The first time Smith has a bad game, you have a fractured and desperate fanbase calling for the rookie. That is something this team needs to avoid.

If we’ve learned anything over the last several years, Snyder and Allen should stay out of quarterback decisions. They should allow the people they hire to make those decisions. Jackson is supremely talented but he just doesn’t fit the Redskins at this point and time. If it were a year from now, possibly, however, the Redskins cannot afford to have someone of Jackson’s caliber behind Smith during his first year on the team.

Look for the Redskins to draft a quarterback in 2018, but expect it to be someone like Kyle Lauletta of Richmond or Riley Ferguson of Memphis. Two good prospects who can quietly sit for a few seasons and not create an uproar with the fans. Washington brought Smith in because it felt the team was close to contention. That’s why it’s first two picks should be spent on players who can help the team win now. Jackson wouldn’t provide that.

Next: NFL Mock Draft: Unexpected first-round picks pre-FA

Yes, the Redskins are interested in Jackson, but in the end, it’s not the kind of interest to where the team would draft him in the first round. It’s important to note, however, Gruden is also a former Louisville quarterback.

Buckle up, Washington.