This week, Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins performed for NFL evaluators at the Buckeyes’ Pro Day workouts in Columbus.
After watching Haskins, Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said he “put on a show” and “threw really well.” The Raiders reportedly have also scheduled a private workout with Haskins to further evaluate the 6-foot-3, 220-pound QB who had just one starting season – but a terrific one. In 2018, Haskins threw 50 touchdown passes, had 4,831 yards passing and finished No. 3 in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Though Kyler Murray of Oklahoma is listed by most evaluators as the top quarterback prospect in the draft, Haskins also seems to be climbing, and some analysts have speculated Oakland might draft Haskins with its top pick, the fourth of the first round on Day 1 of the draft April 25.
But as Rucker Haringey of Fansided wrote, Mayock and the Raiders might be touting Haskins for other reasons. If his stock rises high enough, says Haringey, “The hope is that a quarterback-hungry team might elect to make them a massive offer to move up to No. 4 to get their hands on Haskins.” So, Mayock and the Raiders are telling the football world they believe Haskins is a great prospect.
So far, several teams – including the Giants, Dolphins and Broncos – also have set up workouts with Haskins and seem intrigued by him. If the Raiders can help stoke the fires on Haskins as worthy of a No. 4 pick, Haringey writes that Oakland might be able to trade down from the fourth slot and pick up an additional first-round pick.
Then again, it’s also possible Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden truly are smitten with Haskins and are thinking about selecting him with their first or three first-round picks in April.
As former NFL scout and current NFL Network analyst Daniel Jerimiah wrote this week, Haskins does indeed look impressive.
Sports
“He’s got a very live arm, he can make every single throw, the anticipation, that was something you heard people talking about (at Ohio State’s Pro Day),” said Jeremiah, who also touted Haskins’ physical shape, his ability to move and his intelligence.
