While a quarterback taken by the Redskins would likely have to learn behind Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy, head coach Jay Gruden would like to have a younger arm on the roster.
What's already established in the quarterbacks room for the Washington Redskins this season is the roles of Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy.
Cousins, of course, is the team's starting quarterback and franchise tagged player after his breakout 2015 season in which he set numerous franchise quarterback records and guided the Redskins from a worst-to-first finish in the NFC East, complete with a 4-2 record against division opponents.
McCoy, meanwhile, recently re-upped with the Redskins, signing a reported three-year deal to remain in Washington after two productive seasons on two different one-year contracts.
But what happens behind the two quarterbacks has yet to be determined.
Robert Griffin III was the team's third quarterback last season, inactive for all but one game during the season. He was released on March 7 and signed with the Cleveland Browns last week with the chance to become their starting quarterback.
The Redskins have held at least three quarterbacks on their active roster since 2012, with some sort of combination between Cousins, McCoy, Griffin III and Rex Grossman.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden would like three again this season, but wants to explore the possibility of adding an arm that is younger than both Cousins (27 years old entering his fifth NFL season) and McCoy (29 years old entering his seventh NFL season).
"I think you have your starter, you have your quality backup and you got to have one in the room – whether it's a third on your active roster or your practice squad guy – that you can develop," Gruden said at the NFC Coaches Breakfast earlier this month. "Because you can never have too many good arms in the building and you want a young guy that can develop through the system. It can be a college free agent. It would be nice to draft a guy but you know, we'll see."
If the Redskins elect to either draft a quarterback or take a college free agent, there are quite a few names to choose from.
While Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch will likely be first-round picks, others like Ohio State's Cardale Jones, McLean, Va., native Kevin Hogan and Mississippi State's Dak Prescott could be available in the middle rounds.
And even though a potential third quarterback likely won't see much or any playing time early on, the team could still carry him on the active roster without a true fullback on the team.
"You can either dress and fourh tight end/ fullback or dress three tight ends, one of those tight ends can play some fullback," Gruden said. "Then you can open up another spot for either a sixth wide receiver possibly, or a special teams guy, maybe a third quarterback if you need one, a fourth running back or some defensive players, an extra corner or special team player."
.
.
.
